Gates no barrier to Steve!!
The yellow vests were again to the fore in the latest chapter of the Burton and District Summer Road Racing League, the Gate Gallop 10k. Over farm tracks and footpaths runners’ progress was also challenged by a strong wind and, in the second half of the race, the need to tackle five strategically placed stiles. These were no barrier though to Steve Bullock who revelled in the conditions as he led the group home in tenth place overall in a superb chip time of 38.53. The consistent Dan Bower, Andy Hawtin and Jamie Green gave great close support as they finished in twelfth, thirteenth and fourteenth places respectively in times of 39.20, 39.41 and 40.42. A solid men’s team performance was completed by Steve Green, Richard Nash, and David Green as they stopped the clock in 42.04, 43.09 and 43.29, respectively. The major success of the day though belonged to the Club’s women as the collective performances of Sara Insley, Katie Dennis and Tracey Glover led to them winning the women’s team prize with Sara Insley’s 45.45 also securing the WV35 prize from teammate Katie Dennis’s 47.27 and Tracey Glover the WV45 prize in 50.21. Back to the main race and the talented Chris Hanman made light of the conditions with 43.50 getting the edge, on this occasion, over Micheal Walters in 44.55. Men’s Club Captain Andy Orme, who is learning to manage his racing effort more consistently, ran well for 45.41 before one of the performances of the day came from Neil Swift who made light of his limited racing experience to record an excellent 46.42. The resurgent MV60. Colin Mee ran superbly for his 46.50 with Matt Clemson completing the top fifty finishers with 46.58. Nathan Holmes with 47.37 led a group home comprising VM70 age category winner Chris Mason with 48.08, Steve Leafe with 48.30 and Ross Ballinger with 49.28. The improving Becky Moult and Rom Chambard recorded the same time of 51.16 with Clive Lamb, with a superb debut performance not far behind in 52.00. There was an even closer inter-club battle involving Paul Glover’s 53.11, Martin Bullock, on his return from injury, with 53.26, Paul Hudson with 53.32 and Jay Darnley and Katarina Compton who battled right to the line to record the same time of 53.36. The theme continued with Dave Walters, Tony Richards and Emily Atkins recording competitive times of 54.56, 55.04 and 55.26, respectively. Emma Sharp and Sarah Walters ran well to duck under the hour mark with 58.36 and 59.26 before Linda Dakin in 61.10 led a group home comprising John Pegg, Katie Bullock, Sarah Green, and Becky Atkins who recorded 63.23, 64.44, 69.42, 69.42 and 69.54, respectively. The biggest cheer of the day was reserved for Mary Sharp whose 71.37 secured a well deserved VW65 age category prize. Sara Sneath, Ellie Dickson, and Karen Wilks finished together in 73.46 as did Teresa Swift and Julianne Walters in 74.13 before Pauline Cooper gave her usual maximum effort to complete the Club’s finishers in 75.57.
