Tamworth, Calke, Ironman, National Forest Way 75 & the Equinox 24

Chris out in front!!
Tamworth, on Sunday, was the venue for the final leg of this year’s Burton and District Summer League with 29 runners from the Club lining up with 130 others tackling the 5 mile undulating challenge. Chris Pearson continued his impressive form as he was again first back for the Club in an excellent 28:36 and a prize winning 3^rd place. The hard working John Morgan gained just reward with 30:58, a PB for the distance, and 16^th position. There then followed a really tight inter-club battle involving Louise Insley and Stuart Halsey. Louise reaffirmed her status as one of the best local female runners as she took 1^st place in the women’s race crossing the line in a superb 19^th place just edging out Stuart Halsey, also amongst the prizes as 1^st MV50,  in 20^th place. However, on chip times it was Stuart who just edged it 31:12 to Louise’s 31.13.  Glen Smith continued his season long improvement with 32:23 for 26^th place with Andy Orme, running his usual well-paced race, 29^th in 32:44. There then followed Nigel Atkins and Kelly Knight, who have also improved considerably over the season, as they stopped the clock here in excellent times of 33:52 and 34:00. For Kelly it also meant a terrific 4^th place finish in the women’s race. Dave Eyre, getting some early training in for an Ironman next year, ran well for 34:28 as did Adrian Middleton and Tracey Glover as they crossed the line in 35:36 and 36:55 respectively. For Tracey it also meant a well-earned 7th place in the women’s race. Peter Barsby crossed the line in 37:03 with Tom Eyre, making a welcome racing appearance, four places back in 37:31. Only 30 seconds and 6 finishing places separated Tim Argent, Gary Price, Paul Glover and Malcolm Moore as they finished in chip times of 38:02, 38:12, 38:14 & 38:32 respectively. Becky Atkins ran well for her 20^th place in 40:17 before Paul Hudson & Tony Richards finished in 40:43 & 41:01. Kat Smith, also improving with every race, finished in 41:16 with Barry Saunders, in his first race back after a break, finishing in 42:19. Seran Bradley, Karen Wilks, Alison Shearer and Stuart Reeves gave everything to finish in times of 43:30, 44:15, 46:03 and 49:45 respectively. Club Chairperson Inge Moore finished in 53:44 before Pauline Cooper and Alison Jackson completed the Club’s finishers in times of 57:26 and 67:13 respectively.
In a busy running day, 7 of the Club’s runners were in action in the Calke Abbey 10k. Simon Reynolds was first back in a chip time of 42:27. Making a first racing appearance, after the birth of her second child, Jenny Laing was an excellent 5^th in the women’s race in 44:33. On chip times Romain Chambard was next to finish in 49:50 with Laura Harper, an agonising second behind in 49:51. Jenny Winter, Jenny Tattersall and Mary Sharp all performed with distinction as they finished in 54:15, 56:14 and 64:31 respectively.
It was also a day when a number of Club members faced ultra-endurance challenges for which they’d focused on for a long time. Christian Glover threw down the gauntlet for Dave Eyre as he completed his first, and possibly last, Ironman event in a really respectable 14.12:59. Gerry O’Brien, successfully tackled the first National Forest Way 75 Ultra while Andy Windle completed the ultimate ultra-distance challenge the Equinox 24. With plenty of time to view the beautiful Belvoir Vale,  Andy ran brilliantly to complete an amazing 17 laps of a 10k loop in 24H.30 mins. Mark Harriott and Nikki Reeves competed in the open pairs category and completed 18 laps in 24h:44mins. Amazing performances.