Striders smash it at Kibworth 6.
Over the weekend 30 senior members of the club ran in what is described as the hardest race in the Leicestershire Road Running League (LRRL) series – the Kibworth 6. The course was a single heavily undulating route starting and finishing at Kibworth High School and taking in both Saddington and Gumley hills with 110 meters of climbing. The ladies race was won by Sarah Purser (West End Runners) in 41:12 and the Striders Ladies teams did exceptionally well consolidating their positions at the top of Division 1 Vets Ladies and Division 2 Ladies. First home was Natalie Teece (42:16) and 3rd overall lady, followed by Katie Hateley (44:35), Michelle Farlow (45:09), Nicola Taylor (45:09), Julie Bass (46:21) and Vicki Lowe (46:46). All the ladies finished within the top 35 places. The men’s race was won by Alex Percy (Hermitage Harriers ) in 35:58. Ian Drage (37:40) was first Strider home in 35TH place, followed by John Robinson (39:42), Mark Stoneley (39:02), Andy Nicolls (41:13), Paul Jacobs (41:23), Ian Bickle (42:29), Duncan Greene (43:32), and Simon Bottrill (44:43). All the other runners contributed to the team scores by finishing in front of rival clubs scoring runners.
On the same day a further eight Striders raced in the inaugural Burghley 7 with 1200 individuals racing around Stamford and finishing in the grounds of Burghley House. First Strider home was Anthony Ison (50:49), followed by Martin Taylor-Brown (53;13), Michael Cooke (54:29), Julie Ashby (59:03), Colin Miles (62:13), Anna Butler (62:59), Liz Taylor (64:14), and Veronica Pearson (69:50)
The day before she raced at Kibworth Katie Hateley was selected to run in the Leicestershire and Rutland senior ladies cross country team in the National Championships held at Prestwold Hall. Her team finished a respectable 16th out of 32 teams with Katie running a very strong leg.
A number of junior members also ran over the weekend with Harry Dadd also at Prestwold in the National XC Championships finishing 73rd in a large competitive field of 298. Harry has also been selected to represent the county at the England Schools Championships in Liverpool along with Megan Owen and William Hutchinson. William and Toby Hutchinson, Leo Dudman-Millbank, James Jenson, Henry Apps and Kristy Nicholls also ran at Thrusington with Ayesha Bickle taking home first place (affiliated) in the Year 4 event.