Race Reports

Handy Andy leads the way!

There was a great deal of rejoicing as a real, as opposed to virtual race, the Gate Gallop 10km, took place on Sunday. The slight disappointment for the organisers was that only 172 runners lined up for the chipped time main race. This reluctance was not however reflected in the turn out from the Club with 28 runners keen to relieve the enforced isolation. In good running conditions over a rutted, mainly cross-country course runners progress was also slowed by a series of stiles. Andy Hawtin made light work of this as he led the Club’s contingent home in 11^th place in 39.10 with the determined Sam Bassett one place back in 39.35. Dan Bower ran well for 16^th place in 40.03 with, again Mark Slade one finishing position behind in 40.24 and the added reward of 2^nd MV40 finisher.  

On relatively home soil Mark Harriott was his normal consistent self as he finished 3^rd MV50 in 43:24 and 28^th place with training partner Andy Orme and David Green close behind in 43.42 and 43.47, respectively. Nathan Holmes and Micheal Walters were given the same chip times of 43.52 with Colin Mee confirming his status as a top local MV60 by finishing in 45.31 and 2^nd place in his age category. The improving Ross Ballinger was next in 46.24 with Katie Dennis, the Club’s first finisher in the women’s race, breathing down his neck in 46.31 and 5^th finishing position. Hector Arenas ran well for 46.36 with Steve Leafe completing the challenging course in 48.11. Little separated Becky Moult, Lisa Wright, Tracey Glover and Paul Glover as they finished in 49.07, 49.22, 50.00 and 50.00 respectively, with Tracey also clinching 2^nd spot in the WV50 category. Robert Read and Nikki Reeves ran well to finish in the top 100 race finishers before Laura Harper, making a welcome return to club racing action, stopped the clock in 55.26. Sarah Walters, Karen Wilks, and John Pegg all ran with distinction to finish in 56.18, 58.26 and 59.33, respectively.

Part of the community fabric of the Club husband and wife duo Kevin and Helen Clarke recorded the same time of 74.33 with the determined Teresa Swift one second back in 74.34 and the redoubtable Pauline Cooper completing the Club’s finishers in 77.39.

Rejoice – an actual race!

Apt, that on a beautiful, still, spring morning competitive road racing returned to the area in the form of the Leicestershire Half Marathon. With a lot of the race within the confines of Prestwold Hall, 726 socially distanced runners, including 7 from South Derbyshire were started in waves. The course they tackled was largely flat but over a variety of surfaces, including sections of loose gravel at the start and finish. Abbey Van Dijk showed that she has used lockdown to excellent effect as she stormed around the course to win the women’s race in a superb chip time of 01.21:07 with her nearest competitor some 6 minutes back. Second claimer Rich Miller ran strongly to finish 2^nd MV55 in 01.27:02 with Mark Slade not far behind in a well run 01.27:23. In form Andy Orme was agonisingly close to ducking under 01.30 with 01.30:45 with Chris Mason taking the honours in the early vaccination stakes with 01.35:45 and 1^st MV70 spot, just edging out Colin Mee in 01.35:52 and Steve Leafe in 01.38:12. Special thanks on this special day should also go to the organisers and marshals, including many with South Derbyshire connections, who ensured the event was delivered safely and securely.

Crowning glory!!!

While many runners worry that the spring marathon they’ve trained long and hard for may now be postponed there are still races to be run and prizes to be competed for. The last race in this year’s Derby Runner Cross Country Series (Derby/Staffs) at Sinai Park, Burton on Trent on Sunday saw a clean sweep of the series team trophies by the Club with Abbey Van Dijk, Chris Pearson, Mark Harriott and Andy Orme also securing well deserved individual and age group prizes. Abbey Van Dijk continues to go from strength to strength and 6 days after winning the 1^st women’s prize at the Leicester Half Marathon was representing Derbyshire at Prestwold Hall in the Inter Counties Cross Country Championship. Against the best runners in the country Abbey was first Derbyshire runner home and a very respectable 73^rd overall.

