Chris Mason

Jenny continues her winning streak!!!

While modestly acknowledging she is not currently in peak racing form Jenny Laing continues to turn in unbeatable performances in the Derby Runner Cross Country. In the latest race, over a challenging course in Shipley Country Park, she stormed to her fourth, first place finish out of four races. The shame was, for a variety of reasons, the Club’s women didn’t have sufficient numbers to complete a full team to continue the group’s rise up the Women’s League Table. However, this in no way should detract from the efforts of Lucy Cartwright and Sarah Green who gave everything in finishing in 74^th and 93^rd places respectively.

The Club’s men just had sufficient numbers to complete a full team with some quality performances suggesting they have done enough to hold on to their top of the table position. Chris Pearson led the group home with a superb 7^th place finish. Training partner Mike Nash, with what could be a season long healthy rivalry,  was close behind in 9^th with another in a rich vein of form, Mark Slade, performing superbly for 17^th place. Reigning Club Champion Steve Green and the strong running Richard Nash were also close as they finished in 20^th and 22^nd places respectively. It was great to welcome Shane Chapman back to competitive action after an injury hampered couple of years. Here he scored valuable team points as he finished in 60^th place. Men’s Club Captain, Andy Orme and MV60 Steve Leafe completed the men’s team finishers in very respectable 71^st and 76^th place finishes respectively.

In very different conditions three runners from the Club took part in the Nottingham Holme Run. Rom Chambard tackled the half marathon distance and ran with distinction to finish in 16^th place overall in a chip time of 01.31:28. Dan Bower and Emma Sharp competed in the 10k iteration of the event with Dan storming to a well deserved second place podium finish in the men’s race in a time of 36:37. Emma also ran superbly for a twelfth place finish in the women’s race in 53:36.    

It’s only Mud

Cold and damp, perfect conditions on Sunday for the final race in the 2022 Club Championship, at Allestree, the latest stop in 2022/23 Derby Runner Cross Country League. The six-mile course was challenging but it did not deter the Club’s man for all terrains, Chris Pearson, leading the Club’s contingent home in a superb seventh place in the men’s race. Only two places back was Mike Nash, who made his cross-country race debut look extremely easy. The friendly rivalry between these two training partners promises to push both on to greater things in future years. Seb Van Dijk again performed well over the country to finish in twenty third place with Steve Green and Danial Bower, who have both had wonderfully consistent seasons, not far behind in twenty ninth and thirty third places, respectively. Chris Hanman performed well to finish in forty fourth place with David Green and Rom Chambard completing the men’s team finishers in fifty seventh and sixty sixth places. Men’s team skipper, Andy Orme, was next to cross the line in eighty fifth with outgoing Club Champion, Ross Ballinger, and the battling MV65, Colin Mee not far behind in ninety first and ninety fifth places, respectively. Steve Leafe battled round to finish in a hundred and first place with the improving Paul Hudson in a hundred and twenty eighth. David Walters, Colin Sharp, Gareth Simpson, and Danny Scott completed the Club’s finishers in the men’s race in a hundred and thirty second, a hundred fiftieth, a hundred and fifty first and a hundred and fifty eighth places, respectively.

In the women’s race Christina Hawtin, looked right back to form as she stormed round to finish in eighth place getting the better, on this occasion, of Sara Insley, who herself has gone from strength to strength this season and here finished in a very respectable eleventh place. Lisa Wright ran gamely for thirty first place with the battling Emma Sharp completing the team finishers in the women’s race. Excellent team support was provided by Sarah Walters in eighty fourth, mum Julianne Walters in eighty fifth, Sarah Green in eighty ninth place, Lucy Cartwright in ninety fourth with the indefatigable Pauline Cooper in ninety eighth place completing the Club’s finishers in the women’s race.

