Derby Runner XC Series – Bradgate Park

Bradgate provides a challenge!
Bradgate Park, for the first time, was the venue on Sunday for the 4^th leg of this winter’s Derby Runner Cross Country series. Despite a stomach bug,which affected many in the lead up to the race and caused the absence of some key scorers, there was still a terrific turnout of 30 runners from the Club all looking to consolidate the Club’s impressive performances in the series too date. On a cold, frosty morning, the course was typically challenging in terms of both the climbs & the varied & often treacherous racing surface. Chris Pearson gave his usually gutsy performance in leading the men’s team home in 29^th place just edging out Chappers Jnr, who gave probably his best performance in Club colours, fnishing one place back in 30^th. Gerry O’Brien was next in 87^th place before Chappers Snr in 126^th & Steve Leafe, Dave Eyre, Stuart Halsey, Simon Reynolds & Christian Glover all made valuable team scoring contributions in 151^st, 157^th, 166^th, 176^th & 189^th places respectively. Adrian Middleton, who revels over the country, was next in 232^nd place getting the better of training partner Andy Orme in 238^th & Club stalwart Malcolm Moore in 278^th. Two relative newcomers to the discipline, Tom Eyre & Paul Glover were next to finish in 288^th & 293^rd places before Mark Nixon, getting back into racing after a long injury lay off, finished in 297^th. Ray Morlock & Gary Price finished in 308^th & 332^nd places respectively with MV60, Steve Tempest, not far behind in 339^th . Dave Renshaw, Tony Phillips, making his first appearance of the series and Richard Ward all battled well to record 355^th , 366^th & 376^th place finishes to complete the Club’s finishers in the men’s race.
The women’s race, which started after the men’s race to accommodate the big fields, was notable again for the performances of the Club’s women with Christina Cooper finishing in 4^th place & Jenny Laing in 7^th. Both have places in this year’s London Marathon and on current form both should have really good races. The ever consistent Tracey Glover was next in 49^th place with Nikki Reeves, making a really welcome cross country debut, completing the team scorers in 87^th place. Lisa Wright & Jenny Tattersall both ran well to record 102^nd & 139^th place finishes before Linda Mason, Inge Moore & Linda Tempest conquered the conditions to finish in 210^th , 216^th & 220^th places respectively.