Chris Mason

Kelly takes some catching!!!

On a perfect day for running Club members were in action at a number of venues. The majority were at Conkers where the Club staged the second race in this year’s Burton and District Summer Road Running League, the Run in the Forest 5. Despite having responsibility for staging the race the Club still managed to field strong teams as emphasised by the fact that Chris Pearson and Kelly Knight had emphatic victories in the men’s and women’s races. For Kelly it was her second race win on consecutive Sunday’s after leading the way home in last Sunday’s Cathedral to Castle 10 miler. Kelly’s time of 33:06 emphasised her excellent, current form, while MV40 Chris Pearson’s 27:38 confirmed his standing as currently the Club’s fastest male runner. Chris Baxter in 29:55 was next back for the Club followed by hard running performances from Matt Clemson, Robbie Cresswell-Howe, and Mark Harriott as they stopped the watch in 32:03, 32:43 and 32:46 respectively. Chris Hanman ran strongly for his 33:03 with Jacob Edmonds and Rich Miller in close order in 34:26 and 34:30. Sarah Insley continued her really promising performances during the cross country season with 35:12 before Paul Glover in 37:05, Tracey Glover in 38:04, Emily Atkins in 38:36 and Andy Meadows in 38:38 all ran solidly around trails they all know well to duck under forty minutes. Karen Wilks, Linda Dakin, Tony Philips, Sam Skidmore and Sarah Green gave their usual maximum effort in recording 44:14, 45:14, 48:46, 48:54 and 53:26, respectively.

There was some terrific inter club racing at the Derby 10k with five runners ducking under the forty-minute distance benchmark. Danial Bower led the way home with a superb chip time of 36:41 with Mark Slade and Rob Eaton only seconds back in 36:45 and 36:58 with Jamie Green and Sebastian Van Dijk breathing down their necks in 37:47 and 38:23. Rom Chambard showed what a brilliantly consistent runner he is over a variety of distances as he recorded 40:08 with Nathan Fagan close behind in 40:33. Ross Ballinger ran well for his 45:26 as did Anthony Richards, Emma Sharp and Matt Collins as they recorded chip times of 51:24, 54:00 and 56:23 respectively.

Steve Green and Ash Wooton tackled the classic marathon distance at the popular Brighton Marathon, and both should be really pleased with their efforts as they recorded very creditable times of 03.09:03 and 04.30:22

Last but not least David Greene and Lucy Cartwright tackled the 41 miles of the Millennium Way Ultra and completed it in a magnificent 09.06:00.   

Dan’s the man!!!

Members of the Club were in action at several venues on Sunday morning with the majority at a dry, but windy Florette Fradley 10k. The contingent was led home by a top forty finish from Dan Bower in an excellent 36.49 with Jamie and Steven Green also ducking under the forty-minute benchmark with excellent times of 37.49 and 39.02 respectively. David Green also secured a well deserved top hundred placing as he stopped the clock in 42.21 just edging out Kelly Knight in 42.31. Men’s Club Captain, Andy Orme was his usually consistent self in recording an excellent 42.44 with Ross Ballinger recording a very creditable chip time of 44.41. Runners took advantage of the flat, two lap course around the quiet Fradley country lanes to record some excellent times including Sarah Walters, Linda Dakin, and JJ Jones as they all dipped below the hour mark in recording 54.41, 56.10 and 59.30 respectively. MV70 Tony Phillips, a runner who has achieved the amazing milestone of running a hundred marathons, led the next group home in 60.59, with Richard Gee stopping the clock in 64. 02 before Graham Blackshaw, another with a superb marathon running career to look back on, recorded 65.37. Sarah Green should be well pleased with her efforts as she gave everything for her 67.01.

The Derby Runner Cross Country League wound to a halt on Sunday and with individual category prizes already decided it was left to Rich Miller, Mark Slade, and Mark Farrar to fly the flag for the Club over the arduous course at Sinai Park in Burton. All did brilliantly as they rounded the season off in style with ninth, fifteenth and eighteenth place finishes respectively. While not having a strong presence at all races over a long season Colin Mee, Chris Pearson, Lisa Wright, and Andy Orme all picked up well deserved individual prizes at the award’s ceremony that immediately followed the race.

