Rain and more rain!!!
Sunday saw the first race, in what has seemed like years, in the Derby Runner Cross Country League. Even Sunday’s race at Anslow faced uncertainty after being postponed from last Sunday when the organisers were unfortunate victims of Covid. The postponement also hit the numbers of participants from South Derbyshire Road Runners and other clubs because of commitments to other events including, on Sunday, the Worksop Half Marathon. Nevertheless, the turnout at the cross country was marked by quality rather than quantity with the runners counting their blessings because by race time the morning’s deluge had given way to bright sunshine. The Club’s women were fortunate enough to field a full team with Jenny Laing, making a welcome return to racing leading the team home in 9th place. Fiona Betts was only one place behind in 10th with Club Captain Lisa Wright a few weeks after her London Marathon debut, setting a notable example in 20th place. Nikki Reeves, another returning to racing after a break, completed the team’s finishers in a hard working 36th place. The men’s representatives Seb Van Dyke, Mark Slade and Mark Harriott all performed with distinction as they finished in 10th, 14th and 27th places, respectively.
The Club’s runners at the ever-popular Worksop Halloween Half Marathon were less fortunate with the weather but the twenty runners from the Club who completed the race enjoyed the journey around picturesque Clumber Park. The speedy Danial Bower led the way home with a superb chip time of 01:26.48 for 33rd place with Sam Bassett, one of nine of the Club’s finishers here to have completed a marathon in October, also securing a well-earned top fifty finish with 01:28.05. Little separated Rom Chambard and Micheal Walters as they finished in 01:32.04 and 01:33.37, respectively. David Green and Men’s Club Captain, Andy Orme were equally as close as they stopped the clock in 01:35.22 and 01:37.07. There were also races within the main race involving Colin Mee {01:40.04}, Katie Dennis {01:40.07} and Steve Leafe {01:40.35} and further down the field Paul Glover, Tracey Glover, Chris Elsegood, Ross Ballinger and Jerome Jones as they finished in 01:48.23, 01:49.23, 01:50.45, 01:50.45 and 01:51.34, respectively. Father and daughter Dave and Sarah Walters crossed the line together in 01:57.41 as did Nigel and Emily Atkins in 02:02.45 with Ian Archer sandwiched in between in 02:00.09
