Hampden-Smith's five-race mission (From Richmond and Twickenham Times)

Hampden-Smith's five-race mission

10:20am Thursday 5th January 2012 in Athletics By Tom Pollak

Hercules Wimbledon veteran Charles Hampden-Smith started 2012 in fine style with no less than five races across the turn-of-the-year weekend.

The 50-year-old, who recently completed his first marathon and has a spot at this year's London Marathon, took part in two events on New Year's Eve and three races on New Year's Day.

On Saturday, he ran the Wimbledon Common parkrun, coming 18th in 20 minutes, 12 seconds, before taking part in Hercules' five miles event a few hours later when he finished 21st in 32:43.

After seeing the New Year in, Hampden-Smith faced an even more challenging task on New Year's Day as he took part in three parkruns.

He started at Bushy Park at 9am, where he came 47th in 20:12, then drove to Nonsuch Park for 10am, coming 17th in 20:59 and then dashed to Riddlesdown for the 11am start of the parkrun there, coming home 25th in 21:04.

"The masochist in me thought it might be fun and a good start to 2012," he said.

"I spent around an hour the night before working out the routes I should take and where I should park.

"I wasn't alone and estimate about 30 others did the same thing - not that I'm suggesting this makes me less mad but it's good to know that I'll have company in the asylum."

A record 69 runners took part in the Hercules Wimbledon 5 miles multi-terrain event on Saturday. It was won by Alex Bruce-Littlewood in 26:46, almost half-a-minute ahead of the runner-up. Matt Sharp, competing in his second race in two days, was third in 28:14, 24 seconds ahead of clubmate Phil Glynn. Alexie Calvert-Ansari was seventh in 28:58, David Grima 10th in 29:49, Ruth Clifton 12th and first woman in a women's course record time of 30:29 and over 45 veteran Pete Clarke 14th in 31:26. It was Clarke's second race of the day. A few hours earlier he made a winning debut in the Old Deer Park parkrun in 18:40 finishing more than half-a-minute clear.

Another Hercules Wimbledon runner to win a parkrun event on New Year's Eve was James Trapmore who triumphed at Brockwell Park in 16:20. Zoe Shannan was first woman inn the Wimbledon Common parkrun on New Year's Eve finishing 10th in 19:40. Amy Aronson was third woman in 20:17. Jeremy Purnell led three members of his family over the line in the Brueton parkrun in the Midlands on New Year's Eve. He was 14th in 19:36 with wife Alison fourth woman in 22:02 and son Nathanial 90th in 26:25.

This Saturday, the club are in action in the annual Surrey cross country championships at Denbies Vineyard in Dorking for the first time.

Senior men's team manager Fred Green is confident his squad can add to the medals it recently gained in the South of the Thames championship on Wimbledon Common. The sextet took the silver medals there last month and Green emphasises Hercules Wimbledon are the reigning Surrey road relay champions.

Senior women's team manager Janet Fernando is also hoping her squad will also return with medals after winning the opening Max Sports Surrey Ladies League team event in October and taking third place in the second match in Richmond Park. The women's 8km championship starts at 11.10am.

Youngsters hoping to do well include Cassian Hyde in the boys U15 4.2km race, Emma Headley in the girls U15 4.2km race and Tim Livingstone and Ben Palmer in the men's U17 6.1km race.