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.

Gates no barrier to Steve!!

The yellow vests were again to the fore in the latest chapter of the Burton and District Summer Road Racing League, the Gate Gallop 10k. Over farm tracks and footpaths runners’ progress was also challenged by a strong wind and, in the second half of the race, the need to tackle five strategically placed stiles. These were no barrier though to Steve Bullock who revelled in the conditions as he led the group home in tenth place overall in a superb chip time of 38.53. The consistent Dan Bower, Andy Hawtin and Jamie Green gave great close support as they finished in twelfth, thirteenth and fourteenth places respectively in times of 39.20, 39.41 and 40.42. A solid men’s team performance was completed by Steve Green, Richard Nash, and David Green as they stopped the clock in 42.04, 43.09 and 43.29, respectively. The major success of the day though belonged to the Club’s women as the collective performances of Sara Insley, Katie Dennis and Tracey Glover led to them winning the women’s team prize with Sara Insley’s 45.45 also securing the WV35 prize from teammate Katie Dennis’s 47.27 and Tracey Glover the WV45 prize in 50.21. Back to the main race and the talented Chris Hanman made light of the conditions with 43.50 getting the edge, on this occasion, over Micheal Walters in 44.55. Men’s Club Captain Andy Orme, who is learning to manage his racing effort more consistently, ran well for 45.41 before one of the performances of the day came from Neil Swift who made light of his limited racing experience to record an excellent 46.42. The resurgent MV60. Colin Mee ran superbly for his 46.50 with Matt Clemson completing the top fifty finishers with 46.58.  Nathan Holmes with 47.37 led a group home comprising VM70 age category winner Chris Mason with 48.08, Steve Leafe with 48.30 and Ross Ballinger with 49.28. The improving Becky Moult and Rom Chambard recorded the same time of 51.16 with Clive Lamb, with a superb debut performance not far behind in 52.00. There was an even closer inter-club battle involving Paul Glover’s 53.11, Martin Bullock, on his return from injury, with 53.26, Paul Hudson with 53.32 and Jay Darnley and Katarina Compton who battled right to the line to record the same time of 53.36. The theme continued with Dave Walters, Tony Richards and Emily Atkins recording competitive times of 54.56, 55.04 and 55.26, respectively. Emma Sharp and Sarah Walters ran well to duck under the hour mark with 58.36 and 59.26 before Linda Dakin in 61.10 led a group home comprising John Pegg, Katie Bullock, Sarah Green, and Becky Atkins who recorded 63.23, 64.44, 69.42, 69.42 and 69.54, respectively. The biggest cheer of the day was reserved for Mary Sharp whose 71.37 secured a well deserved VW65 age category prize. Sara Sneath, Ellie Dickson, and Karen Wilks finished together in 73.46 as did Teresa Swift and Julianne Walters in 74.13 before Pauline Cooper gave her usual maximum effort to complete the Club’s finishers in 75.57.

Hitting the Trails

Mark Harriott, Jenny Laing, and Kelvin Taylor were in Coed Y Brenin on Saturday for Trail Marathon Wales. The 26.2-mile route has 4,700ft of ascent with Jenny Laing finishing in 4h 51m for 16th female and ninth in age category running an extraordinarily strong second half. Mark Harriott ran 4h 57m for 104th position and 10th in the MV50 class. Meanwhile running in the Half Marathon distance, which is no less challenging, Kelvin Taylor completed the 13.1-mile route in 2h 51m

Much, much closer to home a number of the Club’s runners took part in Derby Half Marathon, with Danial Bower the Club’s sole representative in the 5-mile option. Dan showed though what a terrific runner he is in finishing fourth overall in a chip time of 29.04. In the half marathon you could almost throw a blanket over Robbie Cresswell-Howe, Sam Bassett and Mark Slade as they recorded excellent chip times of 01.27:26, 01.27:27 and 01.27:46. Also well to the fore in their age categories were the husband and wife duo of Tracey and Paul Glover as they recorded very respectable times of 01.42:53 and 01.45:35.

