The 2019 Stilton 7 road race is scheduled for Sunday 24th February 2019.
Entries will open at 8.30pm on Tuesday 29th January (and close as soon as the race is full) – via the following link: https://www.runbritain.com/entries/EnterRace.aspx?evid=7fbb0fcc5e75&erid=78b906cc5e63
It’s an undulating 7 mile road race that forms part of the Leicestershire Road Running League. Please be aware, that this race is for LRRL affiliated members only.
CONFIRMATION OF CHANGES FOR 2019
In 2019 the league shall revert to a “split” system of being in two parts for individual competition, and one part for team competition.
The 12 league races shall be split into two groups of six – part 1 being the “Spring” league and part 2 being the “Summer” league.
For each mini-league, for individuals, an athlete’s best 4 of 6 races will count for their final score. This allows a participant to miss 2 races and still remain in contention for a prize.
For teams, to compensate clubs who cannot get full teams out for every race, they shall be allowed 2 dropped race scores across the 12 race series. A team’s final score will therefore be based on a best 10 of 12 races.
The league shall be split as follows for 2019:-
Part 1 (“Spring”):-
Race 1 – Stilton 7 – Sunday 24 February 2019
Race 2 – Kibworth 6 – Sunday 17 March 2019
Race 3 – Desford 5 – Sunday 31 March 2019
Race 4 – Bosworth Half Marathon – Sunday 12 May 2019
Race 5 – West End 8 – Sunday 19 May 2019
Race 6 – Swithland 6 – Sunday 2 June 2019
Part 2 (“Summer”):-
Race 1 (7) – Gaddesby 7 – Sunday 9 June 2019
Race 2 (8) – Prestwold 10km – Sunday 23 June 2019
Race 3 (9) – Joy Cann 5 – Wednesday 31 July 2019
Race 4 (10) – Carl Rutt 10km – Sunday 11 August 2019
Race 5 (11) – Wreake & Soar Valley 6/10km – Sunday 25 August 2019
Race 6 (12) – John Fraser 10 – Sunday 8 September 2019
In addition, the age category prizes shall be extended above the age of 60 for 2019, for both genders, in increments of 5 years (65,70, 75 etc).
For ALL age categories the following rules apply for 2019:-
A winners trophy will be awarded for each age category where a competitor has run the required 4 of 6 races in each series (3 for U20 to allow for age restrictions that apply on race licences) for both genders.
Further prizes up to 3rd (6th for Seniors) will be awarded on a minimum 3:1 runner to prize ratio for all age categories.
These changes were proposed to member clubs following the AGM/Open Meeting in November and were met with approval so will be in place for 2019.
For further background on the LRRL, please click here.
For link to final results, masses of photos, video and the Melton Times race report, please see the main Stilton 7 page.
I decided to try out this half. Standing at the start line in my lonely striders vest thinking I wouldn’t know anyone – at the side of me was our fellow Melton parkrunners Emma Machowska and Gosia Garnier and was a lovely surprise to see them. The course was a winding first half mainly streets, but second half made up for it along the Thames river bank and past the grounds of Hampton court palace. I was pleased with my efforts 1.42.00 and 8th in age cat. A well organised and friendly race in a beautiful part of London, nice thick medal and tech teeshirt. [Vicki]
This is my 6th or 7th year doing this event which is now in its 36th year, for those unfamiliar with this handicap challenge it’s an annual Boxing Day event with slower runners starting first with minute intervals with the idea of all runners finishing together.
If you haven’t done this one before it’s a great way to get on out there on Boxing Day rather than watching Goldfinger or polishing off the Quality street. Very happy to report this year got the record Stilton Striders turnout with Boxing Day regular David Hall (debuting in his Stilton top), Kaye Mead, Katie Hateley, Sarah Procter and John and Janet Hudson out for team Melton. Although this is now pretty much the same course as the Barrow 6 LRRL race probably 70% are in fancy dress, another 15% are hung over or taking it steady and the rest are semi-taking it serious.
Half between little confidence, half between fatigue I set myself an easy target this year of 7:30`s and an easy plod round a course I’ve never been fond of, I thought I’d be amongst old running friends in my group but set out with no-one I knew. The plan was to catch up with Katie who set off a minute earlier and run with her, although I was gently reeling her in and she was running a blinder, its David Hall I catch first on that awful undulating road out towards Hoton.Nice and steady as we hit the flat, I pass Katie who waives me on and next catch up with John Hudson where I slow up and run beside him for a bit, pressing on I find an injured and tearful Sarah Procter who despite running with painful injury still managed a sub 50 min time! My run takes me past various Fairies, Roman centurions, men in drag, Santa`s, jockey`s, Leprechaun`s, Schoolgirls and giant Chickens!
Last mile and a half I find Kaye Mead in Super Mario Bros outfit, she`s suffering she reckons, it was hard work but she did it, no doubt! I told her she`d done the worst of it lying through my teeth as that horrid hill back into Barrow loomed.
Heavy traffic round the park and then the long straight road back to Humphrey Perkins School and the finish, 41:32 in a course nearer to 10k than six miles and not even out of breath! That certainly bodes well for 2017.
The entire Stilton contingent had a great day and the praise for the event was unanimous, Barrow Runners put this on tremendously well and it’s a very friendly and supportive event that really is good for all ability of runners all for about £7 entry, see you again next year! [Rob]
Sorry for the late report, but they all count.
