Athletics: Gamble defies the odds for second win (Pictures)

by Dave Edwards

STONE Master Marathoner Ben Gamble defied the odds to retain his Hanley Building Society Potters 'Arf crown in style.

Gamble was more than two minutes quicker than his winning time of last year and his victory time placed him fourth fastest ever on the course.

There was great anticipation over the appearance of Carl Thackery, arguably Britain's best road runner, but he failed to make the start line.

Gamble had been anxious about the competition from the 47-year-old Hallamshire Harrier, but he was pushed all the way in this year's race by Mark Powell of Oadby and Wigston.

Powell has a good pedigree over the 13.1 mile distance, having taken the Buxton half-marathon recently with a winning margin of around seven minutes.

The duo was soon staking their claim by moving clear of the pack in the first two miles. The downhill section was conducive to fast ruining and the pair passed two miles in 9:55.00.

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Pictures from the Potters 'Arf 2009 Enlarge pictures

Barry Reynolds began to get isolated in third, but the pair carried too much firepower for their rivals.

The only thing that changed over the next three miles was the distance between the leaders and Reynolds.

The duo went past the five-mile marker in 26:30 and remained locked together over the ensuing miles.

On the tough climb up Berwick Road, the pair matched each other stride for stride, with neither giving any quarter. Gamble has developed a stubborn resistance to pressure as he gains in experience and Powell could do nothing to shake him off.

With the final half mile remaining, Gamble made a move which proved decisive.

"I had raced Mark recently at a 10-mile event in Nottingham and beat him on the race for the line, so I suppose that gave me a slight psychological edge," said the defending 27-year-old champion.

"I was just so determined not to give up my title without a fight."

Cheered on by the huge crowds, Gamble took the accolades as he broke the tape in 1:11.12. He was absolutely delighted by his victory.

He said: "It was very hard going out there and it was neck and neck between myself and Mark until the home straight.

"It was just fantastic to win again and the crowds out on the course were brilliant.

"I thought the crowds of last year could not be matched, but gladly I was wrong.

"It was also very reassuring to know I ran the fourth fastest time on the course. This race always attracts decent runners, so my time was a bonus.

"The St Michael's 10k in Stone next week is my immediate goal and I want to retain my North Staffs Road Runner title. Further than that I have not made any fixed plans.

"The win was just magnificent. I really did not expect to do so and did not take anything for granted. Injuries apart, I aim to be back next year to make it a hat-trick."

Powell clung to second in 1:11.18 and there was a sizeable gap to third placed Barry Reynolds. Gary Payne, of George Elliott Striders, who came second last year again defeated all of his younger veteran rivals. The 51-year-old finished in fifth overall in 1:15.08.

The ladies race was thrown wide open, with Michelle Ross-Cope unable to take part because of a knee injury and was not prepared to take the risk.

She said: "I just did not dare risk it as I am due to race in the World Half-Marathon Championships in September. I am very disappointed."

Charlotte Penfold, of Bournemouth, a Great Britain track international, spoiled the hopes of locals Jayne Dickens and Ruth Watchorn-Rice.

The duo were in contention early on, along with Rebecca Harrison, of Cheadle. The latter athlete suffered in the heat and was forced to drop out.

Penfold, who took a silver medal at the World Under-20 800m championships in 2004, began to dominate the race from an early stage.

She used her track speed to ease away from her rivals and, by halfway, she had established a comfortable cushion of more than two minutes.

At this stage, Dickens and Watchorn-Rice were contesting second, but Trentham runner Dickens, who posted a 2:56.00 time at the London Marathon, began to utilise her stamina to establish herself as a clear second.

"The others went off fast and obviously paid the price," said Dickens. "I have taken my time to recover from London and obviously my marathon training background stood me in good stead.

"I have only been training up to 10 miles, having suffered from a virus, so was very apprehensive about today. Once I got past Ruth, my confidence seemed to grow and grow and I felt very comfortable."

Penfold maintained her momentum to win in 1:23.47, but Dickens produced her best ever finish in a half-marathon to secure second spot in 1:26.57.

"That was a new personal best for me by more than three minutes. I have never beaten 1:30.00 before today. I am just over the moon about that performance."

Defending North Staffs Road Runner champion Watchorn-Rice slipped off third place and was forced to settle for fourth.

Race director Don Shelley expressed his delight with the success of this year's event.

He said: "The men's race produced an exciting finish and Charlotte Penfold did well in the women's race.

"The weather was kind to runners and the spectator support around the course and at the finish in Hanley was excellent. We have had a fruitful partnership with the Hanley Economic, our main sponsors, and the indications are that they will continue."

"The race has finally arrived and made its mark as a top half marathon.

"It is very much a community event and provides a great vehicle for charity fund raising for good causes".

Results:

