Shepshed domination
When the season’s change and the clocks go back, for local runners two things stay constant. One is that the focus changes from the road to the country and the other is that the Shepshed 7, a combination of trail, country, and road, takes place on the nearest Sunday to Bonfire Night. This year was no different and a terrific turnout of forty-five runners from South Derbyshire Road Runners, approximately 10% of the field, lined up for what could be the last running of this venerable event. A new housing development on the estate through which the race passes may make staging the race impossible next year. In the men’s race the Club’s strength in depth was emphasised as excellent running from Chris Baxter, tenth in a chip time of 42.44, Danial Bower, nineteenth in 44.18 and Mark Farrar, twenty seventh in 45.54 secured the team prize against formidable opposition. Also prominent were Steve Green, thirty second in 46.39 and Mark Harriott, thirty third in 47.00. What made this even more of an outstanding performance for the MV50 was that in consecutive weekends in October he completed the London and Chicago Marathons. Richard Nash and Micheal Walters recorded excellent chip times of 48.05 and 48.41 respectively before the Club’s first finisher in the women’s race, Jenny Laing, crossed the line in 49.20. Again, what made this performance even more outstanding was that last weekend Jenny battled the elements and the formidable course to complete the Snowdonia Marathon. David Green and Darren Potter finished in close order in 49.47 and 50.01 before the improving Sara Insley stopped the clock in 50.49. Men’s Captain, Andy Orme, was next to finish in a chip time of 51.45 before Paul Glover put in one of the performances of the day to finish in 52.29. Making her way back to racing fitness Christina Hawtin finished in 53.23, just edging out Matt Clemson in 53.39 and Ross Ballinger in 54.07. Little separated father and daughter combination, Nigel, and Emily Atkins, as they finished in 54.20 and 55.00, respectively. Colin Mee has had a competitive season but in recent weeks he has experienced a niggling injury. However, this did not hamper him too much here as he finished in 55.57 Another who has seen his progress hampered by injury is Ian Archer and here he showed he is on the right track as he finished in 56.42 with the quickly improving Jay Darnley not far behind in 57.12. Clive Lamb with 59.04 finished in front of Kat Compton’s 59.14 on chip times if not in ‘gun to tape’ racing with Dave Walters breathing down their necks in 59.27 while Becky Moult, who has had a consistent season, ran with Rom Chambard as they finished with identical times of 60.15. Rom is another who has earned a break after completing a marathon and an Ironman in recent months. Paul Hudson, who will have appreciated the off-road elements of this race, finished in 61.05 with relative newcomer to the Club’s ranks, Robert Dilworth, finishing in a well run 62.23 just edging out Robert Read in 62.52. Kevin Clarke, who will have fond memories of this race as a 10k, was not far behind in a very respectable 63.03. There was then something of a gap before two others with Autumn marathons in their legs, Sarah Walters, and Emma Sharp, crossed the line in 66.41 and 68.45. Linda Dakin and Sophie Pickett put in good performances to stop the clock in 70.08 and 72.15, respectively. Julianne Walters, after last month’s tremendous achievement of completing the Chester Marathon, recorded 74.34, Mary Sharp 75.47, Becky Atkins 76.16, Sarah Green 77.00 before Sarah Sneath and Ellie Dickson crossed the line together in 78.09. Lucy Cartwright, Danny Scott and the redoubtable, Pauline Cooper battled well for times of 80.35, 81.29, and 85.34 respectively before Teresa Swift and Helen Clarke completed the Club’s finishers as they crossed the line together in 92.34.
Last weekend saw the first race in the Derby Runner XC League (Staffs/Derby] at Anslow. While it was a modest turn out for the Club it was also something of a bonus because last season the race clashed with the Worksop HM and we didn’t have the numbers for a men’s team. Here the Club was well served by Seb Van Dijk in 14th, Mark Slade in 15th and Dan Bower in 17th. Other men team scorers in a good, solid team performance were Steve Green in 24th, Richard Nash in 26th, Micheal Walters in 38th, David Green in 53rd and the returning Shane Chapman in 65th. Support in the men’s race was provided by Andy Orme in 69th, Nigel Atkins in 88th, Ross Ballinger in 109th, and Paul Hudson in 113th. The Club’s women, looking to build on the success of a very successful BDSL season, just had the numbers in this race with all finishers counting. First back was Sara Insley, who is fast becoming a mainstay of the team, in 11th, with Christina Hawtin in 20th, Sarah Green in 95th and Pauline Cooper in 106th.
