News & Updates

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 →