The Farmer is back!!!!!
James Farmer, fresh from his first term at university, showed that he has used his time well as he led the Club’s contingent of 24 home in the latest leg of the Derby Runner Cross Country League (Staffs and Derby). His superb 2nd place finish led a really strong showing by both the Club’s men’s and women’s team over what was, unsurprisingly, very heavy going in Shipley Park. James was followed home by Ross Clarke in 5th, who underlined what an excellent season of continuous improvement he has had. Seb Van Dijk ran strongly for 9th place as did cross country debutant Steve Bullock in 13th and the more seasoned Andy Windle in 17th. Chris Hanman followed up his superb last racing performance with an excellent 20th place finish with Mark Harriott in 29th and Ben Holmes in 31st, holding it all together to complete the men’s team finishers. Great support was provided by Rom Chambard in 34th, Dave Green in 36th and the evergreen Matt Long in 41st. Men’s team captain, Andy Orme collected the 44th place finishing token with Hector Arenas, gaining more valuable racing experience, in 59th and Ian Archer in 64th. There was then close racing between Paul Glover in 73rd, Chris Elsegood in 75th and Joe Baldwin in 76th with Robin Thorne in 104th completing the Club’s finishers in the men’s race.
Running as well as she has ever done, Chrissie Hawtin led the Club’s women home with another excellent 2nd place finish with Katie Dennis in 5th, Tracey Glover in 11th and Women’s team captain, Lisa Wright, setting a brilliant example in 16th completing a really solid team showing. Rebecca Lenaghan ran well for 40th place with Sarah Walters continuing her love affair with the mud and water finishing in 46th.
Shane Chapman continued his cultural tour of Europe when he tackled the Pisa Half Marathon and ran strongly to finish in a very respectable 01:31. Meanwhile, Gary Price, Paul Hudson, Kev Clarke and Andy Meadows were in action, courtesy of the Mountain Rescue Service, as they tackled the frequently cancelled Staffordshire Moorlands Christmas Cracker. The race, over approximately 8 miles, is mainly off road and rises to 1500 feet above sea level along the exposed Roaches gritstone ridge. Our intrepid runners finished en bloc taking the finishing times from 96:10 and finishing places from 103rd onwards.
