Worthington 5

Road Runners out in force!
The club had a strong presence on Tuesday night for the sixth leg of this year’s Burton & District Summer Road Running League, the Worthington 5. The strength in depth was shown in the men’s race with 5 runners ducking under 30 minutes and Louise Insley, following up her 1^st place in a road race in Coventry on Sunday, with 1^st place here in the women’s race in a superb time of 30:58. Andy Hawtin was first back in 29:08 to secure an excellent 3^rd place in the men’s race with Dominic Sharman, making a really welcome racing re-appearance, one place further back in 29:27. Again, one place further back, was Jack Leafe in 29:30 with Rob Eaton, making a superb racing debut for the Club, in 9^th place in 29:53. The ever reliable Shane Chapman was next in a PB for the distance of 29:58 and 11^th place with little separating Tom Bradley & Stuart Halsey as they finished in 31:04 & 31:07 respectively. There followed terrific performances from Mark Harriott and Andy Windle as they stopped the clock in 31:43 & 31:58 respectively before the ultra-consistent, Andy Orme crossed the line in 32:20. The improving Glenn Smith and Nigel Atkins were next home in 32:45 and 33:32 respectively before Kelly Knight continued her excellent recent form as she finished in 4^th place in the women’s race in a time of 33:38.
Steve Leafe, who has had an injury blighted period recently, ran well for 34:15 before the tightest inter-club battle of the night saw Adrian Middleton edge out Rob Lower in times of 35:16 & 35:17 respectively. Peter Barsby, who has raced consistently well this season, finished here in 37:16 before Nikki Reeves secured really valuable team points as she finished in 15^th place in the women’s race in 37:39. Also performing superbly in the women’s race were Laura Harper & Lisa Wright as they finished in 17^th & 18^th places in times of 38:02 & 38:24 respectively. Paul Glover and Tim Argent raced well for times of 38:31 and 38:43 with Tracey Glover breathing down their necks in a time of 38:44. Gary Price was next to finish in 39:13 before Graham Blackshaw and Stuart Reeves completed the finishers in the men’s race in 42:04 and 42:22 respectively. Kat Smith continued her improvement with 43:09 with Alison Shearer giving everything in recording 45:48. The loudest cheer of the night was deservedly reserved for 17 year old Emily Atkins, making her road racing debut, as she crossed the line, with mother Rebecca, in a really respectable time of 46:19.   Hannah Wintrip performed brilliantly to record 48:18 before Pauline Cooper and Cath Johnson completed the Club’s finishers in the women’s race in 55:22 and 56:35 respectively.