Hawtin Speeds Home

Shepshed was the location for the final race in South Derbyshire Road Runner’s 2012 Club Championship, the Shepshed 7. In cold but still conditions Andy Hawtin continued his recent excellent form by being the first finisher for the Club with 21st place out of 513 finishers in a time of 42.51. Next to finish in 39th place was Chris Mason whose 44.55 was good enough to give him the 1st V60 prize. There was next a very close race between Colin Mee and Chris Gunstone with Mee just edging it with times of 45.51 and 45.56 and finishing places of 60th and 61st respectively.
 
The tight inter club racing continued with only 18 secs separating the next three finishers for the Club with debutante Andy Orme (48.31) getting the better of Rob Lower (48.35) and Roger Matthews (48.49). For Lower it was a very welcome return to form which augurs well for the upcoming cross country and winter road racing season. Also continuing her good progress in her debut season was Christina Cooper, whose 52.08 gave her 16th place overall in a very competitive women’s race. Also making her racing debut was Caroline Ife who should be well pleased with her 73.45 which gave her considerable leeway to Roger Barraclough’s 81.08, which nevertheless completed a good, solid season for the popular veteran.

Away from Home

Autumn is generally a time when the longer, city marathons and half marathons take place and a number of the Club’s runners have performed with distinction in these. Chris Gunstone has probably been the most active recording 3.17.45 at the Chester Marathon and 1.28.34 in the recent Birmingham Half Marathon. The Chester performance was particularly pleasing for Gunstone because it helped erase the memories of relatively disappointing performances at the last two London Marathons. Another in marathon action was Andy Hawtin who ran well for 3.10.11 and 42nd place on his debut at the distance in October’s Leicester Marathon.
Steve Leafe and Chris Mason traveled further afield in half marathon action with Leafe completing the Palma Half Marathon in 1.36.56 and Mason the Cologne Half Marathon in 1.28.34. Mason’s time was good enough for 3rd place in the V60 category and a 203rd place finish out of over 10,000 starters.  Finally the Towns family were in Keswick for the Derwent Water 10 mile race where Dan recorded a new PB of 1.18.59.