At the far from gentle Sinai Park Gareth Watkins, making a really welcome return to competitive action for the Club, was 2^nd in the men’s race with Rich Miller, Seb Van Dijk, Chris Hanman and Mark Harriott all putting in outstanding performances to finish in 4^th, 8^th, 10^th and 11^th places respectively. Sam Bassett, slowly getting back to his best form, finished in 23^rd with the fast starting Mikey Walters in 30^th and Andy Alsop in 31^st completing the men’s team finishers. Men’s Club Captain, Andy Orme collected the 33^rd place token with Matt Long in 36^th, Hector Arenas in 46^th, Ross Ballinger in 47^th and Dave Green in 53^rd completing the Club’s finishers in the men’s race. 

The Club’s women were led home by an excellent performance from Chrissie Hawtin in 4^th place with Katie Dennis in 6^th, Tracey Glover in 13^th and women’s Club Captain, Lisa Wright in 14^th completing another outstanding team performance. Becky Lenaghan in 27^th, Emma Sharp in 39^th, Sarah Walters in 47^th and Julianne Walters in 63^rd completed the Club’s finishers in the women’s race and rounded off an excellent season in what has probably been one of the wettest, windiest winters on record.

Ross Clarke, training hard for the Manchester Marathon, smashed his 10k PB in the Fradley 10k with 36:35 for 17^th place out of 990 finishers. At the same race Shannon Hurdman continued her improvement with an excellent 56:44 with Richard Gee and Jerome Jones recording 61:19 and 78:34 respectively. Colin Mee continued his return to racing with a hard run 01:40.40 in the Retford Half Marathon while Tim Rhodes, another tackling a spring marathon, continued his build up with 43.35 for an excellent 9^th place finish in the Burghley 7. John Morgan and Pauline Cooper were in action at the very challenging Kibworth 6, with John recording an excellent 40:38 with currently no official finishing times available. Steve Leafe and Robin Thorne tackled the 10 mile version of the Cannock Trail Race, which had previously been postponed, because of bad weather, earlier in winter. Both ran good, solid races recording 82:57 and 103:17 respectively. Sophie Anne Pickett and Amy Brookes tackled the 5 mile version and both ran with distinction recording very respectable times of 47:25 and 57:49.

Last but definitely not least Chris Baxter was in action in Wales where he ran superbly to win the Wrexham 10 in a new Club record of 55:48.

Abbey powers home!!!

Another winter Sunday, another Derby Runner Cross Country League race and another decisive victory for Abbey Van Dijk in the women’s race at Grace Dieu on Sunday. In the more competitive Leicestershire division of the league Abbey’s margin of victory over the next finisher was still a significant one. For the women’s team it was a race where new names contributed to the team performance with Becky Lenaghan in 109^th, Helen Clarke in 168^th and Julianne Walters in 172^nd the other team scorers with the resilient Pauline Cooper completing the Club’s finishers in the women’s race.

Chris Pearson, in possibly his best cross country performance of the season, was first back for the Club in the men’s race with a 15^th place finish edging out Andy Hawtin, who is putting together a great series of cross races, in 22^nd. The ever reliable Mark Harriott was next in an excellent 55^th with Mikey Walters, arguably producing the Club performance of the day, in 85^th getting the better, on this occasion, of fellow senior, Shane Chapman in 89^th. The consistent Andy Orme was next in a solid 129^th with Ross Ballinger and Hector Arenas giving everything over a very technical course, to complete the Club’s men’s team finishers in 144^th and 147^th places respectively. It was great to see two of the Club’s more seasoned runners finish in relatively close order as Steve Leafe and Colin Mee collected the 161^st and 165^th place finishing tokens with Chris Elsegood and Andy Meadows, continuing his cross country education, in 192^nd and 208^th places respectively. Kevin Clarke showed all of his racing experience to finish in 220^th with the determined Dave Walters completing the Club’s finishers in the men’s race.

