Chris Mason

Farmer milks the applause !!

With the Club competing in both divisions of the Derby Runner Cross Country League it has been a long, drawn out campaign for cross country regulars. Sunday’s race, over a challenging, technical course at Grace Dieu, was in the more competitive Leicestershire Division and again it was the in-form James Farmer who led the Club’s contingent home with a superb 12^th place finish. Next back was Rob Eaton, who despite a great deal of heavy mileage training in his legs, ran well for 22^nd place with Tom Bradley, making his racing debut as a second claim runner for the Club, next to cross the line in 23^rd.   In what was arguably the performance of the day Mark Harriott battled round, after a fall, to finish in an excellent 43^rd place.  Shane Chapman showed his class by finishing in 59^th before Christian Glover and Nathan Fagan had their own inter-club battle as they finished in 67^th and 69^th places respectively. Andy Orme and Matt Long gave their usual maximum effort to complete the men’s team finishers in 116^th and 127^th places while Tom Eyre showed a great deal of determination to battle round in 212^th with Robin Thorne in 252^nd completing the Club’s finishers in the men’s race.

The Club’s women’s team resources were significantly stretched with the four finishers making up the scoring team. Nikki Reeves led the way home in 42^nd with Emily Atkins and Rebecca Lenaghan close together in 120^th and 122^nd. Becky Atkins showed a great deal of grit and determination as she, despite injury, completed the finishing team in 139^th.

Eight of the Club’s runners took to the roads as they tackled the challenging Rugeley 10 miler. Showing good form and clearly benefitting from his marathon training Paul Glover led the contingent home in 78:19 with Lisa Wright also performing superbly to stop the clock in 79:52. Tracey Glover in 81:00 was next on chip time just edging out Chris Elsegood in 81:04. Becky Moult was not far behind in 82:15 with Karen Wilks, Ellie Dickson and Carolyn Ife giving everything to finish in 92:31, 96:35 and 114:49 respectively.

Rich Miller and Steve Leafe were in action in the Leicestershire Half Marathon on a flat course at the popular racing venue of Prestwold Hall. Both performed excellently with Rich recording a chip time of 84:15 and Steve 94:31.  

Debut boys do the business!!

A return visit to Anslow was the venue for the latest leg of the Derbyshire/Staffordshire section of the Derby Runner Cross Country League with 19 runners of the Club’s runners lining up on the start line in wet conditions. When the racing started it was again the determined 18 year old James Farmer who led the way home with a superb 3^rd place finish. The Club will certainly miss James when, if everything goes to plan, he decamps to university in September. Reigning Club Champion, Andy Hawtin was next in 4^th place with cross country debutant’s Tom Ward in 10^th, Dave Hobbs in 18^th and Ben Holmes in 23^rd all contributing superbly to a terrific team performance. Sandwiched between them was top MV50, Stuart Halsey in 14^th with Sam Bassett and team captain Andy Orme bringing the team home in 28^th and 33^rd places respectively. The improving Matt Long was next in 39^th place before great packing from Nigel Atkins in 50^th, strongman Rom Chambard in 52^nd and Adie Middleton in 55^th. Paul Glover, one of numerous runners from the Club training for a spring marathon or beyond, defied his tired legs to finish in 73^rd before Tony Richards and Mark Nixon completed the Club’s finishers in the men’s race in 84^th and 93^rd places.

In the women’s race Tracey Glover in 13^th, Emily Atkins in 29^th, Rebecca Lenaghan in 41^st and Emma Sharp in 50^th gave everything to the team cause to make up superbly for the unavoidable absence of some of the more usual team scorers.

Kat Smith was in 10k action at a cold and wet Draycote Water Park and should be pleased with a chip time of 57:04 and finishing position of 56^th in the women’s race. Four others of the Club’s intrepid runners found themselves in more rugged countryside in the Cannock Chase 10 miler. For Chris Pearson, in a brilliant 2^nd place in a chip time of 65:16, and Shane Chapman, in 8^th place in 70:52, this type of countryside is very familiar and their preferred environment be it mountain biking or running. Andy Allsop ran well for 17^th place in 73:33 with second claimer Mitch Timms finishing in 149^th in 98:32 sealing an unexpected but well deserved team prize for the quartet.

Onwards and upwards for James

Cross country fixtures are coming thick and fast at this time of year particularly with South Derbyshire Road Runners involvement in both area versions of the Derby Runner League. On Sunday it was the turn of the Derby/Staffordshire version with 31 members completing a 2 lap course of approximately 6 miles in total at Allestree Park. Again, it was 18 year old James Farmer who led the men’s team home with a superb 2^nd place finish. A day after celebrating completing 250 parkruns, mainly at Rosliston, he had the satisfaction here of edging out his regular training partner and motivator, Chris Pearson who ran brilliantly for 4^th place. Ross Clarke, who is having a terrific series, was next in 8^th place with Stuart Halsey producing another quality run in 12^th. Nathan Fagan and team captain Andy Orme collected the 27^th and 33^rd place finishing tokens with strongman Romain Chambard and a resurgent Matt Long completing the men’s team finishers in 41^st and 47^th places respectively.

