Team work pays off!!!
Sunday saw the penultimate leg of this year’s Burton and District Summer League with the 38 Club members, who lined up at the start of the Burton 10k, looking to consolidate their position as leaders of the League’s men’s and women’s team competitions. The Club’s standing locally was re-affirmed as the Club’s men scooped the race’s team prize as they were led home by Liam Bradbury in 4th place and a distance PB of 35:31. On a course that is noteworthy for the significant early climbing and in far from ideal running conditions, including Liam’s, there were as many as 10 distance personal bests from the Club’s runners. Following Liam home was form man Ross Clarke who finished in a PB of 37:50 for 16th with reigning men’s club champion Andy Hawtin and youngster James Farmer giving chase in chip times of 38:02 and 38:06 and 17th and 19th finishing positions. For James it was a distance PB as it was for Sam Bassett, who had a tight race with Danial Bower, before just losing out in finishing times of 38:24 and 38:28 and positions of 21st & 22nd respectively. Dave Hobbs was another to record a well-deserved PB of 39:00 getting the better on this occasion of Chicago Marathon bound Stuart Halsey who stopped the clock here in 40:00. Next to finish was Jennie Laing who ran superbly for 3rd place in the women’s race in a chip time of 41:24. Jennie, who has performed so consistently over a range of distances this season, had the dubious satisfaction of finishing behind serial race winner, Charnwood’s Juliet Potter, who in winning the women’s race set a course PB of 37:03. Jerome Jones, Andy Lindley, Barry Ross and Chris Hanman all ran with distinction in recording 43:03, 43:10, 43:18 and 43:36 respectively before Barry Saunders and the improving Ross Ballinger had their own personal battle as they crossed the line in 85th and 86th places and finishing times of 45:14 and 45:21. Matt Long continued his upward trajectory in 87th place in 45:37 with the battling Steve Leafe two places behind in 45:42. One of the Club’s most improved runners, Paul Glover finished in 46:10 getting the better, on this occasion, of Will Hirst in 47:02 and the resolute Katie Dennis in 47:13. For Will it was a welcome return after an injury lay-off and for Katie it was yet another valuable contribution to team points. Another recording a PB was Chris Elsegood who crossed the line ahead of Phil Daws but recorded an identical chip time of 48:36 with Tony Richards not far behind in a PB of 48:57. James Cobb, Dave Walters, Gary Price and Joe Baldwin all ran with distinction in recording 49:20, 50:19, 51:11 and 52:08 before Katarina Compton scored valuable team points in recording a distance PB of 52:23. John Pegg’s 53:48 led home Club race debutant Sarah Rhodes in 54:16 and Karen Wilks in 54:25 with Sarah Walters continuing the PB theme with a very respectable 54:34. Veteran Kevin Clarke looked very relaxed in recording 55:15 just ahead of a very popular PB of 55:18 from Ellie Dickson. Shannon Hurdman, Emma Sharp and Juliane Walters gave everything as they completed the club’s finishers in 60:21, 61:57 and 69:47 respectively.
Mark Harriott was the Club’s sole representative in the Newark Half Marathon but ran with his usual distinction in recording 88:39 for a top 100 finish. Andy Meadows stretched his legs in the Draycote Water Summer Series 10k and recorded a superb 46:28 while Rob Eaton, Tim Rhodes, Shane Chapman and Ralph Huthmacher were experiencing the Dublin craic in the Rock ‘n’ Roll half marathon. While performances may have been hampered by the experience all could wear their post-race green tee shirts with pride as they recorded 84:47, 91:03, 91:15 and 119:52 respectively.
