Millennials battle it out.
It is beginning to feel something like ‘normal’ for the running community with two, socially distanced local races, taking place on consecutive Sundays. Again, the yellow vests were well to the fore with 26 members lining up on the start line of the Fradley 10k. Over the 2 lap, flat course the main challenges were the muggy conditions and the distance. For the South Derbyshire contingent, the main post race talking point was the battle at the front of the race between the Club’s competitive male millennials. On this occasion it was Steve Bullock who led the way home superbly with a chip time of 36.52 just 2 seconds ahead of Danial Bower’s 36.54 and 7 seconds ahead of Ben Holmes in 36.59. Sam Bassett powered round in 38.04 with Ross Clarke, competing well for his 38.25, despite easing back on his running to concentrate on a charity bike ride. Sebastien Van Dijk ducked below the 10k sub-40-minute benchmark with 39.38 with Rom Chambard also running strongly for his 40.40. Club men’s captain Andy Orme, probably more generation X, is in a rich vein of form at present and ran well here for his 41.36 with Robbie Cresswell-Howe, on his Club debut, an agonising second back in 41.37. Kelly Knight was first finisher for the Club in the women’s race for a well run 41.49 with another millennial Andy Allsop close behind in 42.20. Nathan Fagan finished with a smile on his face because he completed the race injury free in a very creditable 43.16. There then followed a group of post war baby boomers with Colin Mee, Chris Mason and Steve Leafe rolling back the years to record 44.11, 45.14 and 46.15, respectively with the much younger Barry Saunders racing well for 46.44. Husband and wife duo Paul and Tracey Glover ran competitively with Paul’s 46.38 edging out Tracey’s 48.01 and Ash Wootton should be pleased with his impressive 48.13. Hazel O’Brien, Robert Read, Emma Sharp, Karen Wilks and Richard Gee gave everything on their return to competitive racing as they recorded 50.14, 52.26, 55.26, 55.47 and 65.18. respectively and Pauline Cooper and Samantha Clare showed little effect from the enforced break as they recorded 70.38 and 72.37 to complete the Club’s finishers.