It’s Abbey again!!!

Abbey Van Dijk seems to be getting stronger with every race. In the latest leg of this season’s Derby Runner Cross Country League (Staffs & Derby) at Allestree, Abbey was again 1^st in the women’s race and also the first of the Club’s 28 competitors to finish.  On a cold, frosty, misty morning over a very muddy course Chris Pearson was next across the line for a superb 7^th place in the men’s race with Seb Van Dijk, who is improving with every race, close behind in 10^th. The ultra-reliable Mark Harriott was next in 15^th with Tim Rhodes, Men’s Captain Andy Orme and Mikey Walters all giving everything to finish in 34^th, 42^nd and 50^th places respectively. The evergreen Matt Long and Steve Leafe both defied the year’s to finish in 54^th and 59^th places respectively and deservedly completed the team scorers in the men’s race. Ross Ballinger collected the 63^rd place finishing token with Andy Meadows in 66^th finishing ahead of a plethora of quality runners including the returning Colin Mee in 73^rd and Joe Baldwin in 79^th. Kevin Clarke, Chris Elsegood and David Green battled through the mud to finish in 85^th, 90^th and 93^rd places with David hampered, as was Mikey Walters before him, by having to go searching for a lost shoe. Tony Richards, Dave Walters and Mitch Timms gave everything to complete the Club’s finishers in the men’s race in 103^rd, 106^th and 109^th places.

Team wise it was another strong performance by the Club’s women with Tracey Glover running strongly for 10^th place, Women’s Club Captain, Lisa Wright in 25^th and Becky Lenaghan in 46^th providing excellent team support behind Abbey Van Dijk. Emma Sharp again performed well to finish in 60^th place just edging out Sarah Walters in 66^th and cross country debutant Ellie Dickson, in another of the performances of the day, in 72^nd. Helen Clarke made light of the conditions to finish in 84^th with Anna Casey and Julianne Walters not too far behind in 89^th and 90^th places.   

Abbey national!!!

It was the morning after the Club’s Annual Presentation Night but it didn’t stop 16 hardy members lining up on the start line at Groby for the latest leg in this year’s Derby Runner XC League. In the more competitive Leicestershire division of the league Abbey Van Dijk showed what a quality runner she is by storming home in 1^st place in the women’s race. This was eight days after Abbey finished 5^th in a tight race over a tough 8km course at Shipley Park in the Derbyshire Cross Country Championship. This performance secured a county vest and well-earned selection in the Inter County Championship at nearby Prestwold Hall in March. Great team support was provided in the women’s race by Club Captain, Lisa Wright in 40^th, Nikki Reeves in 42^nd and a determined Becky Lenaghan in 112^th. Emma Sharp, who the night before was deservedly a division winner, was next home with the redoubtable Pauline Cooper completing the Club’s finishers in the women’s race in 250^th.

Club Chairman and Men’s Club Champion for the second year, Andy Hawtin led the Club’s men home in a solid 18^th place with two of the area’s best MV50 runners, Rich Miller and Mark Harriott, performing with distinction in 51^st and 84^th places respectively. Men’s Club Captain, Andy Orme set his usual good example as he finished in 139^th with Steve Leafe, easing his way back after injury, in 165^th. Ross Ballinger, who had a running year to remember in 2019, also started this year in great style in 193^rd place with Adrian Middleton not far behind in 212^th and Joe Baldwin, had the distinction of completing the team’s scorers in the men’s race, in 225^th. Lewis Cotton was close behind in 232^nd with MV60 Mitch Timms completing the Club’s finishers in the men’s race in 261^st.  

The Farmer is back!!!!!

