JEDDAH: Forty-five participants were at the start line for the annual Binzagr CoRo 7.5 kms cross-country race held on the outskirts of Jeddah recently.

The conditions were ideal for the late afternoon start, with the temperature dropping low and being almost perfect for some excellent performances in the last race in the Jeddah Road Runners calendar prior to the mid-season interval.

On behalf of the company’s marketing merchandising manager, Salman Tariq, the sponsors and representatives from the brand drink, Suntop, were on hand to commence the race, which had been expertly marked by club chairman Afif, and his assistants Doman and Abdullah.

In keeping with tradition, this yearly race, which is run ‘cross-country’, comprised two laps of soft and hard sand, with some mud stretches of a few hundred meters, to test the strength of legs on the varied terrain. Thirteen participants completed one lap only, with one of the sons of long-standing member Hassan Al-Juffri, Abdulrahman who took the honors and beat his father in the process.

For the main race, youngster Bakhraiba showed his older rivals a clean pair of heels, and triumphed in a very respectable time of 27.14. It was literally a pair of heels, although they were rather muddy, as he got one shoe stuck in the mud section (after the recent rains) and finished the race barefoot.

Former club champion Bernardie successfully split the youngster’s group by finishing second to Almalki and Gawani.

In the masters category, there was no competition for Sanquer, who finished 5th overall. Newcomer to the club this year, Coleman easily won the ladies section; fellow Irish nationals Hobson and Kelly were second and third respectively.

There were several close finishes with Soriano pipping Hawsawi by a whisker. Bandu made a welcome visitor’s return to the western region by winning the seniors category from Zebedee.

The club chairman, Afif, thanked Binzagr Co-Ro for their excellent support over the past many years, and for the product and give-aways that were given to all the runners. The next race will be held at the same venue on Jan. 8 at a distance of 16kms.

Overall winner: Bakhraiba (27.14).

Open: 1st — Almalki (28.34); 2nd — Gawani (31.55); 3rd — Algamorshi (33.25).

Veterans: 1st — Bernardie (28.04); 2nd — Saeedya (33.55); 3rd — Long (35.57).

Masters: 1st — Sanquer (32.16); 2nd — Alkhaibari (40.03); 3rd — Magalong (50.02).

Seniors: 1st — Bandu (47.23); 2nd — Zebedee (50.46).

Ladies: 1st — Coleman (35.10); 2nd – Hobson (38.17); 3rd — Kelly (45.29)