Ash on the glory leg!

It felt like another significant step in the return to normality on Wednesday night as local runners gathered for the 2022 edition of the popular Washlands Relays. The Club’s yellow vests were well to the fore both numerically and when it came to the allocation of prizes. After never leading until the final leg, race debutant Ashley Hurdman stormed home in the joint fastest time for the 2.1mile circuit of 10.33 to lead the team to the senior men’s prize. This was very much a team triumph with Dan Bower’s 11.36, Chris Pearson’s third fastest leg of the night 10.54 and Steve Bullock’s 11.38 all contributing to a wonderful team performance. Not to be overshadowed, the Club’s veteran women’s team of Kelly Knight {13.30}, Katie Dennis {14.12} and Jennie Laing {13.36} secured third place overall and the first veteran women’s team prize. Also, prominent in the men’s race was the team of Seb Van Dijk (12.14), Mark Farrar (12.36), Sam Bassett (12.35) and the willing Dan Bower (12.05) whose combined efforts led the team to eighth place. The mixed vet’s team of Rob Eaton, Sarah Insley, Mark Slade, and Andy Hawtin stormed to a well deserved first place in their category and twelfth place overall with an excellent combined time of 50.26.  The Club’s strength in depth was highlighted by the consistency of the team of Jacob Edmonds (12.06), Nathan Fagan (13.20), Robbie Cresswell-Howe (12.30) and Chris Hanman (13.19) whose combined efforts led to a very creditable fifteenth place finish. The team of Rich Miller (13.10), Mark Harriott (13.55), Matt Clemson (13.04) and, making his racing debut for the  Club, Richard Nash (13.19), ran well for eighteenth place before one of the oldest teams, in terms of combined age, comprising Chris Mason, Colin Mee and Steve Leafe but, given a much needed boost by Rob Eaton finished in 23^rd place in a combined time of 56.12.    Although unrelated but united by the Green surname the team of Steve (12.23), Sarah (20.25), Jamie (12.46) and David (13.19) gave everything for a 27^th place finish. The very much related Walters team of Micheal, Sarah, Julianne, and Dave rolled back the generational differences to finish in a combined total of 68.14. The women’s team of Christina Hawtin (14.53), Kat Compton (15.38) and the quickly improving Emily Atkins with 14.31 ran well for eighth place in the women’s race as did Sophie Pickett (19.01), Nikki Reeves (18.18) and Katie Bullock 17.09), whose combined efforts secured twenty sixth place in the same category. The experienced team of Mary Sharp (21.02), the evergreen Cath Johnston (25.48) and Pauline Cooper gave their usual maximum effort to clinch thirty third position in their category. The mixed team of Rom Chambard (12.39), who even at this early stage of the season looks to be one of the candidates for most improved male runner, Emma Sharp (16.36), Becky Moult (15.05) and Lisa Wright (15.07) stormed home for thirtieth place ahead of the combined efforts of Andy Orme (14.01), Colin Sharp (19.14), Barry Ross (14.15) and, making his racing debut for the Club, Darren Potter (13.47) in thirty eighth and Jamie Green (12.34), Linda Dakin (19.22), Amy Dakin (16.49) and Steve Green (12.55) in fortieth. Showing what a great job the Club Captains had done in balancing the teams the team of John Pegg, Tony Richards, Tracey Glover and Paul Glover finished in forty fourth place with a combined total of 63.19, the team of the fast starting Ross Ballinger, Jay Darnley, Ian Archer and MV70 Tony Phillips with a combined total of 65.08 finished in forty fifth place and the team comprising the returning Shane Chapman, Ellie Dickson, Ash Wootton and Paul Hudson in forty seventh with a combined total of 68.11. Concluding an enjoyable night of running action was the mixed team of Shane Stanton (17.55), Jane Ward-Stanton (20.40), Becki Atkins (19.27) and Barry Saunders (15.01) for a respectable fifty second place finish.

Stevie does not wonder!!!!

