Author: Chris Genes

Dukeries Ultra 30

Abbie and Helen

What can I say…..if you like bluebells then you’re in for a treat!!! Near perfect weather for the 200 runners of the Dukeries 30 and 40 mile ultras. The course is relatively flat and on easy going trails, taking in Sherwood Forest, Clumber Park and Creswell Crags.

Fantastic organisation – the route clearly marked – and reassuring yellow dots to confirm we were on the right path. The fuel stations well stocked and Marshalls were all so nice offering to fill our hydration packs for us etc.

If you’ve not done an ultra before and you quite fancy trying one this is a great place to start – another spot on recommendation from Rich Gray.

Dukeries 1

We ran the whole 30.8 miles together and were more than happy with our finish time of 5hrs 7minutes, 6/7th Females and 22/23rd overall out of 107 finishers.

Helen says I have to find someone else for my next challenge…..any takers??

Abi

Dukeries 2

West End 8

Fantastic running all round from the Stilton Striders

A group of stilton striders travelled not far  up the road to Queniborough for the 1st round of the Leicester road running league summer series , the West end 8 , an unusual distance and the only race of 8 miles in Leicestershire this is a popular race relatively flat but with a tough climb through South Croxton at around halfway , summer league races are open so non club runners can enter and nearly 550 started on a bright mild morning ,

First back for Stilton was Mark Stoneley having an excellent race in 55th place in 51min 4 secs , followed next by Darren Glover in 60th in 51.08 , then first lady for the club in 72nd overall and 3rd lady on the day Natalie Teece in 52.22 , then Matt Gayton 53.34 , Harris Millar 54.24 , Andy Nicholls 55.21 , Ian Howe 57.34 ,having another close race was Julie Bass and Michelle Farlow, both recording 59.14 , Vicki Lowe 1.01.41 , Tam Nicol 1.02.56 , Sharon Eshelby 1.04.03 , Mike Brighty 1.06 28 , Emma Hope 1.14.07 , and Kaye Mead 1.19.42 .

During the prize presentation , overall prizes for the 4 race winter league were also presented.

Natalie Teece received an award for 3rd senior lady overall, her second trophy of the day , Nick Brown was awarded 2nd vet 50 , and Julie Bass was awarded 2nd vet 55 .

[Darren]

Belvoir Half Marathon

There was another good turnout of Stilton Striders who made the short hop up the road to race the Belvoir Half-Marathon on Sunday.

For those running the London Marathon, the popular race is seen as an ideal warm-up.

As well as the very warm conditions, they faced a breezy cross-headwind for the second half of the race.

Darren Glover headed the Melton club’s times in 1hr 26min 36secs for 28th, followed by Mark Stoneley, 55th in 1.31.29, and Paul Geeson, 64th in 1.32.52.

Alan Thompson also comfortably broke the 1hr 40min barrier with 1.34.17 ahead of clubmates Andy Nicholls (1.41.27) and Rob Beers (1.43.05).

First lady back for the Striders was Helen Widdowson in 1.43.31, just ahead of Vicki Lowe 1.46.29 and Ian Howe 1.47.21.

Other Striders times: Louise Houghton 1.51.30, Jon Wilson 1.52.24, Kirsty Black 1.53.19, David Hall 1.55.02, Sharon Eshelby 1.58.46, Nigel Willat 1.58.37, Nick Pryke 2.01.39, Melanie Willat 2.06.38, Celia Brown 2.18.12, Deborah Wilson 2.26.30, Kaye Mead 2.26.30.

 

Racing weekend 6th and 7th May 2017

Summing up another fantastic weekend for Stilton Striders racing locally and as far as Geneva!

Stuart and Christie setting PBs

A few stilton striders travelled to sleaford to compete in the sleaford half marathon with nearly 400 finishers  first strider back showing he’s well recovered from the London marathon was Stuart Shaw smashing his personal best by around 4 mins stopping the clock  in 1 hr 24 mins 28 secs for 8th overall and 2nd vet , next was Christie Jones also running a pb in 1.40.34 , then Greeba Heard in 1.50.42 .

