JEDDAH, 26 March 2004 — Last year’s Jeddah Road Runners champion Christophe Bernadie easily won this season’s half-marathon, which was again sponsored by the Ghassan Pharoan Hospital (GNP). Several visitors from Khamis Mushayt and Yanbu augmented the usual club runners, providing refreshing competitions right throughout the race.
Recent cool spells gave way to sultry, humid conditions, which over the 21 kms course sapped energy levels and made for difficult race circumstances. Bernadie led from the start, and completed the route in a very creditable 84 minutes.
An interesting battle developed for second and third places, with regular club member, Al-Subhi, holding off visitor Reynolds from Khamis. Vermaak was fourth overall, and first in the A category, and had an excellent run, sweeping past Walker-Read (who came out tops in the Masters category), Esma and Sanquer after the half-way mark. Garcia fended off a late challenge from Bahatan, and the most exciting finish of the day saw Thompson pip visitor Roger Le-Roux by only three seconds.
Another visitor D. Phipps had a good run, completing the course in a personal best and finishing second in the A category. Ian White completed his first half-marathon, beating some well established runners in the process. Jim Evangelista and Kerwin Jamandron brought up the rear and finished to a round of applause.
Two runners completed the full marathon course, McIvor and Tabiin. At the post-race breakfast, the club chairman, Osama Afif, thanked the representative of the Ghassan Pharoan Hospital, Ms. Nina Marshall, for the generous support and encouragement to the running fraternity in the western region.
Winner: Bernadie — 84.43 Open: Alsubhi — 90.30; Garcia- 100.21; Bahatan — 102.02 Veterans: Reynolds- 90.35; Esma- 95.06; Sanquer- 96.42 Masters: Walker-Read — 93.38; LeRoux — 104.06; Harbin — 106.06 A Category: Vermaak — 93.20; Phipps-107.23; Doddemeade — 115.29.
Mobil-APSCO Race Attracts 30 Runners
Nearly 30 runners braved the crisp, early morning start to compete in the annual Mobil-APSCO sponsored 10 kms recently. This was the 11th race in the 2003/2004 JRR calendar.
McIvor led Wilton through the first lap and extended his lead on the second loop to earn first place in 39.22, with Gaby Sanquer holding off a fast-improving A category winner Vermaak for third place, there being only 12 seconds between them. Esma again beat Doman, with newcomer Garcia claiming first open spot in seventh place in a creditable 45.09. Second in the A category was Mostert, who nearly provided the upset of the morning by losing out to club veteran AlKhaibari by only one second, and providing a thrilling sprint finish to the line. Jaubert was well back in 11th place, although he deservedly won the masters category. In the absence of Law, Bandu completed the course as second master and Hongto came in third master. Other runners in the masters category, Murta and Tip, managed their own private battle with Murta triumphing this time in just over 60 minutes.
In another close finish, Sarajan pipped Al-Juffri by a few seconds.
Winner: McIvor- 39.22 Open: Garcia- 45.09; Bahatan — 47.19; Asif- 52.06 Veterans: Wilton — 42.27; Sanquer — 43.09; Esma — 44.26 Masters: Jaubert — 50.07; Bandu- 50.57; Hongto — 54.11 Seniors: Mediavillo — 56.28; Zebedee — 58.45 A Division: Vermaak — 43.21 ; Mostert — 49.54; Kelly — 60.18.
