Athletics: Harrier Beth is Arthur Biggs champion

Beth Holloway, who started with a handicap time of 56.23, came first with an actual time of 1.22.19 and a finish time of 25.55 — more than eight minutes ahead of her nearest challenger, Debbie Williams, also of Ryde Harriers, in Sunday’s event, organised by the Harriers.

Arthur Biggs Handicap winner Beth Holloway into her stride on Sunday.

Williams finished in 34.07 (31.37 handicap), while fellow Harrier Sue Clerkin came third in 35.36 (53.51).

The first man to finish was Ian Joliffe, of the West Wight Road Runners, in 38.15 (28.02), followed by Harriers Mike Dignan, who finished in 38.27 (16.22) and Brian Warren in 38.36 (22.52).

Gary Marshall, of the Wootton Bridge Runners, who came seventh in his first Arthur Biggs event.

Last year’s Isle of Wight Marathon winner Gary Marshall, of the Wootton Bridge Runners, who finished in 38.45, with a handicap time of a minute, as it was his first Arthur Biggs cross-country event.

The handicap races can only be run by those who had competed in and completed one of the previous two cross-country races — the Ryde Harriers Championship and the Isle of Wight Championship.

Many of the large contingent of Ryde Harriers who took part in the Arthur Biggs Memorial Handicap cross-country on Sunday.​

Some 57 runners took part in the event, several them unattached to clubs.

Other clubs represented included the Isle of Wight Road Runners and Wight Tri.

Sue Clerkin came third in the Arthur Biggs event.

Ryde Harrier Trevor McAlister 2 won the Victor Lu Dorum Cup, awarded to the best male Harrier over all three of its cross-country races, with Nigel Eldridge first in the veteran category. 

Rosie Eldridge won the ladies’ Victrix Lu Dorum Cup for the same category.

All the results for this year’s cross-country series can be found at www.rydeharriers.co.uk