2017 Ridge Off Roader

2017 Ridge Off Roader

Today, in my series entitled "where I was taking photos this time last year", I'm looking at the Ridge Off Roader which takes place from Bledlow Ridge. This is a village in Bucks that's 4M SE of Chinnor and 5M NE of Stokenchurch. It's about 26M from Oxford.

For the last two years both this race and the Wallingford Thames Run have been on the same day and so I had to choose which one to go to to take photos. In both 2019 and 2018, I chose to go to the Wallingford Thames Run and so the last time I was at the Ridge Off Roader was back in 2017. In that year, the race took place on Sun Mar 12th. This year's race was to have taken place today (Sun May 17th). However, the organiser's website says it's been postponed to Sun Sep 20th. So go to that website if you wish to enter!

Below there are some photos of the runners of the 2017 Ridge Off Roader. I took photos in two places. At the first place, I saw the Half runners after they had done 2.9K. At the second place, I saw the Half runners after they done 18.8K and the 10K runners after they had done 8K. It got wet at the second place and in some of the photos you can see how muddy the ground is and many runners are staring at the ground ensuring they stay upright! When I came to selecting the photos, I found there aren't any club names in the organiser's results although there are some in the results on the runbritain website. So I've had to do some work to get a club name alongside each runner's name - I hope I got them right! But before showing those photos, I'll first provide some info about the routes of the two races.

By the way, you can click on any of the photos on this web page to see the photo in hi-res.

The routes of the two races

The above map shows the route of the Half. It is taken from the organiser's website. You can click on the map if you wish to see the route in other formats. The Half starts by descending from Bledlow Ridge and aims for the Radnage area. Here it uses a small portion of the route of the Rugged Radnage 10K. Between 5K and 6K, it uses part of the Run The Rock races that start/finish at Stokenchurch. At about 8K, it very briefly joins the A40. And then it's a steep rugged descent down a thin footpath through trees. It descends from about 240m to 150m in about 0.8K. Just before 10K, it joins the Ridgeway for a straight level 4K stretch. Leaving the Ridgeway, it goes up a steep rugged thin footpath through the woods to get to 14K. It ascends from 145m to 245m in about 0.55K. I found it hard work even to walk up this hill (when I was there in 2016)! At the top, the route goes along Hilltop Lane and reaches a BBOWT nature reserve on Chinnor Hill. It's then down to rejoin the Ridgeway at Hempton Wainhill. At about 17.5K, it leaves the Ridgeway and instead goes along the Icknield Way. At about 20K, it's time to ascend back up to the finish in Bledrow Ridge. The route goes from about 150m up to 200m in about 0.3K. It's a hard way to end an off-road Half!
The organiser provides a video of the Half's route. It's 6m59s long.

The elevation profile for the Half is shown in the above photo.

The above map shows the route of the 10K. The map is taken from the organiser's website. You can click on it if you wish to see the route in other formats. The 10K starts with a 1K gently down Chinnor Road. Then it's an off-road descent of about 25m to get the runners down to Slough Lane which they go along for about 0.5K (passing the 2K marker). After that, it's all off-road (except for a small bit of road at the end). It starts with an ascent from about 140m to 170m in about 0.25K to get to the 2.5K point. For the next 2.5K it's undulating. Just after 5K, the route joins the Ridgeway and there's an ascent from about 165m to 200m in about 0.3K to get to the top of Lodge Hill. There are great views from here! After descending Lodge Hill, just after 6K, the runners double back leaving the Ridgeway to join the Icknield Way. This is where the 10K joins the route of the Half for the rest of the race. So I guess 10K runners have a chance to overtake some shattered Half runners! Just before 9K, the route ascends back up to the finish in Bledrow Ridge. It goes from about 150m up to 200m in about 0.3K. What a way to end!

The elevation profile for the 10K is shown in the above photo.

As mentioned above, the races use the same route for the last 3.8K. On Lodge Hill the 10K is using the path of the Ridgeway. Just after 6K, it leaves the Ridgeway and doubles back along the Icknield Way. It is at this point that the 10K and the Half meet. This meeting happens in the middle of a field as is shown in the following photo.

The photo shows Lodge Hill in the background. The 10K comes off Lodge Hill and comes down the path that passes the two walkers - that's the Ridgeway. At the waymark, the 10K takes a sharp left to go back along the other path shown in the photo - that's the Icknield Way. The Half comes from behind the photographer and bears right of the waymark to take the same path as the 10K. The Half doesn't include a climb of Lodge Hill.

Photos of the Male runners who did well at the 2017 Ridge Off Roader Half Marathon

Here are some photos of the male runners who finished in the top 3 and/or were one of the first 3 runners in their age category in the Half Marathon. These photos are ordered by the position of the runner.

David Lawrence (85, Fulham_RC) was 1st and the 1st SM finishing in a time of 1:28:52.0.
As you can see, David had to negotiate his way pass two horses at about 2.9K into the race! Although David was a member of Fulham Running Club back in 2017, he is now with Watford Joggers.

