Derby Runner XC League – Market Bosworth

Pearson – the leading light!
The penultimate race in this winter’s Derby Runner Cross Country League took place at Market Bosworth Country Park on Sunday and it was the talismanic Chris Pearson who did what he’s done all year to date and lead the way home for the Club.
Chris seems to relish the tougher conditions and his 19^th place finish was his best in the series so far. Chappers Jnr. & Andy Hawtin also did superbly over the tricky 10km course to secure top 50 finishes in the men’s race in 24^th & 39^th places respectively. Chappers Snr, looked back to his best, in finishing in 67^th place before a terrific battle between Stuart Halsey & Christian Glover resulted in Stuart just edging it in 103^rd place to Christian’s 104^th. There was also little to separate the inform Steve Leafe & Simon Reynolds as 117^th & 118^th place finishes confirm. Club stalwart Andy Orme wasn’t far behind in 121^st while Gavin Horton continued his third spell with the Club with a very solid & determined 144^th place finish. Dan Towns ran well to cross the line in 166^th place while only 3 places separated Gary Price & Paul Glover in 176^th & 179^th. Running relatively injury free for a consistent period, Malcolm Moore was next in 196^th place before the London Marathon bound Steve Fowler finished in 205^th with the battling Mark Nixon not far behind in 212^th.   Two runners, Richard Ward & David Renshaw, who have given everything across the series, completed the Club’s finishers in the men’s race in 231^st & 238^th places respectively.
Talking of talisman, Christina Cooper has also filled that role for the Club’s women so far this season & again her 3^rd place finish here in the women’s race was a tremendous effort. Really valuable support was provided by Tracey Glover & Nikki Reeves who both ran superbly to record 31^st & 35^th place finishes respectively. A really gritty performance from Jenny Tattersall in 82^nd gained valuable team points while cross country debutant, Katherine Smith gave her all to finish in 134^th place. As with the Club’s men the two final finishers in the women’s race, Linda Mason in 136rd & Inge Moore in 140^th have given everything across the series and deserve tremendous credit.   At time of writing team results weren’t available but it looks like these results will edge the men’s & mixed teams ever closer to promotion from their respective divisions.