Katie Dennis and Jay Darnley travelled to Northamptonshire to take part in the Draycote Water 10k and ran together to achieve a personal best for Jay as they stopped the clock in 52.32 and 52.33 respectively.

Mark Harriott prepared for his busy marathon running season at the Knighton 20 and his 02:28.44 showed that his preparation is well on track.

Mud, mud glorious mud!!

In the latest leg of the Derby Runner Cross Country League (Derby/Staffs) runners experienced four seasons in one day with wet and windy being the dominant conditions. This was the Club’s own event and the National Forest site at Boothorpe provided a proper cross-country challenge. Team wise this was the strongest performance by the Road Runners in the series so far with the Club’s men’s and women’s teams coming out on top in their respective races. Leading the way in both races were third place finishes for the super strong Chris Pearson and Jenny Laing. For the men’s team, as he has done all season, Steve Bullock provided brilliant support as he finished in sixth place with Seb van Dijk, Steve Green and Rich Miller packing brilliantly as they collected the 12^th, 14^th, and 17^th finishing tokens, respectively. Sam Bassett looked super strong throughout as did debutant Jacob Edmonds as they finished in 22^nd and 30^th places with the steadily improving Mikey Walters completing the men’s team finishers in a well run 32^nd place. In terms of the women’s team Katie Dennis put in her usual committed performance as she finished in 22^nd place with creditable performances from Kat Compton in 34^th and Emma Sharp in 52^nd as they completed the women’s team finishers.

In the women’s race Sarah Green gained valuable race experience in finishing in 70^th place while the irrepressible Pauline Cooper finished in 75^th as she performed the important race role of sweep person on the course. There was great packing below the team finishers in the men’s race with Andy Hawtin’s 36^th place finish epitomising the ‘never say die spirit’ of the Club as he dragged back a substantial number of places on the downhill finish after looking a spent force on the long uphill climb. Rom Chambard collected the 39^th place token with MV60 Colin Mee, just one place back, in 40^th. The resurgent Mee has had an excellent series and could end up collecting age group prizes in both divisions after already securing the Leicestershire division with one race to go. Andy Orme ran strongly for 42^nd place as did Dave Green in 49^th and Steve Leafe in 58^th. Ross Ballinger, Martin Bullock, and debutant Jay Darney completed a good morning of racing in scenic conditions as they finished in 63^rd, 65^th, and 84^th places, respectively.

Tasty battle at the front!!

In the first Derby Runner Cross Country fixture of the year at Martin Shaw Woods near Groby, Leicestershire entrants from the Club were back to pre-pandemic levels, which was also reflected in formidable team performances and some great inter-club competition. Leading the way was the battle between Chris Pearson and Steve Bullock with the former having the edge on this occasion as they finished in excellent 11^th and 14^th positions, respectively. Andy Hawtin and Dan Bower also made welcome returns to cross country action as they finished in 42^nd and 51^st places with Steve Green and Rich Miller also scoring valuable team points as they collected the 65^th and 74^th place finishing tokens. Chris Hanman in 82^nd and Robbie Cresswell in 88^th place completed the club’s team finishers in a strong men’s team showing. Micheal Walters ran strongly to finish in 98^th place followed closely by the resurgent MV60 Colin Mee in 102^nd place. Mee is having a purple patch now and his sure-footed technique seems to be well suited to the challenges of cross country running. Breathing down his neck for most of the race was Nathan Fagan, who finished one place further back in 103^rd. Men’s Club Captain, Andy Orme and David Green finished in 116^th and 121^st positions before the improving Ross Ballinger and Steve Leafe fought another close battle as they finished in 147^th and 148^th positions, respectively. Relative newcomer Martin Bullock ran well for 164^th place before Andy Meadows, Nigel Atkins, Kevin Clarke, and David Walters gave everything as they completed the Club’s finishers in the men’s race in 180^th, 199^th, 202^nd and 207^th places, respectively.

