Derby Runner XC Series – Sinai Park

Sinai no barrier
It was a very short journey, to Burton on Trent & the challenging Sinai Park course, for the hardy 30 runners taking part in the 3^rd round of this winter’s Derby Runner Cross Country League. In bitterly cold conditions the men’s team & combined teams (1st 7 men finishers + 1st 2 women finishers) were looking to consolidate their positions at the top of Division 2 while the women were looking to improve on a solid start to the season.
With heavy scorer Chris Pearson on holiday the rest of the men’s squad more than made up for his absence with the team scorers all finishing in the top 100 finishers. Again, it was 2014 Club Champion designate, Dominic Sharman, who confirmed his preeminence among the Club’s male runners by storming around the course for a superb 16^th place finish. Jack Leafe, who is in sparkling form at present, was next in 27^th place with James Cassidy, who improves with every race, not far behind in 35^th. Battling back after a virus, Shane Chapman ran well for 52^nd place with Gerry O’Brien & Chris Gunstone pushing one another throughout to finish in 73^rd & 74^th respectively. Andy Hawtin, badly hampered by a back injury, finished next in 79^th place with Paul Chapman completing the team scorers with a solid 85^th place finish. Steve Leafe finished in his highest position to date in the series, 105^th, which, on this occasion, gave him the edge on fellow MV50, Colin Mee, one place further back in 106^th. Alex Black–Roberts made a really welcome racing appearance for the Club just edging out Stuart Halsey in 126^th & 131^st places respectively. Dave Eyre ran well for 138^th place with club stalwart Andy Orme, next across the line in 160^th. Another tight battle between Christian Glover & Simon Reynolds saw Christian’s 164^th place just edging out Simon in 165^th. Ray Udall’s 228^th place won the inter club MV60 battle with Malcolm Moore’s 233^rd with Mark Nixon & Paul Glover battling right to the line to finish in 241^st & 242^nd places respectively. Gary Price & racing debutant Tom Eyre both performed solidly for their 248^th & 255^th place finishes with the battling Richard Ward’s 287^th completing the Club’s finishers in the men’s race.
As well as all of the Club’s men ran the really standout performances were in the women’s race with women’s 2014 Club Champion designate Christina Cooper being pushed all of the way by the returning Jenny Laing as they finished in 4^th & 5^th places respectively. Tracey Glover retained her prize winning consistency from 2014 for a really valuable 37^th place finish with Lisa Wright completing a good scoring race for the team with an excellent 81^st place. Linda Mason won the battle of the veteran women with a hard working 140^th place finish from the equally determined Inge Moore & Linda Tempest in 147^th & 150^th places respectively.