Clawson 10k trail race

Chris Southam came away with the win in his local race the Clawson 10k trail race finishing in an excellent 40.17 , not far behind in 2nd was stilton strider Jason Barton in 40.53 entering on the day after cycling over to watch initially , next in 11th  Alan Thompson 45.30 , Michael Atton 46.38 , Simon Bottrill 50.40 , Daniel Howley 56.31 , Deb Wilson 71.21 , John Wilson 71.22 , Richard Gray ran around with his son Conrad to both record 76 mins , Marie Gray 80.54 .

Geneva Marathon

John and Lou ready to race
John and Lou ready to race

John and Louise Houghton travelled to Geneva for the Geneva marathon,  john finished in 3 hrs 50 mins and Louise was going well till around the 20 mile point when she pulled a calf muscle but still managed to finish in 4hr 30 .

[Darren]

Desford 5 – Final Winter League race of the series

On Sunday a group of Stilton Striders travelled to Desford near Leicester for the 4th and final race in the Leicestershire road running league winter series the Desford 5 .

First back for the striders having an excellent run in 53rd place was David Hamdorff in 30min 49 , 2nd vet 50 overall , next in 60th place was Darren Glover in 31.01 , finishing next in 76th  and 5th lady was Natalie Teece in 31.44 followed closely by Alan Thompson 78th in 31.46 , Harris Millar 33.17 , Michelle Farlow 36.07 having a great race with Julie Bass who recorded the same time and was 2nd female vet 55 , Vicki Lowe 37.26 , Liz Goodbourn 37.51 , Kirsty Black 38.21 , Neil Jaggard 38.23 , Tam Nicol 38.36 , Greeba Heard 39.38 , Sharon Eshelby 39.47 , Nigel Willatt 40.49 , Mel Willatt 42.18 , Kathy Walsh 43.04 , Nick Pryke 43.00 .

[Darren]

Huge turnout at Livingston Relays 2017

Braunstone Park was the location for the Livingston Relays, a well established race in the Leicestershire Running Calendar.  Stilton Striders fielded 10 teams and saw probably one of the largest contingent of Stilton Strider members at an event.   This was  a high quality race and 20 Leicestershire running clubs formed an amazing 156 teams of open men, open women, men and ladies vets and U15s. The race was ran in 3 mile legs.

The ladies vets performed brilliantly to finish as 2nd medal winners in  in the Vet ladies  category formed by Vicki Lowe (21.16), Julie Bass (21.03) , Liz Goodborne (21.58).

Other teams:

Stilton Striders A Vet Men – Finished cat 5th – David Hamdorff (17.55), Darren Glover (18.05), Stuart Shaw (18.10), Mark Stoneley (18.16).

Stilton Striders A Open Women – Finished cat 7th  – Michelle Farlow (21.22), Kirsty Black (21.58), Abigail Arnott (22.00).

Stilton Striders A Men – Finished cat 11th – Jason Barton (16.55), Steven Compton (17.18), Sean Elkington (18.02), Matt Gayton (18.40)

Stilton Striders B Vet Women – Finished cat 12th – Greeba Heard (23.33), Kathy Walsh (25.03), Vanessa Walker (26.14).

Stilton Strider B Vet Male – Finished cat 13th – Matt Taylor (19.12), Andy Nicholls (19.38), Michael Cooke (20.35), Tam Nichol (21.01).

Stilton Striders B Open Women Finished cat 20th  – Helen Langland (21.31), Sharon Eshelby (22.43), Steph Barlow (27.37).

Stilton Striders C Open Women Finished cat 23rd – Charlotte Allen (23.23), Emma Hope (24.46), Celia Bown (25.23)

Stilton Striders D Open Women Finished cat 32nd – Sarah Foode (24.25), Emma Claire (26.47), Kaye Meade (25.08).

Stilton Striders B Open Men – Finished cat 35 – Christie Jones (20.51), Chris Foode (22.35), Phil Worth (22.35), Matthew Daniel (22.35)

[Vicki]

Wolf’s Pit Fell Race

The Wolfs Pit Fell Race at almost 6 miles and 1500 ft of ascent (9.2Km / 467m) is a Short category A race which packs a punchy 600 ft climb almost from the off. The climb on well cropped runnable (for the strong) grass takes you onto the open moor for some single track and open moorland running, a final sting in the tail ascent leads you back to the head of the original climb, where strength permitting you can extend your legs for a final race down to the finish field. The Wolfs Pit gets its name from a feature high on the Shatton / Abney Moors; “The Wolfs Pit” which the race route passes.