Fittingly, women’s club captain Lisa Wright led the Club’s women home in a hard running 36^th place finish with Emma Sharpe, Sarah Walters, and Julianne Walters giving great support as they completed the team’s finishers in 76^th, 98^th, and 130^th places, respectively. Giving their usual maximum effort little separated Sarah Green, Helen Clarke, and Theresa Swift as they collected the 138^th, 141^st, and 142^nd place tokens, respectively.

Peerless performance by Pearson

On current form Chris Pearson is arguably the Club’s best male runner, a fact he reaffirmed at Anslow on Sunday, as he led the Club’s contingent home in the latest leg of the Derby Runner Cross Country League. In what was the first occasion, mainly because of other commitments, that the Club have been able to field a full men’s team Chris’s 6^th place finish was supported at the sharp end by Steve Bullock in 7^th and Mark Slade in 10^th. Rich Miller ran well for his 22^nd place with Chris Hanman a couple of places back in 24^th, Micheal Walters in 33^rd and the strong running David Green in 38^th. Walters must be amongst those male runners in with a chance of securing the ‘most improved runner’ prize at the Club’s upcoming annual award’s ceremony. Fittingly Men’s Club Captain Andy Orme’s 40^th place completed the team’s men counters a day after he had completed the amazing achievement of four hundred Parkruns. The resurgent Colin Mee finished in 48^th place with Ross Ballinger not far behind in 51^st. MV60 Steve Leafe in 59^th, newcomer Martin Bullock in 62^nd and Dave Walters in 89^th completed the Club’s finishers in the men’s race. There were also some really strong performances from the Club’s women with Katie Dennis finishing in a superb 11^th place, women’s captain Lisa Wright in 16^th and Sarah Walters in 28^th .

Rom earns his pudding

Rom Chambard got his rewards for excellent recent form as he led the Club’s contingent of nineteen home with a personal best of 40.38 in Sunday’s Matthew Walker 10k. On a cold crisp morning, where a Christmas Pudding was the reward for all finishers there were also top fifty finishes for Micheal Walters and David Green as they recorded chip times of 41.14 and 42.48. Andy Orme was his usual consistent self in recording 42.51 before Colin Mee secured a well-deserved MV60 first place prize of a bumper Christmas hamper with 43.09. The improving Ross Ballinger stopped the clock in 44.53 with the determined Katie Dennis leading the Club’s women home in 45.22. JJ Jones and Andy Meadows blew off the racing rust as they finished in 48.06 and 48.52 respectively before David Walters used his recent marathon training to beneficial effect as he finished in 49.11. Robert Read, the experienced Kev Clarke, Emma Sharp, Sarah Walters, and John Pegg finished in close order as they recorded chip times of 51.55, 52.36, 52.46,53.41 and 56.54, respectively. A little further down the field Julianne Walters and Jan and Roger Cobb also had the satisfaction of admiring their Christmas Pudding’s together as they recorded very creditable chip times of 67.05, 67.42 and 67.42. Helen Clark and Teresa Swift supported one another throughout the race and were rewarded with the same chip time of 76.16.

South Derbyshire Road Runners marathon man for all seasons was in classic distance action again as he tackled the Tissington Trail Marathon in a more than respectable 03:28.28  

Rain and more rain!!!

Sunday saw the first race, in what has seemed like years, in the Derby Runner Cross Country League. Even Sunday’s race at Anslow faced uncertainty after being postponed from last Sunday when the organisers were unfortunate victims of Covid. The postponement also hit the numbers of participants from South Derbyshire Road Runners and other clubs because of commitments to other events including, on Sunday, the Worksop Half Marathon. Nevertheless, the turnout at the cross country was marked by quality rather than quantity with the runners counting their blessings because by race time the morning’s deluge had given way to bright sunshine. The Club’s women were fortunate enough to field a full team with Jenny Laing, making a welcome return to racing leading the team home in 9^th place. Fiona Betts was only one place behind in 10^th with Club Captain Lisa Wright a few weeks after her London Marathon debut, setting a notable example in 20^th place. Nikki Reeves, another returning to racing after a break, completed the team’s finishers in a hard working 36^th place. The men’s representatives Seb Van Dyke, Mark Slade and Mark Harriott all performed with distinction as they finished in 10^th, 14^th and 27^th places, respectively.