James Farmer, fresh from his first term at university, showed that he has used his time well as he led the Club’s contingent of 24 home in the latest leg of the Derby Runner Cross Country League (Staffs and Derby). His superb 2^nd place finish led a really strong showing by both the Club’s men’s and women’s team over what was, unsurprisingly, very heavy going in Shipley Park. James was followed home by Ross Clarke in 5^th, who underlined what an excellent season of continuous improvement he has had. Seb Van Dijk ran strongly for 9^th place as did cross country debutant Steve Bullock in 13^th and the more seasoned Andy Windle in 17^th. Chris Hanman followed up his superb last racing performance with an excellent 20^th place finish with Mark Harriott in 29^th and Ben Holmes in 31^st, holding it all together to complete the men’s team finishers. Great support was provided by Rom Chambard in 34^th, Dave Green in 36^th and the evergreen Matt Long in 41^st. Men’s team captain, Andy Orme collected the 44^th place finishing token with Hector Arenas, gaining more valuable racing experience, in 59^th and Ian Archer in 64^th. There was then close racing between Paul Glover in 73^rd, Chris Elsegood in 75^th and Joe Baldwin in 76^th with Robin Thorne in 104^th completing the Club’s finishers in the men’s race.

Running as well as she has ever done, Chrissie Hawtin led the Club’s women home with another excellent 2^nd place finish with Katie Dennis in 5^th, Tracey Glover in 11^th and Women’s team captain, Lisa Wright, setting a brilliant example in 16^th completing a really solid team showing. Rebecca Lenaghan ran well for 40^th place with Sarah Walters continuing her love affair with the mud and water finishing in 46^th.

Shane Chapman continued his cultural tour of Europe when he tackled the Pisa Half Marathon and ran strongly to finish in a very respectable 01:31. Meanwhile, Gary Price, Paul Hudson, Kev Clarke and Andy Meadows were in action, courtesy of the Mountain Rescue Service, as they tackled the frequently cancelled Staffordshire Moorlands Christmas Cracker. The race, over approximately 8 miles, is mainly off road and rises to 1500 feet above sea level along the exposed Roaches gritstone ridge. Our intrepid runners finished en bloc taking the finishing times from 96:10 and finishing places from 103^rd onwards.  

It was another mud fest for the seventeen runners from the Club who took part on Sunday in the latest leg of the Derby Runner Cross Country League, over a new course at Mallory Park. Leading the way was Andy Hawtin, who recorded an excellent 35^th place finish, over what he recognises is not his favourite racing surface. Next, in 91^st, was one of the Club’s most consistent runners on all surfaces, Mark Harriot, who just got the better of Chris Hanman, who justifiably laid claim to the ‘performance of the day’ as he collected the 93^rd place finishing token. Rom Chambard ran strongly for 102^nd place with the rest of the team scorers, Andy Orme in 131^st, Matt Long in 151^st, Ian Archer in 179^th and Ross Ballinger in 195^th spread out down the field. Chris Elsegood ran strongly for 212^th with Joe Baldwin and Mitch Timms in fairly close order in 237^th and 245^th finishing places. Robin Thorne in 265^th, Mark Nixon in 275^th and David Walters in 298^th completed the Club’s finishers in the men’s race.

The improving Katie Dennis led the Club’s women home, in what was a very competitive race, with a superb 21^st place finish. Women’s Club Captain, Lisa Wright ran strongly for 34^th with Nikki Reeves in 54^th and Becky Lenaghan in a well-run 109^th completing the women’s team finishers. Emma Sharp, a day after reaching the milestone of 250 parkruns, finished in 150^th with Anna Casey collecting the 167^th place token after another committed run. Julianne Walters chose one of the longest and muddiest cross country courses to make her debut at the discipline and deserves great credit for passing the test with flying colours as she finished in 172^nd place.

