The Holme Pierrepont Heritage Grand Prix is a series of four races over varying distances, run over the space of ten days.
This year, the race schedule was as follows:
June 27th Rushcliffe 4 mile
June 29th Holme Pierrepont 10k
July 4th Embankment 5k
July 6th Colwick Racecourse 5 mile
A small contingent of Striders – Ben Pickard, Laura Pickard, Daniel Moult, Nick Pryke and Neil Jaggard entered the full series, with Vanessa Walker just entering the Colwick Racecourse 5 mile as a standalone race.
The weather for each event could not have been more different. On June 27th, a cool, overcast evening greeted 431 runners at Rushcliffe Country Park. Striders positions and times were as follows: Ben Pickard (135th/28:45), Neil Jaggard (170th/29:50), Nick Pryke (203th/30:56), Laura Pickard (314th/36:05) and Daniel Moult (325th/36:37).
An unseasonably wet evening confronted runners at Holme Pierrepont Country Park for the longest race of the series – a 10k which took in almost a full circuit of the lake before heading out into surrounding roads, before returning to the lake to take in another half circuit. The race attracted 449 competitors and Striders positions and times were as follows: Ben Pickard (163rd/45:46), Neil Jaggard (187th/46:52), Nick Pryke (257th/50:24), Laura Pickard (357th/57:46) and Daniel Moult (382nd/59:44).
Warm evening sunshine was the order of the day for the third race of the series – the Embankment 5k – a very flat riverside course that saw a number of PBs broken in a field of 481 with over 100 people finishing in under 20 minutes. Striders positions and times were as follows: Ben Pickard (202nd/22:11), Neil Jaggard (213th/22:36), Nick Pryke (260th/23:38), Daniel Moult (369th/27:08) and Laura Pickard (372nd/27:15).
The final race of the series was run on a remarkably sultry evening at Colwick Racecourse. The course utilised the inner service road of the racecourse as well as the neighbouring country park. 409 runners completed the race, and Striders positions and times were as follows: Ben Pickard (153rd/37:54), Neil Jaggard (169th/38:44), Nick Pryke (239th/42:42), Vanessa Walker (290th/45:46) Laura Pickard (292nd/45:57) and Daniel Moult (322nd/48:18).
The final Grand Prix results were as follows:
1st overall: Michael Coltherd 1 hour 30 minutes 46 seconds
2nd overall: Ben Livesey 1 hour 33 minutes 51 seconds
3rd overall: Marlon Dunkley 1 hour 40 minutes 42 seconds
First lady: Katie Lomas (18th overall) 1 hours 50 minutes exactly
Striders finishing positions:
Ben Pickard (104th/2.14.36), Neil Jaggard (119th/2.18.02), Nick Pryke (154th/2.27.40), Laura Pickard (214th/2.47.03) and Daniel Moult (228th/2.51.47). 286 runners completed the full Grand Prix.
All competitors deemed the Grand Prix a success in terms of organisation and would thoroughly recommend to all Striders looking for a challenging but enjoyable midsummer series.