Bradgate Park, Telford, Keyworth, Sneyd and………….Cancun

Flying teenager!!!
Road Runners were again in action at a number of different venues on Sunday with the majority, 23, tackling the latest leg of the Derby Runner XC League at Bradgate Park. In bright weather on a relatively dry course the benign conditions were betrayed by a number of gratuitous climbs,  particularly one leading to the finish.  One the Club’s runners of the season, teenager James Farmer, made light of the conditions to lead the men’s team home in an outstanding 18^th place. Making a really welcome racing return Gareth Watkin was next home in 30^th place with Rob Eaton a few places back in 36^th. Shane Chapman, one of the Club’s strongest runners, uttered a few well-chosen profanities as he crossed the line in 49^th with Mark Harriott, another of a number of the Club’s runners who seem to recover amazingly quickly after running marathons, not far behind in 52^nd.   Ross Clarke is having a great series and he crossed the line here in 57^th with Andy Windle and Christian Glover completing the men’s team scorers in 85^th and 92^nd places. John Morgan, another making a really welcome racing return, was next in 96^th with Chris Hanman and Tim Rhodes running well for 115^th and 130^th places. Rom Chambard, Adrian Middleton and Barry Saunders exchanged race positions a number of times before settling on 181^st, 191^st and 192^nd finishes respectively. The battling Mark Murkin and Mark Nixon completed the Club’s finishers in the men’s race in 251^st and 274^th places.
Christina Hawtin, who is getting back to pre-maternity break form led the Club’s women home in a terrific 14^th place with great team support from Lisa Wright in 37^th, birthday girl Rebecca Moult in 67^th and Hannah Wintrip in 133^rd. The determined Rebecca Lenaghan recovered from a fall to finish in 155^th with Kat Smith next in 159^th and Emma Sharp battling well for 185^th.
Jenny Laing represented North Wales in the very high quality Telford 10k and raced well for her 39:27 with her 40^th place category finish indicating just how high the quality was.
Paul Glover was one of 5 of the Club’s runners who tackled the Keyworth Turkey Trot Half Marathon and he continued his recent excellent form to record a chip time PB of 01.38:55. Another of the stars of a busy season, Katie Dennis was next in 01.48:36 with Tracey Glover recording 01.51:51 with another recent birthday girl, Alison Shearer celebrating with a solid 02.06:31. Carolyn Ife gave her usual maximum effort to complete the Club’s finishers in 02.26:57.
Another group were at Sneyd tackling the annual Christmas Pudding Run and again there were some outstanding performances. Mother and daughter Becky and Emily Atkins tackled the 5 mile option and for Emily it was another distance PB of 44.18 with mum close behind in 45.03. Sam Bassett, who improves with nearly every event, was first back in the 10 miler recording an excellent chip time of 66.42 for 38^th place. Chris Mason and Colin Mee were amongst the age group prizes with Chris’s 70.22 clinching the MV65 prize and Colin’s 71.22 the MV60 award. Injury hampered Andy Orme was next home in 71.29 with Steve Leafe’s 72.43 also clinching a finishing place well within the top 100 in 83^rd. Gary Price ran well for his 84.36 as did David Lunn, running in an area he knows very well, for his 91.53.
Last but not least Andy Lindley was running in entirely different conditions in the heat of Mexico at the Cancun Marathon. His 04;15 testifies to his endurance and determination.