Four of the Club’s runners were on a slightly firmer surface as they tackled the annual Sneyd Christmas Pudding 10 miler. Over a relatively flat course but in gusty conditions Chris Mason was first back in 71:55, a performance that was good enough to secure the MV65 prize and a 49^th place finish. Also amongst the prizes was Tracey Glover, whose well deserved distance PB of 75:18, secured the WV45 prize and a 71^st place finish.  Steve Leafe battled well for his 75:47 with the hard running Gary Price completing the quartet with a highly creditable 82:51. Lastly, James Farmer, a first year student at Aberystwyth proved he is making the most of university by setting a superb PB at the Aber 10k of 35:39

Abbey does it again!!!

The cross country races come thick and fast at this time of year and this Sunday, in the Derby/Stafford division of the Derby Runner League, it was a new course at Cliff Lakes, Tamworth that the hardy souls, including thirty two from the Club, had to tackle. Needless to say it was very wet and muddy but this didn’t deter Abbey Van Dijk as, for the second consecutive week, she won the women’s race by a significant margin. Abbey was well supported team wise by a resurgent Christina Hawtin in 5^th, Women’s captain Lisa Wright in 21^st and the determined Nikki Reeves in 25^th. Second Claimer Fiona Betts was next in 28^th followed closely by Hazel O’Brien in 30^th and the improving Katarina Compton in 37^th. Becky Moult powered home in 53^rd followed by Sarah Walters in 60^th and Shannon Hurdman, cross country debutant Helen Clarke and Anna Casey in 89^th, 94^th and 95^th places respectively.

The Club’s men’s team were led home by Chris Pearson, who revels in the mud and wet, and finished here in an excellent 3^rd place. Someone who has displayed remarkable consistency across all surfaces this year is Mark Harriott and he put local knowledge to good use to finish in a superb 24^th place. The yellow vests then swamped the finish area as the hard running Ben Holmes, Shane Chapman, Micheal Walters and Andy Allsop collected the 28^th, 29^th, 30^th and 32^nd finishing tokens. In a morning of good performances Micheal Walters, on his cross country debut, deserves special mention for a consistent, well-paced effort in testing conditions. Men’s Team Captain, Andy Orme in 48^th and race debutant Hector Arenas in a well-run 55^th completed the men’s team finishers. Mention should also be made of another debutant Darren Wilson who finished in 41^st but unfortunately couldn’t count in the team because of his second claim status. David Green finished in 60^th just edging out another second claimer James Cox in a very promising 61^st. Veteran Matt Long made light of the conditions to finish in 66^th getting the better on this occasion of Ross Ballinger in 81^st, Chris Elsegood in 86^th, the improving Jo Baldwin in 92^nd and another vet, Kev Clarke in 94^th. David Walters, another debutant Paul Newman and Robin Thorne gave everything to the cause as they completed the Club’s finishers in the men’s race in very respectable 112^th, 117^th and 126^th places respectively. 

In another busy running weekend there was also significant contingents from the Club in road race action in the popular Clowne and Silverstone Half Marathons. Over a challenging Clowne course there were a significant number of terrific performances with Chris Hanman first back in a personal best chip time of 94:16 for an excellent 56^th place finish. One of the Club’s most improved runners this season Romain Chambard was three places back in 94:31 before Steve Leafe, in arguably his best performance of the year, stopped the clock in 97:45. There was also a well-deserved personal best from Katie Dennis of 98:02 who led home Tracey Glover in 100:48 and Ian Archer in 101:41. Paul Glover recorded 105:25 before another excellent distance personal best of 107:10 from Mark Murkin. Andy Meadows ran well for his 109:04 as did Gary Price for 114:45, David Lunn for 129:07 and Emma Sharp for another well-deserved distance personal best of 137:44.

Silverstone race track was the iconic venue for a series of road races on Sunday with the Club’s contingent of five tackling the half marathon distance. Tim Rhodes was first back in 97:50 followed closely by Andy Lindley in a chip time of 97:52. There was ecstasy and agony for the next finishers with John Pegg ducking under the two hour benchmark in 119:56 and Ellie Dickson and Sarah Rhodes agonisingly missing out with 120:13 and 121:03.  

