Tamworth 5, Great North Run & National Forest 10k

Brothers power on!
On Sunday Club members were prominent participants in 3 races. The main action was in the last race in the Burton & District Summer League (BDSL) & the latest race in this year’s Club Championship, the Tamworth 5. After organizational problems, this race was rescheduled as a closed race, which was only open to BDSL constituent clubs. As a consequence there was a smaller field than usual but the quality was still there. Leading the way for the Road Runners and both making significant cases for this year’s ‘most improved runner’ were Shane & Paul Chapman.  On this occasion it was the younger Shane who had the edge finishing a tremendous 9^th overall in 31.00. However, Paul’s was probably the performance of the day as he raced home in 12^th place in 31.35 and in the process beat, for the first time, two of the Club’s most experienced runners Chris Mason & Colin Mee. Chris, who finished in 31.38 for 13^th place, had the satisfaction of winning the 1^st MV60 prize while Colin’s 32.34 for 16^th indicated that his training for the upcoming Nottingham Marathon is going well.
Putting in a welcome appearance for the Club, Dave Eyre was pleased with his 34.17 for 21^st place with Gary Price, also scheduled to compete in an autumn marathon, next to cross the line in 27^th in an excellent 36.56. Steve Fowler, returning after injury, completed the finishers for the Club with a hard working 38.21 for 30^th place.
Andy Hawtin & Christina Cooper were much further afield and, by way of a contrast, running in one of the biggest and most high profile mass participation events in the world, the Great North Run. Both ran brilliantly over the half marathon course to record chip times of 1.30.01 & 1.40.57.
Very much closer to home, 10 of the Club’s runners were tackling the more familiar territory of the National Forest 10k and it was Gerry O’Brien who proved he’s getting back to his best as he led the group home in a chip time of 38.37 and a superb finishing position of 9^th out of 384 finishers. Running consistently well Andy Orme was next across the line in 40.57 and 19^th place. Also enjoying very creditable top 100 finishers were Adrian Middleton and Nigel Atkins who finished in 48.33 & 49.03 respectively. Chris Morton continued to gain valuable racing experience with 51.46 ahead of the first women finisher for the Club, Laura Storer in 53.56. Alison Shearer ran well to record 56.25 just edging, on this occasion, Carolyn Ife in 57.53. Mark Skidmore was next to finish in 65.33 before Felicity Towns, making a very welcome first competitive appearance since having a baby, completed the finishers with 72.32.