adidas Silverstone Half Marathon - 2005 race report

In a repeat result of 2004, Tipton’s Matt Smith and Belgrave’s Birhane Dagne claimed first positions at the adidas Silverstone Half Marathon. Matt, smashing the course record by 20 seconds and looking like he had a bit spare, finished in 65:20. Matt said he had great encouragement from the crowds for the last mile and hopes to be back at Silverstone in 2006 to go for 'Three in a row'!

Dave Taylor from Blackheath and Bromley pushed the pace and led the first mile in 4:48, with Matt in second position. At seven miles the leaders were four abreast (Hinch, Smith, Wetheridge and Taylor). Matt finally broke away on the tenth mile and clocked a time of 55:21 at 11 miles – with Nick Wetheridge hanging on in there.

In the women’s race, Birhane Dagne won for the second year, with a time of 1:16:23. In a surprise second position was Nikki Slater, who clocked a time of 1:17:47. Nikki, whose last competitive race was seven years ago in the World Cross Country, simply ran to support her sister Danielle, who was also running.

Although in glorious sunshine, there was a chilly wind for the 5,937 starters on the world-famous F1 circuit. Race results up to two hours and wheelchair results came directly from Mika Timing.

Women
B Dagne 1.16.25
N Slater 1.17.47
L Watson 1.17.57
A Emmerson 1.18.35
V Pincombe 1.19.44

Men
M Smith 1.05.23
N Wetheridge 1.06.06
D Taylor 1.06.23
P Hinch 1.07.20
D Dalmedo 1.09.51

Wheelchairs
S Qudir 1.01.08
A Cheek 1.06.30
C Hanley 1.19.54
N Causevic 1.23.35