Derby Runner XC League – Race 5 (Sutton Cheney)

Calf deep mud……no deterrent.
On a superb morning for running the Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre was the venue for the 5^th race in the 2013/14 Derby Runner Cross Country Series. While the venue was superb the main problem for competitors, unsurprisingly after this winter’s weather, was unrelenting mud. This made the approximately 6 mile course feel like 8 miles at least for most of the runners. Despite missing a number of top scoring regulars there were some really terrific performances from the Club’s 19runners who lined up with almost 400 others on the start line. Leading the way was Paul Chapman, who ran a great tactical race to be first back for the Club in 60^th place in the men’s race just getting the better of Chris Mason who finished 3 places back in 63^rd. Suffering his first defeat for sometime by his elder brother, Shane Chapman managed to overcome a niggling injury to score valuable team points in 67^th place. There were then close finishes between Stuart Halsey & Colin Mee who both made light of the conditions to finish in 78^th & 82^nd places and Simon Reynolds & Christian Glover who crossed the line in 109^th & 110^th positions respectively. Next to finish was Adrian Middleton, who revels in the country & seems to be improving with every race in 137^th with the evergreen Steve Fowler not that far behind in 140^th. Andy Orme, another easing himself back after injury, ran within himself to finish in 145^th ahead of the two MV60s Ray Mortlock & Malcolm Moore who in turn managed to get the better of the returning Gavin Horton in 156^th, 166^th & 168^th places respectively. Gavin, very frustrated with his performance here, has every chance of getting back to his best if he trains consistently and stays injury free. The well earned foot spa he was planning as part of his post race recovery should also help ease the tension he was feeling.  Steve Tempest & Chris Morton, making his XC debut for the Club, completed the Club’s finishers in the men’s race with hard run 214^th & 222^nd place finishes.For Steve it was an ideal way to celebrate his 62nd birthday. Have a couple of beers tonight Steve……you’ve earned them.
Another making her XC racing debut was last year’s women’s club champion Christina Cooper who reveled in the conditions to finish a superb 24^th in the women’s race. Tracey Glover, who has run well in her debut season, was next across the line in 40^th followed by another XC debutant Heidi Elliott in 78^th place. The battling Cath Johnson completed the Club’s finishers in the women’s race in 105^th. Big thanks to Andy Hawtin for handling team management duties superbly.
Much further afield there was a terrific performance from Louise Insley in the Barcelona Half Marathon. Her official time of 1.22.37, if ratified by RunBritain, could put Louise amongst the top three WV40 for the distance in the country.