The race is the brain child of local farmer & turf grower Malcolm Sowerby, from whose field the race starts. Malcolm, a then member of Bradda Dads – a fund raising group from the village of Bradwell, put the idea to the “Dads” back in 2008. The race has been hosted by the Bradda Dads on or around the 3rd weekend of March ever since. The course has varied over the years to respect landowners requests, but the philosophy has remained very much the same; to climb up & over the Moor, take in the views to South, East, West & finally North before plummeting back to the field for a well-earned brew – what more could a runner wish for

Clive & Jenny

The Belvoir Challenge – 15 or 26 miles with a side of cake?

The Belvoir Challenge is a 15 or 26 mile trail run in the Vale held on 25 February 2017, for both runners and walkers around the Vale of Belvoir, Leicestershire. Throughout the route there are checkpoints offering everything from home-made cakes, flapjack and, sandwiches, Mars® bars, jelly babies and drinks. It is arguably the only event of its nature where entrants can put weight on! Given the time of year, it was reasonably dry underfoot, though plenty of mud if you went looking for it and a couple of hills turned into mudslides over the course of the event.

15 mile run results:

30 Alan Thompson 02:04:41
187 Tam Nicol 02:53:05
195 Helen Plant 02:53:52
206 Nick Pryke 02:54:59
268 Rebecca Forrester 03:08:02
269 Sarah Lawrence 03:08:03
273 Jacqui Riley 03:09:19
297 Louise Houghton 03:14:19
355 Lynda Harris 03:28:32
356 Kaye Mead 03:28:39
485 Helen Metcalfe 03:59:37
499 Jenny Kent 04:07:30
549 Julie Bass 04:42:59
550 Emma Hope 04:43:01
616 Elaine Bottrill 05:28:24

 

26 mile run results:

23 Rob Beers 04:02:35
24 Paul Geeson 04:02:48
43 Michael Atton 04:24:21
91 John Houghton 04:55:51
97 Simon Bottrill 04:56:40
102 Richard Gray 04:58:25
117 Katie Hateley 05:07:40
583 Clive Kent 05:13:46
178 Dan Valencia 05:39:20
207 Dan Howley 05:58:37

 

Jenny

Orston Spring Dash, 10k run – Sunday 23 April 2017

On a busy Sunday with Striders on show all over the country two lonely Striders made the short trip across the Vale for the Orston Spring Dash 10km.

The race is a 10km run over mixed terrain through the villages and lanes around the village of Orston in Nottinghamshire.

The race took place in beautiful spring sunshine with a great atmosphere.

With medals and cakes for all runners this was a no brainer.

Orston Spring Dash

Alan Thompson ran a brilliant race in 17th place in a time of 43.27 and Tam Nicol came 53rd in a time of 48.44. Cheered on and cake assisted by Steph Barlow.

This is a lovely race on our doorstep and worth a go for anyone not involved in the London Marathon or the Lakes next year

Southwell Sprint Triathlon – Following up the Stathern Duathlon!

My first race report..

The Southwell Sprint Triathlon in April is the first of two Sprint Tri’s held in Southwell (the second is in September).

With my last Sprint Tri more than three years, but with the Stathern Duathlon under my belt, I felt reasonably confident I would do ok. As always, it was a very well organised and inclusive event, with more than 500 competitors of all ages and abilities. As usual the 400m swim was tough (always my weakest discipline), so was glad to get that done. After a rusty first transition where I spent far to long phaffing with my top and trying to get my number pinned back on (big tip, invest in a Tri-belt, makes life so much easier!), my 18k bike ride was ok, but could have been better if my legs had worked in the first half. The 5k run is always surprisingly easier than you think, as you are very warmed up and loose. The only niggly thing is that its not actually 5k, but more like 4.6k. I wish they would sort this out.

All in all, was happy with my 194 position, and 35th in my age category. Am already thinking of the Woodhall Spa Tri in June, and the return leg to Southwell in September to better my time. Am hoping I am not the only Strider doing it this time!

End of race report..

Marc Lupson