The Uttoxeter Half Marathon is widely recognised as one of the toughest road races in the region, but this did not deter twenty-two runners from the Club toeing the start line for this latest leg of the 2022 Burton and District Summer Road Racing League. Steve Bullock, last year’s winner of the Club’s most improved runner award, showed he has no intention of resting on his laurels as he was first back for the Club in a superb distance personal best of 01.23:07 for 12^th place overall. Danial Bower also continued his excellent early season form for 14^th place in an excellent 01.24:01. Steve Green took advantage of the aerobic fitness he has gained in training for the recent Brighton Marathon with a chip time of 01.29:15 while John Morgan and Mark Harriott, who are both experts in maintaining and developing aerobic fitness, recorded excellent chip times of 01.29:07 and 01.30:47, respectively. Matt Clemson, Chris Hanman and Micheal Walters all ran well for good times of 01.31:23, 01.33:24 and 01.35:22, while David Green, someone who has tackled ultra-distance recently, should be well pleased with 01.35:27. Andy Orme, after a difficult start to the race, came home strongly in a very respectable time of 01.38:40 before Katie Dennis, showing no ill effects from the recent Manchester Marathon, led the Club’s women home in an excellent 01.39:40 and a well deserved second place in her age category. Steve Leafe was also second in his age category in recording 01.39:55 before a slight gap to Ross Ballinger, who conquered the course in 01.50:46. David Walters and Jay Darnley were close on chip times recording 01.55:09 and 01.55:49, respectively. Katarina Compton was very close behind in 01.55:57 with little separating Sarah Walters and Karen Wilks as they stopped the clock in 02.06:29 and 02.06:43. In a day of great age category performances the redoubtable Tony Phillips was third MV70 in 02.18:40 before John Pegg, Pauline Cooper and Julianne Walters gave great accounts of themselves over an ultra-difficult course with chip times of 02.25:40, 02.36:34 and 02.40:50. For Pauline it was also another well deserved third place finish in her age category.  

There was also a large Club contingent who ventured into deepest Leicestershire countryside to take part in the Wymeswold Waddle 5. Leading the group home was the strong running Rom Chambard in a superb 31:21 with the resurgent Colin Mee rolling back the years recording a chip time of 34:49. There was then a small gap to a group comprising Lisa Wright, Paul Glover, Mark Nugent, Emily Atkins and Tracey Glover who finished within thirty seconds of each other in chip times of 37:26, 37:31, 37:43, 37:49 and 37:54 respectively. For Paul and Tracey Glover, it was an opportunity to get the previous weekend’s Stratford Marathon out of their legs. Ian Archer and Andy Meadows finished closely in 38:06 and 38:25 with Becky Moult also putting in a robust performance to record 39:39. Recent well-deserved recipient of the Conkers Parkrun Community Award, Kev Clarke showed there is still energy in his legs in stopping the clock in 40:05. Emma Sharp, a popular recipient of the sort after Club place in this year’s London Marathon, made a solid start to the build up with 44:38 with Linda Dakin not far behind in 45:24. Becky Atkins, Cath Johnston and Teresa Swift enjoyed their morning out in the countryside as they worked hard for times of 49:21, 64:05 and 64:06 respectively.   

On a busy running day the Club’s runners were also in action on the streets of Birmingham joining 13,000 others in the Great Birmingham Run. Mike Nash, Mark Farrar, Andrea Beaty and Robert Read tackled the half marathon option while Jamie Green and Chris Mason settled for the 10k offering. In good running conditions after recovering from the rigours of the Paris Marathon Mike Nash ran a superb PB of 01.23:22. Mark Farrar, on his debut at the distance, recorded an excellent chip time of 01.28:35 while Andrea Beaty, on her competitive debut for the Club, showed what a superbly consistent runner she is in recording 01.38:14. Robert Read continues to improve as his creditable time of 02.14:52 shows. Jamie Green, a week after a storming run at the Stratford Half Marathon, and despite being one of a number of runners at the front of the race mis-directed near the finish, stopped the clock in the 10k in 39:48 while Chris Mason finished second in his age category in 44:50