Derby Runner XC League 2015/16 – Lutterworth

Chris keeps to the script!!!
Really mild conditions greeted the 23 runners from the Club as they made their way to Lutterworth for the penultimate leg of this season’s Derby Runner Cross Country League.
Despite the mild conditions the 6.15 mile course was very heavy underfoot, with a strong wind also proving difficult. Chris Pearson, who has had a terrific cross country series, made light of the conditions as he led the Club’s runners home with a superb 12^th place finish in the men’s race. Andy Hawtin, another who has been a heavy point’s scorer throughout the season, was next in 40^th before there were two distinct blocks of finishers with little separating them as they battled their way to the line via a cruel uphill finish. The first group was led by Mark Harriott in 72^nd with Andy Windle &, the Barcelona Marathon bound, Simon Reynolds, breathing down his neck in 75^th & 76^th places respectively. The second group was led home by Steve Leafe in 83^rd with John Morgan, making an excellent racing debut for the Club, in 85^th & the ever consistent, Andy Orme a couple of places back in 87^th.  Another ultra-reliable performer, Colin Mee, was next across the line in 98^th before Adrian Middleton powered to the finish in 109^th. It’s great to see Nigel Atkins back in regular racing action & here he finished in a very respectable 133^rd place, ahead of Glenn Smith in 145^th , Tom Eyre in 160^th & Paul Glover in 176^th. The powerful Mark Nixon was next in 183^rd getting the better, on this occasion, of Gary Price in 190^th and two runners, Richard Ward & Stuart Reeves, who never give less than 100%, in 202^nd & 208^th respectively. Robin Thorne, making his cross country debut, crossed the line in a hard earned 220^th before David Lunn battled well for 225^th to complete the finishers for the Club in the men’s race.
The Club’s women were again slightly depleted, in terms of numbers, but this did not stop the four who completed the course giving everything in the cause. Tracey Glover set the pace with an excellent 27^th place finish before Jenny Winter, Karen Wilks & Club Chairperson, Inge Moore gave really valuable support as they finished in 69^th, 108^th & 139^th places respectively.