Adam Leavesley (86, unattached) was 2nd and the 2nd SM finishing in a time of 1:36:46.8.

Steve Golla (52, Thame_Runners) was 3rd and the 1st MV40 finishing in a time of 1:37:12.1.

Lee Oates (108, unattached) was 4th and the 2nd MV40 finishing in a time of 1:37:56.9.

Thomas Holdsworth (67, Kidlington_RC) was 5th and the 3rd SM finishing in a time of 1:39:29.9.

Nigel Roberts (123, Rugby_and_Northampton_AC) was 8th and the 3rd MV40 finishing in a time of 1:41:57.7.

Julian Hucks (70, Handy_Cross_Runners) was the 1st MV50 finishing in a time of 1:45:04.5.

John Harvey (61, Abingdon_AC) was the 2nd MV50 finishing in a time of 1:47:52.9.

Martin Lambert (84, Thame_Runners) was the 3rd MV50 finishing in a time of 1:51:17.1.

Callum Gray (56, unattached) was the 1st MU18 finishing in a time of 2:09:16.8.

Robin Alexander (2, unattached) was the 17th MV50 finishing in a time of 2:26:11.4.

Brendan Cradden (40, Bearbrook_RC) was the 1st MV60 finishing in a time of 2:33:23.0.

Photos of the Female runners who did well at the 2017 Ridge Off Roader Half Marathon

Here are some photos of the female runners who finished in the top 3 and/or were one of the first 3 runners in their age category in the Half Marathon. These photos are ordered by the position of the runner.

Alexandra Cook (36, Thames_Hare_and_Hounds) was the 1st female and the 1st SL finishing in a time of 1:40:54.7.

Jenny Copnall-John (38, former professional racing cyclist) was the 2nd female and the 1st FV40 finishing in a time of 1:49:04.7.

Faye Sharpley (131, Thame_Runners) was the 3rd female and the 2nd SL finishing in a time of 1:50:22.5.

Heather Golla (51, unattached) was the 4th female and the 2nd FV40 finishing in a time of 1:56:50.6.

Jessica Bryant (25, unattached) was the 5th female and the 3rd SL finishing in a time of 1:57:02.7.

Bridgid Briens (22, Witney_Road_Runners) was the 8th female and the 3rd FV40 finishing in a time of 2:02:33.1.

Stephanie Cook (37, Thame_Runners) was the 10th female and the 1st FV50 finishing in a time of 2:07:58.5.

Oonagh Thompson (144, Marlow_Striders) was the 1st FV60 finishing in a time of 2:18:43.1.

Carolyn Lockett (90, Maidenhead_AC) was the 2nd FV50 finishing in a time of 2:19:53.5.

Alison Barry (8, Headington_RoadRunners) was the 3rd FV50 finishing in a time of 2:20:24.0.

Sue Barnes (7, Vale_of_Aylesbury_AC) was the 2nd FV60 finishing in a time of 2:20:34.2.

Ann Bowles (19, Marlow_Striders) was the 3rd FV60 finishing in a time of 2:29:04.6.

Photos of the Male runners who did well at the 2017 Ridge Off Roader 10K

Here are some photos of the male runners who finished in the top 3 and/or were one of the first 3 runners in their age category in the 10K. These photos are ordered by the position of the runner.

Graham Smith (579, St_Albans_Striders) was 1st and the 1st MV40 finishing in a time of 40:52.2.

Dominic Reed (564, Handy_Cross_Runners) was 2nd and the 1st SM finishing in a time of 43:00.7.

Duncan Lawrence (519, Fulham_RC) was 3rd and the 2nd SM finishing in a time of 43:10.2.
Although Duncan was a member of Fulham Running Club back in 2017, he is now with Headington RoadRunners.

Owen Byrne (488, Bearbrook_RC) was 4th and the 1st MV50 finishing in a time of 43:58.5.

Trevor Hunter (502, Handy_Cross_Runners) was 5th and the 2nd MV40 finishing in a time of 44:06.0.

Nick Onslow (552, Bramley_Trail_Runners) was 6th and the 3rd MV40 finishing in a time of 44:54.0.

Andrew Hill (494, Tring_RC) was 8th and the 3rd SM finishing in a time of 46:43.2.

Martin Hopcroft (499, Tring_RC) was 10th and the 2nd MV50 finishing in a time of 47:52.0.

Clive Cohen (441, Tring_RC) was the 1st MV60 finishing in a time of 48:04.8.

John Manning (529, Tring_RC) was the 2nd MV60 finishing in a time of 49:37.6.

David Haynes (615, unattached) was the 3rd MV50 finishing in a time of 51:06.5.

Roger Saunders (572, unattached) was the 3rd MV60 finishing in a time of 51:34.2.