Pushing Long all the way were Nigel Atkins in 49^th and Ross Ballinger in 53^rd with a really tight inter-club battle resulting in Andy Lindley in 60^th just edging out Chris Elsegood in 61^st and, the Club’s most improved runner, Paul Glover in 63^rd. Kev Clarke ran solidly for 81^st place before Tony Richards, Gary Price and Dave Walters had their own race within a race as they finished in 95^th, 96^th and 97^th places respectively. Mark Murkin gave everything to complete the men’s finishers in a creditable 113^th place.

With Jenny Laing restored to full fitness after missing last week’s race the Club’s women were assured of a great lead out and she didn’t disappoint here as she collected the 3^rd place finishing token. Christina Hawtin ran superbly for 5^th place with Tracey Glover and the improving Lisa Wright having their own personal battle as they completed the women’s team finishers in 15^th and 16^th places respectively.

Slowly getting back to form women’s team captain Nikki Reeves was next in 26^th place with Sam Skidmore and triathlete Hannah Wintrip both running well to finish in 30^th and 48^th places.  Rebecca Lenaghan in 56^th, Emily Atkins in 59^th and Sarah Walters in 65^th made light of the conditions before Emma Sharpe, Pauline Cooper and Cath Johnstone gave their usual maximum effort to complete the finishers in the women’s race in 76^th, 90^th and 96^th places respectively.    

Sam Bassett and Kelvin Taylor were much further afield with both tackling the half marathon distance. However, the races couldn’t have been more different with Sam tackling the 37^th version of the Essar 4 Villages Half Marathon around the country lanes of Cheshire and Kelvin the forest trails of Coed-y- Brenin in the Buff Winter Trail Half Marathon. What they both had in common though was that they both ran with distinction recording chip times of 01:26:33 and 02:4:37 respectively.

No obstacle for James

Sunday and Bagworth Heath saw the latest leg of this year’s Derby Runner Cross Country League. For the Club’s contingent of 16 it was the morning after the Club’s presentation evening but for James Farmer it was very much business as usual as he lead the group home in a superb 25^th place in the men’s race. On a drizzly morning, and after a relatively dry winter, the course still lived up to its better known name of ‘Bogworth’ Heath. Providing terrific support to James were Ross Clarke in 45^th, the redoubtable Shane Chapman in 51^st, triathlete Christian Glover in 70^th and the Club’s man for all season’s Mark Harriott in 85^th. Andy Orme put in a typical captain’s performance to cross the line in 124^th with Nigel Atkins and Steve Leafe having their own personal battle as they finished in 140^th and 144^th respectively. Steve, like a great many in the Club and club’s everywhere is committed to a spring marathon and at this time of year facing the dilemma of whether to race and represent the Club or whether to pound the miles out.  Romain Chambard, Matt Long and Ross Ballinger all ran with distinction as they completed the Club’s finishers in the men’s race in very respectable 167^th, 199^th and 207^th places respectively.

Tracey Glover led the Club’s women home in an excellent 47^th place finish with the determined Emily Atkins in 107^th, Rebecca Lenaghan in 147^th and Emma Sharpe in 206^th completing the finishers in a top quality women’s race.

Flying teenager!!!
Road Runners were again in action at a number of different venues on Sunday with the majority, 23, tackling the latest leg of the Derby Runner XC League at Bradgate Park. Continue reading →

Jenny out in front!!!
The Club’s runners were in action on a number of fronts on Sunday with the majority tackling the latest leg of the Derby Runner XC League at Holly Hayes Wood. Continue reading →

James and Ellie lead the way!!!!
Club members were in racing action in 3 different Counties plus Wales and Ireland in a very busy weekend. The majority, 28 were in action in the popular Worksop Halloween Half Marathon. Continue reading →

Stuart on top of his game!!!!
MV55 Stuart Halsey continued his season long good and emphasised his status as one of the top runners regionally in his age group as he led the Club’s contingent of 23 runners home in this year’s Shelton Striders 10k. Continue reading →

Girls lead the way!!!!
On a morning when Eliud Kipchoge decimated the men’s marathon record 44 members of South Derbyshire Road Runners were tackling a much shorter distance albeit over a more undulating and twisty route. Continue reading →

Nathan shines!!!
The 17 members who tackled the Wilne 10k on Sunday were greeted by conditions they are starting to get use to in our glorious summer………..very hot and sweaty ones and a cloudless sky. Continue reading →