Thames Path thrills: The Summer Stagger returns!

The FRC Stagger runners and volunteers in Bishop's Park

On Thursday 12 June, 43 FRC runners took to the Thames Path for the returning Summer Stagger time trial. Bishop’s Park was bathed in glorious sunshine and the flying stag beetles were out to spectate in full force, and after a safety briefing we got proceedings underway at bang on 7pm.

Race highlights

Mathilde Miki Placek led the hordes of bandits out of the park, weaving through the weary commuters on Putney Bridge and up the towpath to the Steve Fairbairn memorial post, before rounding the cone and heading back along the same route. Mathilde held off stiff competition from Caroline Morton and Claudia Balic to clinch first female finisher.

Doug Wood scored a memorable victory as first male, ahead of Christy Owen and Sergey Tyo. Christy’s run to finish 2nd male was all the more remarkable given that he was in fact just 10 seconds off from pulling off an unprecedented ‘stagger double’, something we’ve never seen the like of at this level and perhaps never will. He ran the 5.9km course in an astonishing 20:01 to take the crown of fastest male, while Dylan Williams and Graham Pattle also podiumed.

In the women’s there was a sensational victory for Alice Riddell-Webster, who accelerated away ahead of Alice Malin and Clare Cummings. Elsewhere in the field there were excellent performances all round in what were somewhat scorching conditions!

Our amazing volunteers

A massive thank you to the wonderful team of volunteers who very kindly gave up their Thursday evening to ensure all aspects of the event went as smoothly as possible, from the race start to marshalling to managing the funnel. It was truly a spectacle to see the herd of black and white FRC stripes sprinting through Bishop’s Park with some real gutsy last-minute overtakes!

Special thanks to Gabriel Glencross and Chris Shaw for helping to make it all possible (again).

Your help makes our events a success! If you'd like to volunteer for future Stagger events (or any other club activities), please contact a member of the ExCo.

Written by Gabriel Glencross, photos by Josh, Richard and Laure