BST starts with a bang!!!!
The weather was set fair and the mud of cross country was firmly forgotten as 20 runners from the Club joined 550 others in tackling the third race in this year’s Leicestershire Road Running League, the Desford 5. In common with most Leicestershire courses ‘undulating’ was the name of the game. Current Men’s Club Champion and Chairperson, Andy Hawtin led the group home with an excellent chip time of 30:10 for 35th place with London Marathon bound Jenny Laing showing she is in excellent form with 31:22 for a superb 4th place in the women’s race. Nathan Holmes was next across the line in a well-run 32:52 with Louise Insley close behind in 33:16, which was good enough for 1st in her age group and 5th place overall. Andy Orme was his normal ultra-consistent self as he stopped the clock in 33:53 with strong man Romain Chambard and the improving Matt Long recording 34:40 and 35:25 respectively. In one of the performances of the morning Kev Clarke rolled back the years in recording 36:01 with Ross Ballinger and Chris Elsegood showing no ill effects from the recent Ashby 20 with solid 36:52 and 37:42 performances. Hazel Ferris and John Pegg had the closest inter-club battle as they recorded chip times of 39:24 and 39:28 respectively with Joe Baldwin also in close attendance on 40:02. Gary Price and Mark Murkin gave everything in recording 42:46 and 43:36 with Becky Lenaghan, Emma Sharp, Anna Casey, Helen Clarke and Pauline Cooper all relishing the return to tarmac and sunshine as they recorded excellent times of 47:32, 49:40, 51:10, 52:16 and 54:16 respectively.
Stuart Halsey, Emily Atkins and Becky Atkins were in running action much further afield on Saturday in one of the most scenic races in the country, the Coniston 14. Stuart, one of the top MV50 vets locally ran well for a chip time of 1:31:34, with daughter edging out mum in the battle of the Atkins with excellent times of 2:20:04 and 2:30:23 respectively.
