Desford 6

Jack’s the Lad
In blustery conditions Jack Leafe, on vacation from University, led South Derbyshire Road Runners contingent of 30 runners’ home in Sunday’s latest race in the Leicestershire Road Running Winter League, the Desford 6.
Jack, whose running has improved significantly during his time away, ran superbly to finish in a chip time of 35:24 and 25^th place out of the 537 who completed the typically undulating course. John Morgan proved again what a great acquisition he is as he crossed the line next in 38:33 & 71^st place overall. Two runners, Stuart Halsey & Andy Orme, who have both made excellent starts to the season, stopped the clock here in 39:08 & 39:45 respectively and finishing places inside the top 100. Chris Mason continued his search for pre-injury form with a 40:00 clocking with Colin Mee, giving his best performance of the season, close behind in 40:14. Kelly Knight led the Club’s women home with a PB of 41:50 and an excellent 6^th place in the women’s race. There was then a father/son battle between Dave & Tom Eyre with son Tom showing no respect to his father on his 50^th birthday as he led the way home in 42:05 to Dave’s 42:38. Nigel Atkins continued his build up to the London Marathon with a solid 43:08 with Tracey Glover, another London bound runner, looking strong as she finished in 44:43 & 20^th place in the women’s race. Making his first road racing appearance of the season &, in possibly his best form for some time, Steve Fowler was next in 45:13 before Caley Parnell scored valuable team points in the women’s race as she finished in 28^th in a time of 45:27. Barry Saunders, Peter Barsby and, making his racing debut for the Club, Mark Murkin, finished within a minute of each other in times of 45:39, 46:27 & 46:41 respectively. Laura Harper confirmed the strength of the Club’s women as she finished in 37^th place in the women’s race in 46:51. Another of the Club’s London Marathon bound runners, Paul Glover was next in 47:39 before Tim Argent stopped the clock in 48:14. Taking a break from his July efforts, as part of a relay team to swim the Channel, Mark Nixon finished in 49:57 with the improving Sam Skidmore giving everything to finish in 50:23. There then followed the closest inter-Club racing involving Stuart Reeves & David Lunn with the former edging it ‘gun to tape’ but with chip times of 51:43 & 51:29 it was David who took the spoils. For David it was also a break from a bigger challenge as he is now part way through his attempt to run 12 half marathons & a full marathon within a period of less than 12 months. Seran Bradley & Karen Wilks gave everything to finish in chip times of 52:10 & 52:53 before Robin Thorne finished strongly in 52:53. Alison Shearer continued her strong start to the season with 55:09 before Inge Moore, Pauline Cooper & Alison Jackson battled well to complete the Club’s finishers in times of 66:46, 68:24 & 75:28 respectively.