Prize day!!!
Tamworth was the venue for the final race in this year’s Burton and District Summer Road Racing League and as the results came in it was clear that both the Club’s men’s and women’s teams had secured their respective championships. In great running conditions, over a relatively quick 5 mile course, it was Liam Bradbury, as he’s done so regularly this season, who led the Club’s contingent home with a superb 4th place finish in a chip time of 27:37. Together with James Farmer’s 30.11 and Mark Harriott’s 30:27 the trio secured the race’s men’s team prize. Mark is going through a real purple patch and his performance here was also good enough to secure the individual MV50 prize in a very competitive category. Sam Bassett, back in action a few days after completing, together with team mate Ben Holmes, the gruelling 191km, GR20 trail across Corsica, showed no ill effects in stopping the clock here in 30:50. Rich Miller, a day after smashing his parkrun PB, edged out an injury hampered Andy Hawtin in 31:46 and 31:59 respectively. Dave Hobbs, another fresh from a parkrun PB, continued his good form with 32:48 with Nathan Holmes, a week after a strong debut marathon in the New Forest, not far behind in 33:02. Louise Insley ran strongly for her 33:43, which secured a well-deserved WV45 prize and was kept reasonably close company by a resurgent Christina Hawtin who finished in 33:55, Matt Clemson in 34:20 and Team Captain Andy Orme in 34:29. Chris Mason with 34:58 was another prize winner in the MV70 category with the improving Chris Elsegood close behind in 35:38. Nigel Atkins was next to finish in 35:51 before the tightest inter-club battle involved the improving Ross Ballinger, Paul Glover and Ian Archer as they stopped the clock in 36:08, 36:12 and 36:13 respectively. Steve Leafe battled round in 36:42 with Tracey Glover, defying heavy legs from marathon training, finishing in 38:01. Barry Saunders, another who tackled the New Forest Trail Marathon last weekend, finished in 38:33 with Tony Richards, Gary Price and Rebecca Moult giving everything to finish in 39:31, 40:44 and 41:05. John Pegg and Robin Thorne both finished strongly to record 41:24 and 42:22 with Robin’s reward being a distance PB. Karen Wilks ran well for 43:49 before Shannon Hurdman and Alison Jackson completed the finishers for the Club in well-run times of 53:32 and 64;04 respectively.
Rob Eaton and Felicity Towns raced closer to home with Rob finishing 2nd overall in 38:05 and Felicity, making a welcome racing appearance stopping the clock in 76:37