Shepshed domination

When the season’s change and the clocks go back, for local runners two things stay constant. One is that the focus changes from the road to the country and the other is that the Shepshed 7, a combination of trail, country, and road, takes place on the nearest Sunday to Bonfire Night. This year was no different and a terrific turnout of forty-five runners from South Derbyshire Road Runners, approximately 10% of the field, lined up for what could be the last running of this venerable event. A new housing development on the estate through which the race passes may make staging the race impossible next year. In the men’s race the Club’s strength in depth was emphasised as excellent running from Chris Baxter, tenth in a chip time of 42.44, Danial Bower, nineteenth in 44.18 and Mark Farrar, twenty seventh in 45.54 secured the team prize against formidable opposition. Also prominent were Steve Green, thirty second in 46.39 and Mark Harriott, thirty third in 47.00. What made this even more of an outstanding performance for the MV50 was that in consecutive weekends in October he completed the London and Chicago Marathons. Richard Nash and Micheal Walters recorded excellent chip times of 48.05 and 48.41 respectively before the Club’s first finisher in the women’s race, Jenny Laing, crossed the line in 49.20. Again, what made this performance even more outstanding was that last weekend Jenny battled the elements and the formidable course to complete the Snowdonia Marathon. David Green and Darren Potter finished in close order in 49.47 and 50.01 before the improving Sara Insley stopped the clock in 50.49. Men’s Captain, Andy Orme, was next to finish in a chip time of 51.45 before Paul Glover put in one of the performances of the day to finish in 52.29. Making her way back to racing fitness Christina Hawtin finished in 53.23, just edging out Matt Clemson in 53.39 and Ross Ballinger in 54.07. Little separated father and daughter combination, Nigel, and Emily Atkins, as they finished in 54.20 and 55.00, respectively. Colin Mee has had a competitive season but in recent weeks he has experienced a niggling injury. However, this did not hamper him too much here as he finished in 55.57   Another who has seen his progress hampered by injury is Ian Archer and here he showed he is on the right track as he finished in 56.42 with the quickly improving Jay Darnley not far behind in 57.12. Clive Lamb with 59.04 finished in front of Kat Compton’s 59.14 on chip times if not in ‘gun to tape’ racing with Dave Walters breathing down their necks in 59.27 while Becky Moult, who has had a consistent season, ran with Rom Chambard as they finished with identical times of 60.15. Rom is another who has earned a break after completing a marathon and an Ironman in recent months. Paul Hudson, who will have appreciated the off-road elements of this race, finished in 61.05 with relative newcomer to the Club’s ranks, Robert Dilworth, finishing in a well run 62.23 just edging out Robert Read in 62.52. Kevin Clarke, who will have fond memories of this race as a 10k, was not far behind in a very respectable 63.03. There was then something of a gap before two others with Autumn marathons in their legs, Sarah Walters, and Emma Sharp, crossed the line in 66.41 and 68.45. Linda Dakin and Sophie Pickett put in good performances to stop the clock in 70.08 and 72.15, respectively. Julianne Walters, after last month’s tremendous achievement of completing the Chester Marathon, recorded 74.34, Mary Sharp 75.47, Becky Atkins 76.16, Sarah Green 77.00 before Sarah Sneath and Ellie Dickson crossed the line together in 78.09. Lucy Cartwright, Danny Scott and the redoubtable, Pauline Cooper battled well for times of 80.35, 81.29, and 85.34 respectively before Teresa Swift and Helen Clarke completed the Club’s finishers as they crossed the line together in 92.34.

Last weekend saw the first race in the Derby Runner XC League (Staffs/Derby] at Anslow. While it was a modest turn out for the Club it was also something of a bonus because last season the race clashed with the Worksop HM and we didn’t have the numbers for a men’s team. Here the Club was well served by Seb Van Dijk in 14th, Mark Slade in 15th and Dan Bower in 17th. Other men team scorers in a good, solid team performance were Steve Green in 24th, Richard Nash in 26th, Micheal Walters in 38th, David Green in 53rd and the returning Shane Chapman in 65th. Support in the men’s race was provided by Andy Orme in 69th, Nigel Atkins in 88th, Ross Ballinger in 109th, and Paul Hudson in 113th. The Club’s women, looking to build on the success of a very successful BDSL season, just had the numbers in this race with all finishers counting. First back was Sara Insley, who is fast becoming a mainstay of the team, in 11th, with Christina Hawtin in 20th, Sarah Green in 95th and Pauline Cooper in 106th.

No stopping the women!!!

