Tamworth Gate Gallop 10k

 
Chris keeps Championship alive!
Tamworth was the venue for the 5^th race in this year’s Burton & District Summer League Series, the aptly named Gate Gallop 10k. Conditions were almost perfect for running with the Club providing 29 of the nearly 300 runners who lined up on the start line. It was Chris Pearson, who warmed up for next weekend’s Lakeland Marathon by making light of the off road course with its added hazard of four stiles, who was first back for the Club in a superb chip time of 38.51 & 11^th place overall. In doing so Chris ensured that this year’s Club Championship remained a three horse race. Not far behind was Alex Black-Roberts, who looked a natural athlete, in finishing in 17^th place in a time of 40.07. Andy Hawtin, another still in the Championship mix, was only one place back in 40.20 with Chris Mason running well for 41.27 and the 1^st MV60 prize. There was then close sibling rivalry involving the Chappers brothers with junior just edging it in times of 41.31 & 41.32 & finishing positions of 26^th & 28^th respectively. Another student enjoying a break from university & adding strength to the squad was Jack Leafe, who on this occasion managed to get the better of Colin Mee & the fast improving Chris Crosby, as times of 42.17, 42.30 & 43.00 confirm. Club stalwarts Stuart Halsey, Steve Leafe & Steve Fowler put in their usual 100% effort to finish in 44^th, 62^nd & 69^th places & times of 44.13, 45.36 & 46.48 respectively. There was then a really tight inter-Club battle with Adrian Middleton just edging out Chris Hughes on ‘gun to tape’ positions (71^st to 72^nd) but with Chris recording the slightly better chip time of 47.17 to 47.19. Still feeling his way after a busy racing schedule was the hard working Andy Orme in 47.26 with the first women finisher for the Club, Katie Cotton, close behind in 47.31 for 5^th place in the women’s race & a superb 78^th place overall. Ray Mortlock running well & looking cool was next in 48.39 followed closely by Tracey Glover in 48.57. Glover’s excellent run was good enough for 7^th place overall in the women’s race & the 1^st WV40 prize. Malcolm Moore, looking injury free at last, was next in 50.09 followed by Paul Glover, making a promising competitive league debut for the Club in 51.22. Giving their usual battling performances Sam Skidmore & Nikki Reeves earned valuable team points for the Club’s women in their quest to retain top position in the League with times of 51.36 & 53.37 respectively. Steve Tempest, making a welcome return to Club action, was next in 54.30 before another close inter-Club battle between Laura Storer & Chris Morton with Laura’s 56.34 to Chris’s 56.39 just shading it on this occasion. Inge Moore, Linda Tempest & Jenny Tattersall all performed with distinction in completing the finishers for the Club in 61.24, 70.14 & 76.23 respectively.
Finally a pat on the back from the race organisers for the contribution the Club made in terms of the numbers of entrants & in particular for the support given at the finish to all finishers, but in particular other Club members. Well done everyone.