Photos of the Female runners who did well at the 2017 Ridge Off Roader 10K

Here are some photos of the female runners who finished in the top 3 and/or were one of the first 3 runners in their age category in the 10K. These photos are ordered by the position of the runner.

Sharon Hill (495, unattached) was the 1st female and the 1st FV50 finishing in a time of 48:21.8.

Jen Lande (517, Hillingdon_Tri) was the 2nd female and the 1st SL finishing in a time of 48:42.5.

Celine Wilcock (616, Tring_RC) was the 3rd female and the 1st FV40 finishing in a time of 52:14.8.

Cathy Roberts (568, Verco_Joggers) was the 4th female and the 2nd FV40 finishing in a time of 52:37.3.

Gemma Elliott-Wetton (465, unattached) was the 5th female and the 2nd SL finishing in a time of 54:05.2.

Helen Tullie (596, Tring_RC) was the 6th female and the 3rd FV40 finishing in a time of 55:50.6.

Rosie Jones (506, Headington_RoadRunners) was the 7th female and the 3rd SL finishing in a time of 56:30.9.

Debra Brent (423, Marshall_Milton_Keynes_AC) was the 8th female and the 2nd FV50 finishing in a time of 56:43.9.

Hilary Needleman (545, Tring_RC) was the 9th female and the 3rd FV50 finishing in a time of 57:20.3.

Ursula Downs (462, unattached) was the 1st FV60 finishing in a time of 1:02:31.3.

Heather English (466, unattached) was the 2nd FV60 finishing in a time of 1:05:53.7.
Not sure what's happening here as the runner in this photo with bib number 466 doesn't look like a FV60!

Esther Meakes (537, Marlow_Striders) was the 3rd FV60 finishing in a time of 1:08:10.9.

Photos of runners from other running clubs

Here are some photos of runners from running clubs other than those mentioned above. I've tried to show the runner who was the club's highest placed runner but I may have got this wrong. Because the results do not have any club names, there may be others from the club that I'm not aware of. These photos are ordered by the name of the running club.

Jen Page (111, Alchester_RC) was the 8th FV40 in the Half Marathon finishing in a time of 2:18:18.2.

Warren Lovell (527, Burnham_Joggers) was the 11th MV40 in the 10K finishing in a time of 54:13.7.

Andy Laws (614, Chinnor_Kettlebells) was the 7th MV50 in the 10K finishing in a time of 53:45.7.

Richard Bickerton (15, Compton_Harriers) was the 19th SM in the Half Marathon finishing in a time of 2:03:52.3.

Gerald Cooper (624, Cookham_RC) was the 19th MV50 in the 10K finishing in a time of 1:03:33.7.

Steven Stockwell (587, Dartford_Harriers) was 9th and the 5th MV40 in the 10K finishing in a time of 46:59.6.

Charles Allen (402, Datchet_Dashers) was the 13th MV50 in the 10K finishing in a time of 57:28.6.

Mark Kencroft (508, Ealing_Southall_and_Middlesex_AC) was 7th and the 4th MV40 in the 10K finishing in a time of 46:01.2.

Danny Attias (410, Hillingdon_Tri) was the 16th MV40 in the 10K finishing in a time of 59:41.5.

Sean Westrope (602, Leighton_Buzzard_AC) was the 6th MV50 in the 10K finishing in a time of 52:59.2.

Jim Buttleman (29, Leighton_Fun_Runners) was the 4th MV50 in the Half Marathon finishing in a time of 1:53:31.2.

Richard Litwinczuk (523, MK_Lakeside_Runners) was the 6th MV60 in the 10K finishing in a time of 1:02:31.9.

Dave Burden (28, On_The_Run) was the 13th MV40 in the Half Marathon finishing in a time of 1:58:29.5.

Stuart Bradburn (20, Reading_Roadrunners) was the 6th MV40 in the Half Marathon finishing in a time of 1:45:16.4.

Mark Shead (132, Shenley_Striders) was the 6th SM in the Half Marathon finishing in a time of 1:45:15.5.

Robert Kellam (76, Silson_AC) was the 26th MV40 in the Half Marathon finishing in a time of 2:13:30.9.

Simon Cope (443, Vegetarian_C_and_AC) was the 22nd MV50 in the 10K finishing in a time of 1:04:42.6.

Postscript

If you did the Ridge Off Roader in 2017 and want a reminder, then here's a link to all the photos that I took. There's a calculator on that web page that makes it easy to find the photos of a runner given their time and you can find the time from the results web page.

If you want to see the reviews I've done on other races, then here's a link to a web page that includes an index of the reviews of races.

Next up is the 2019 Firkin 5 and I'm hoping to finish my review of the 2019 Firkin 5 on Sat May 23rd 2020.

I maintain a web page for runners that provides a list of races near Oxfordshire and the latest results. Visit www.oxonraces.com and follow @oxonraces

This web page is at www.oxonraces.com/blog/2020-05-17-bledlow-ridge-bucks. It was created on May 10th 2020 and last updated on May 16th 2020.