Fifty four members from the Club were in action over the weekend at five different venues and the thing they all had in common was……wet feet!! Laying claim to the wettest feet were the sixteen who took part in the first leg of the Derby Runner Cross Country League (Leicestershire Division) at Holly Hayes Wood. With the usual mix of rocks and gratuitous water hazards you need to be resilient to survive and Abbie Van Dijk was all of these as she won the women’s race by a significant margin. She was given great team support by Team Captain, Lisa Wright in 38^th, Katarina Compton in 61^st and Anna Casey in 197^th. The men were deservedly led home by Mark Harriott in 85^th with strongman Shane Chapman in 96^th and debutant Sebastian Van Dijk in a well-run 104^th. Ben Holmes ran strongly for 113^th with something of a gap before Adrian Middleton, making a welcome return to the mud and water, finished in 199^th. Steve Leafe battled around for 205^th place before Chris Elsegood and Ian Archer completed the team scorers in 212^th and 223^rd places. Special mention should be made of second claimer Rich Miller who ran strongly for 44^th place but was unable to count in the team and to Joe Baldwin, second claimer Mitch Timms and Mark Nixon who battled well for 270^th, 306^th and 317^th places respectively.

Equally wet were the seventeen who tackled the Derby 10 mile race which, surprisingly given the conditions, featured a significant number of distance PBs for the Club’s contingent. The Club’s first three finishers Danial Bower, Ross Clarke and Darren Holmes were separated, on chip times, by 23 seconds and three finishing positions as they finished in 30^th, 31^st and 33^rd places in times of 61:48, 61:56 and 62:11 respectively. Rob Eaton, still recovering from the Chicago Marathon, ran solidly for his 65:56 as did Nathan Holmes in 67:45 and Tim Rhodes in 68:09. The next three finishers were separated by 13 seconds with Rom Chambard, Andy Lindley and Christina Hawtin recording 68:58, 69:01 and 69:11 and all having the satisfaction of recording distance PBs. Men’s Club Captain, Andy Orme returned to form with 69:31 just edging out the resilient Matt Clemson in 71:32. Ross Ballinger, Becky Moult and John Pegg ran well for their chip times of 82:42, 87:49 and 88:31 as did the improving Emma Sharp as she stopped the clock in 100:00. Shannon Hurdman and Pauline Cooper gave their usual maximum effort to complete the Club’s finishers in 114:40 and 122:12.

Also with solid, if wet, ground beneath their feet were the seventeen who tackled the Matthew Walker Christmas Pudding 10k. Leading the way for the group was Steve Bullock in a very respectable 41:37 with Mikey Walters not far behind in 42:33. David Green, Chris Hanman and Phil Daws all ran to form in recording 44:40, 45:21 and 47:02 before, what was arguably the Club’s performance of the race from Mark Murkin, as he stopped the clock in 47:28. Kev Clarke couldn’t quite replicate the distance PB performance of son Ross at the Derby 10 mile but rolled back the years in recording 50:10 with another experienced runner Gary Price doing well for 51:02. Kelvin Taylor and Dave Walters finished closely in 53:03 and 53:26 with Andy Meadows next in 54:31. Sarah Walters ran superbly for her 55:38 as did Becky Lenaghan in 58:03. David Lunn also ducked beneath the hour with 58:40 before Jan Cobb, Helen Clarke and Julianne Walters completed the Club’s finishers in 66:16, 71:12 and 74:10 respectively.

Paul and Tracey Glover raced much further afield as they tackled the 13 Arches Trail Half Marathon near Manchester and both ran with distinction as they recorded very respectable times of 01:41.47 and 01:42.30. Chris Mason, probably had the driest feet, as he competed on Saturday in the annual British and Irish Masters International XC at Aintree Racecourse over a flat, almost dry 6km course. Chris managed to finish as third scorer in the victorious English team and fifth overall in the MV70 category.