Holly Hayes Wood, Florence

Jenny & Chris lead the way!!
26 runners from the Club made their way to Holly Hayes Wood on Sunday for the 3^rd race in this winter’s Derby Runner XC League.
Highlights included the performances of Chris Pearson and Jenny Laing who helped their respective teams consolidate their high rankings in this year’s series. For Jenny it was her second consecutive 2^nd place finish in the women’s race as she stopped the clock in 41:58. Chris finished in 18^th place in the men’s race in 38:11. Great support was provided in the men’s team by John Morgan, Mark Harriott and Ross Clarke as they finished in 63^rd, 66^th & 67^th places in terrific times of 41:15, 41:28 & 41:30 respectively. Shane Chapman showed improved form in finishing in 77^th in 42:03 with Tom Eyre and Andy Windle close together in 99^th and 103^rd places in 43:04 and 43:16. Simon Reynolds gave his usual maximum effort in stopping the clock in 44:08 and 119^th place before Matt Long continued his upward trajectory with arguably his best performance for the Club as he finished in 44:52 in 133^rd place. It was a really welcome return to competitive Club action for James Gough as he ran well for 145^th place in 45:26 just getting the better of the stylish Colin Mee in 45:36 and Club stalwart Andy Orme in 46:02. Only one place separated Adrian Middleton and Jon Mayman as they finished in 165^th and 166^th in times of 46:22 and 46:32 respectively. Steve Leafe battled well for 186^th place in 47:40 with Nikki Reeves and Lisa Wright providing brilliant team support in the women’s race as they finished in superb times of 48:14 and 50:42 and 23^rd and 46^th places respectively. Ian Archer, who seems to improve with every race, finished in 49:36 and 218^th place getting the better, on this occasion, of Kev Clarke who finished in 251^st in 51:30. Ray Udall, who should be handily placed in the MV70 category, finished here in 52:24 and 268^th place with Tony Richards and Malcolm Moore giving everything as they completed the Club’s finishers in the men’s race in 52:46 and 53:08 and 273^rd and 277^th places respectively. Hannah Wintrip and Becky Atkins finished closely in 55:18 and 55:45 and 92^nd and 100^th places with the battling Emily Atkins and Club Chairperson, Inge Moore completing the Club’s finishers in the women’s race in respectable times of 60:30 and 63:10 respectively.
The Club’s man for all seasons, Rob Eaton, was in slightly more exotic climes as he tackled the Florence Marathon. However, in very challenging cold and wet conditions Eaton did brilliantly to record 02:50:26.
Paul and Tracey Glover were slightly closer to home as they tackled the unusual distance of 8 miles in the Coombe 8. Both ran with distinction as they stopped the clock in 65:22 and 68:22 respectively.
Chris Mason was in action at the 2017 England Masters Inter Area Challenge completing the 4.5 miles in the shadow of Bournemouth AFC’s Vitality Stadium in 31:39. With age related adjustment the winner in the men’s race was MV70 Peter Giles described in last week’s Athletics Weekly ‘as being one of the founder members of cult rock band, King Crimson’.