Uttoxeter HM, Grand East Anglia Run & Lichfield HM

Great day for the Club’s women….
Sunday was a day when the performances of the Club’s women shone brightly. They were the 1^st club team home in the latest leg of the Burton & District Summer League, the Uttoxeter Half Marathon, & Louise Insley confirmed her place in the upper echelons of national WV40 runners by taking 4^th place overall in the Grand East Anglia 10k Run at Kings Lynn in a superb PB of 37.07. In addition to the £75 prize for finishing 4^th, Louise also took the gold medal in her age category in the British Masters Athletic Championship, which was incorporated within the race.
At Uttoxeter, the victorious women made light of the course, which is recognised as one of the toughest on the circuit, with 3 of the 4 runners, Christina Cooper, Tracey Glover & Samantha Skidmore all recording PBs for the distance. Leading the way was Christina whose 1.37.36 gave her a superb 7^th place in the women’s race, with the ever improving Tracey next in 1.43.00 which also gave her 1^st place in the WV40 category. Nikki Reeves, in welcome action again after the Manchester Marathon, was next in 1.50.41 followed closely by the determined Sam in 1.51.28.
While this was clearly a day to celebrate the performances of the Club’s women, the men also put in some superb performances. Andy Hawtin was first back at Uttoxeter in 1.26.56 & 32^nd place with James Cassidy, Stuart Halsey & Colin Mee all recording top 100 place finishes in times of 1.29.01, 1.32.30 & 1.34.32 respectively. James’s time was good enough for a well deserved PB. Andy Orme & Gary Price, both in their first race back after the London Marathon, recorded 1.50.11 & 1.51.09 respectively with Mark Skidmore completing the Club’s finishers with another well deserved PB of 2.25.01.
Chris Mason & Chris Gunstone were also in action with 1500 others in the Grand East Anglia Run around the streets of Kings Lynn with Chris Mason recording a chip time of 39.29 & 7^th place in the MV60 age category in the British Masters Championship. Chris Gunstone, making a welcome return to action after injury, ran well to record an excellent 41.18 over a flat but twisty town centre course. Wayne Kelleher was also in half marathon action at Lichfield and was well pleased with his post marathon 1.43.00.