The Club’s runners at the ever-popular Worksop Halloween Half Marathon were less fortunate with the weather but the twenty runners from the Club who completed the race enjoyed the journey around picturesque Clumber Park. The speedy Danial Bower led the way home with a superb chip time of 01:26.48 for 33^rd place with Sam Bassett, one of nine of the Club’s finishers here to have completed a marathon in October, also securing a well-earned top fifty finish with 01:28.05. Little separated Rom Chambard and Micheal Walters as they finished in 01:32.04 and 01:33.37, respectively. David Green and Men’s Club Captain, Andy Orme were equally as close as they stopped the clock in 01:35.22 and 01:37.07. There were also races within the main race involving Colin Mee {01:40.04}, Katie Dennis {01:40.07} and Steve Leafe {01:40.35} and further down the field Paul Glover, Tracey Glover, Chris Elsegood, Ross Ballinger and Jerome Jones as they finished in 01:48.23, 01:49.23, 01:50.45, 01:50.45 and 01:51.34, respectively. Father and daughter Dave and Sarah Walters crossed the line together in 01:57.41 as did Nigel and Emily Atkins in 02:02.45 with Ian Archer sandwiched in between in 02:00.09   

No holding Mike!

The races are coming thick and fast at present with race organisers trying to fit postponed races into what is now a congested calendar. We therefore had the typical spring races the London and Manchester Marathons taking place in recent weeks and, on Sunday, one of the local area’s biggest races, the Derby 10k. This was marked with some terrific performances from the Club’s contingent of 13 who lined up on the start line in damp, overcast conditions. Leading the way was relative newcomer, Mike Nash, who finished in a superb chip time of 36:30 and 23^rd place out of 1621 finishers. Only three places behind was training partner Dan Bower in an excellent 36:44 with Mark Slade, running his usual determined race, recording 37:40. Chris Hanman showed his terrific potential with 41:22 with Andy Orme, defying a niggling injury, battling round in 42:18. The evergreen Colin Mee, who has been one of the Club’s most active racers since restrictions were eased, recorded 43:02 to finish 3^rd in his very competitive age group. On chip times Matt Collins, Ross Ballinger and Tony Richards finished closely as they stopped the clock in 48:32, 49:42 and 50:19, respectively. Emily Atkins ran superbly to record 52:14 with Graham Blackshaw and Roger Cobb rolling back the years in recording 61:28 and 64:56, respectively.

Romain Chambard, Mikey Walters, and Dave Walters were in action in the Asda Yorkshire Marathon with all three recording excellent times of 03:21:55, 03:43:04 and 04:19.11, respectively. For marathon father and son debutants Dave and Mikey Walters it completed an unusual family quadruple with sister Sarah completing the Manchester Marathon last weekend and mum Julianne the London Marathon the Sunday before. Some tired legs in the Walter’s household.

Dan leads the way home!!

In warm, but still conditions, nine runners from the Club lined up on Sunday with 765 others in the 2021 Wilne 10k. The two lap, flat course, is generally considered one of the quickest on the local circuit and this was reflected in three of the South Derbyshire contingent ducking under the 10k benchmark of 40 minutes. Danial Bower led the way with a speedy 36:46 for 52^nd place with Darren Holmes just four finishing places behind in a chip time of 37:06. Mark Slade also ran well for 38:25. The consistently reliable Andy Orme crossed the line with Clubmate Kelly Knight and both were content with their times of 41:36 and 41:37. Nathan Fagan has been plagued by injuries in recent months but showed he may be getting back to form with 42:19. Steve Leafe stopped the clock in 45:09 with Karen Wilks, Richard Gee and Pauline Cooper all giving maximum effort in recording creditable times of 56:05, 65:52 and 72:42 respectively.