Race is no big Gamble

9:41am Monday 11th August 2008

Comments (0)   Have your say »

TEESSIDE University student Lewis Gamble-Thompson, 20, became the youngestever winner of the Darlington 10K yesterday. And Chesterle- Street’s Alyson Dixon marked the 21st running of the event by slashing over two minutes off the women’s course record.

The absence of five-times winner and race record holder Martin Scaife left the door wide open – and the young New Marske Harrier grabbed the opportunity as he dominated the second half of the race.

Gamble-Thompson, who has moved back with his parents to their native Cleveland from Colchester, pushed ahead of the experienced Jon Archer (Low Fell) after six kilometres and opened up a comfortable lead to win by 12 seconds in 32 mins 22 secs.

“I never expected to win,”

admitted the New Marske Harrier. “I ran here two years ago and finished about 15th.

I’m delighted to have done so much better – this must be my best-ever performance on the road.”

Gamble-Thompson was especially thrilled to have won in front of his grandfather, Harry Gamble-Thompson, who still holds the British over-60 marathon record.

“I’m really proud of Lewis – he has settled in brilliantly and has the makings of a good athlete,” said Gamble- Thompson, who was first over-70 in his last marathon in Hawaii in 2001.

Dixon, who made her England debut in May, picked up a £150 bonus on top of her £125 prize money for her time of 33 mins 38 secs, 2 mins 11 secs faster than Susie Rutherford’s course record of 2002.

The 29-year-old Chester-le- Street runner astonished the men by sticking with the leaders for the first three kilometres until Gamble- Thompson and Archer forced the pace up the first incline.

But she held on defiantly for finish an excellent eighth overall.

“I felt comfortable with the early pace and stuck with the leaders. I think one of them got a shock when he looked behind and saw me,” said the Wearsider. “A few guys came past me later in the race but I think the other women were a good way behind.

“The conditions weren’t particularly easy – it was slippery underfoot in the rain – and I’m really pleased to have managed to knock a couple of minutes off the course record and improve my pb at the same time.”

Dixon, who has just returned from three weeks training at altitude in the French Pyrenees, now has her sights set on winning a place in the Great British team for the World Half Marathon Championships in Brazil in October.