In terrific running conditions South Derbyshire Road Runners were out in force for the final race of the Burton and District Summer Road Running League (BDSL), the Tamworth 5. The Club’s women had already secured the BDSL team title and even without injured Club Captain, Katie Dennis they emphasised their strength here by winning the team prize. Led by Sara Insley in third place overall in a superb 33.37 with terrific support provided by the returning Jenny Laing in 34.31 and the improving Becky Moult in 37.05. The Club’s men, after a good season, have had to settle for second place in the BDSL and it was Andy Hawtin who set the standard here as he finished in eleventh place in 30.01 to edge out, by a whisker, Mark Slade in 30.03. Steve Green, Mark Farrar, Dave Green, and Richard Nash finished within seven places of each other as they recorded chip times of 31.08, 31.47, 32.32 and 32.37, respectively. Andy Orme was his usual consistent self as he recorded 34.28 before Ross Ballinger held his form well to stop the clock in 34.52. The resurgent Colin Mee has had an excellent, if unlucky season, in that he has missed the prizes his form has deserved. Here he was second again in his age group despite running an excellent 34.53 with Nigel Atkins one place back in the MV60 category in 35.38. Completing a clean sweep of this age category Steve Leafe’s 36.17 secured an excellent fourth place. Chris Mason was next in 36.42, which was good enough to secure the MV70 age group prize, with Neil Swift, after a great debut season, close behind in 37.10. Tracey Glover, despite a heavy cold, emphasised her strength in the WV45 category as she won the category here in 37.28 just edging out Emily Atkins in a well run 37.30. Paul Glover and the quickly improving Jay Darnley and Paul Hudson stopped the clock in 38.34, 38.48 and 39.39 respectively before Robert Dilworth, making a very welcome competitive debut for the Club, recorded 42.26 for second place in the MV70 category with Paul Harrison’s 43.35 securing third place in the same category. Sarah Walters and John Pegg recorded chip times of 44.11 and 45.23 respectively before Sophie Pickett crossed the line in 48.24 and another MV70, Tony Phillips, confirmed his standing as well-deserved winner of the series age group prize, with 49.50. Another making his racing debut Gareth Simpson recorded 50.53 with Mary Sharp, second in her age category in 51.57 and little separating the final four finishers for the Club, Sarah Green, Sara Sneath, Ellie Dickson and, making her race debut for the Club, Karen Goodwin as they recorded times of 52.37, 53.25, 53.26 and 54.54   

South Derbyshire women turn up the heat!

Come race time it was 27 degrees but this did not deter the Club’s women from clinching the Burton and District Summer League (BDSL) in the penultimate race and also claiming a great deal of the prize money on offer in Sunday’s Burton 10k. Leading the way was Kelly Knight’s superb 41.51, which secured first place in the women’s race, with women’s captain Katie Dennis third overall in 44.54. Completing the successful women’s team was Andrea Beaty with 47.52, which deservedly secured first place in the VW45 category. Linda Dakin completed the women’s prize winning by securing the VW55 prize with an excellent 61.41. There were also great performances from Becky Moult, Emily Atkins, Amy Dakin, and Sarah Walters, who overcame the heat and a challenging course to record 50.52, 54.19, 56.18 and 57.50, respectively. Lucy Cartwright recorded 63.33 with Sara Sneath and Elle Dickson finishing virtually together in 69.25 and 69.26 before Sarah Green completed the Club’s finishers, in the women’s race, with a very respectable 69.59

There were also terrific performances from the Club’s men with Ashley Hurdman recording an excellent 34.31 to finish second overall and Chris Pearson, continuing his season of excellence with 35.15 and first place in the highly competitive MV40 category. The men’s situation in the BDSL is more complicated as they are locked in a battle with Tamworth AC, which will go to the final league race of the season, the Tamworth 5 on 18^th September. On this occasion it was second place to Tamworth in the contest for the team prize with the other team scorers being Danial Bower and Jacob Edmunds, who recorded condition defying times of 39.11 and 39.35, respectively. Also running superbly were Sam Bassett who also ducked below the 10k benchmark of forty minutes as he recorded 39.50 and Steve Green and Mark Slade who recorded 40.01 and 40.16, respectively. The Club’s strength in depth was reaffirmed by the performances of Mark Farrar, Dave Green, the competitive Mikey Walters, Nathan Fagan, and Stuart Halsey, who all recorded top fifty finishes with times of 42.55, 43.00,43.37,44.36 and 44.41, respectively. Neil Swift is improving with every race and his 45.32 saw him edge out the resurgent Colin Mee’s 46.44 and Ross Ballinger’s 47.28. Clive Lamb, Steve Leafe, Paul Hudson, and Tony Richards battled against the challenging course and the heat to record 50.26, 51.23, 52.08 and 53.21 while Jay Darnley continued gaining racing experience with a hardworking 57.17. John Pegg ducked beneath the hour with 59.21, while Danny Scott stopped the clock in 64.40 before the redoubtable Tony Phillips secured a well-deserved MV70 prize with 65.22. Gareth Simpson was breathing down his neck with 65.35 before the excellent Graham Blackshaw completed the Club’s finishers in the men’s race with 70.12.