Leading finishers: 1 Ben Gamble (Senior men) 01:11:12; 2 Mark Powell (Senior men) 01:11:18; 3 Barry Reynolds (Senior men) 01:14:08; 4 Paul Andrew (Senior men) 01:15:00; 5 Garry Payne (Vet men 50-54) 01:15:08; 6 Kev Lilley (Vet men 45-49) 01:15:20; 7 Paul Sankey (Vet men 40-44) 01:16:18; 8 David Stevens (Senior men) 01:17:04; 9 Darren Perry (Senior men) 01:17:49; 10 Andy Gore (Senior men) 01:19:13. 11 Peter Marquis-Jones (Senior men) 01:19:28; 12 Ian James (Vet men 45-49) 01:19:52; 13 Scott Boulton (Senior men) 01:20:39; 14 Dave Bratt (Senior men) 01:20:55; 15 Mike Hatton (Vet men 45-49) 01:21:12; 16 Carl Moulton (Senior men) 01:21:27; 17 Kelvin Amos (Vet men 50-54) 01:21:30; 18 Dean Holdcroft (Senior men) 01:21:42; 19 David Lee (Senior men) 01:22:26; 20 Paul Gibbings (Vet men 45-49) 01:22:26. 21 Sam Perch (Senior men) 01:22:53; 22 Mark Flint (Vet men 40-44) 01:23:10; 23 Maurice Oldham (Vet men 55-59) 01:23:19; 24 Charlotte Penfold (Senior ladies) 01:23:47; 25 Maurice Collins (Vet men) 45-49 01:23:54; 26 388 Paul Burslem (Vet men 40-44) 01:24:05; 27 Neil Jones (Vet men 40-44) 01:24:29; 28 Michael Allen (Senior men) 01:25:05; 29 Mick Haire (Vet men 45-49) 01:25:20; 30 Mark Fowell (Vet men 45-49) 01:25:28. 31 Robert Tabbanor (Vet men 45-49) 01:25:54; 32 Neil Platts (Senior men) 01:25:59; 33 Simon Collis (Vet men 40-44) 01:26:05; 34 Paul Davies (Vet men 45-49) 01:26:20; 35 Jonathan Hockey (Senior men) 01:24:52; 36 Rob Dale (Senior men) 01:26:31; 37 Simon Jackson (Vet men 45-49) 01:26:48; 38 Andrew Allen (Vet men 40-44) 01:26:53; 39 Ryan Proctor (Senior men) 01:26:56; 40 Jayne Dickens (Vet ladies 40-44) 01:26:57. 41 Matthew Biggs (Senior men) 01:27:01; 42 Nick Dunning (Vet men 40-44) 01:27:30; 43 Ian Sparks (Senior men) 01:27:38;44 James Bennett (Senior men) 01:27:49; 45 Mark Wood (Vet men 40-44) 01:27:50; 46 Sharon Orridge (Vet ladies 40-44) 01:28:10; 47 Richard Sims (Vet men 45-49) 01:28:11; 48 Pat Hudson (Senior men) 01:28:23; 49 Mick Buckley (Senior men) 01:28:31; 50 Steve Coleman (Vet men 45-49) 01:28:26. 51 Russell Williams (Vet men 45-49) 01:28:33; 52 Ian Nood (Vet men 45-49) 01:28:32 ; 53 Ian Salt (Senior men) 01:28:36; 54 David Owen (Vet men 45-49) 01:28:34; 55 Steve Balon (Vet men 40-44) 01:28:36; 56 Ruth Watchorn-Rice (Vet ladies 40-44) 01:28:43; 57 Jonathan Williamson (Senior men) 01:28:48; 58 Robert Boon (Vet men 50-54) 01:28:48; 59 Peter Clayton (Vet men 40-44) 01:28:55; 60 Stan Winterton (Vet men 60-64) 01:29:08;. 61 Stephen Campbell (Senior men) 01:29:23; 62 Wayne Roberts (Vet men 40-44) 01:29:25; 63 Richard Courtney (Senior men) 01:29:16; 64 James Trotter (Vet men 50-54) 01:29:40; 65 Steve Parker (Vet men 50-54) 01:28:52 ; 66 Hamish Woodhead (Senior men) 01:29:42; 67 Ronald Ilsley (Vet men 45-49) 01:29:29; 68 Graham Hollowell (Vet men 40-44) 01:29:59; 69 Carl Godwin (Senior men) 01:30:34; 70 Robert Cooper (Senior men) 01:30:46. 71 Taz Rafiq (Senior men) 01:31:18; 72 Martin Fox (Vet men 40-44) 01:31:12; 73 Andrew Downes (Senior men) 01:30:20; 74 Stephen Dawson (Senior men) 01:31:35; 75 Dale Colclough (Vet men 45-49) 01:31:42; 76 Steven Vaughan (Senior men) 01:31:41; 77 Lee Campbell (Vet men 45-49) 01:31:48; 78 Sam Proctor (Senior men) 01:30:26; 79 Damian Gaffney (Senior men) 01:31:37; 80 Anthony Hurst (Vet men 45-49) 01:31:54; 81 James Simpson (Senior men) 01:32:06; 82 John Keeling (Vet men 60-64) 01:32:08; 83 Richard Rea (Senior men) 01:32:05 84 Nicholas Martin (Vet men 45-49) 01:32:22 85 Warren Moores (Senior men) 01:32:22; 86 Ian Robinson (Vet men 45-49) 01:32:27; 87 Harrison Belfield (Senior men) 01:32:34; 88 Alex McCormick (Vet men 45-49) 01:32:34; 89 Matt Radbourne (Senior men) 01:32:40; 90 Darren Cope (Senior men) 01:30:54; 91 Guy Aartse-Tuyn (Vet men 40-44) 01:32:40; 92 Jonathan Baskeyfield (Senior men) 01:32:46; 93 Paul Lloyd (Vet men 40-44) 01:32:55; 94 Alastair Chambers (Vet men 45-49) 01:32:57; 95 Michael Carr (Vet men 45-49) 01:32:20; 96 Chris Meir (Vet men 40-44) 01:33:05; 97 Philip Dawson (Vet men 55-59) 01:33:00; 98 Kenneth Bloor (Vet men 45-49) 01:33:17; 99 Mark Maloney (Senior men) 01:33:13; 100 Neil Stretton (Vet Men 55-59) 01:33:18.

For the rest of the Potters 'Arf provisional results go to http://www.ukresults.net/2009/potters.html