Tag: XC

19 Dec 2015 – Gaddesby Gallop

This loveable pre-Xmas event returns, sadly a large price increase this year with less in the way of goodies to show for it – however it remains one of the best XC jaunts in Leicestershire and rightly so!

Ever the opportunists the Stilton Crew mobbed the Melton Times cameraman for a bit of extra marketing! Five Stilton Striders today, a bit envious of the numbers Wreake and Roadhoggs always put out at this one, going to give a cheeky mention to the ladies of Melton Running Club giving this a go!

11:00 marks the race start, for those who know it tis a fast downhill one followed by a few uphill fields in which you can’t wait for the stiles to come as you’ve set off like a scorched cat and blowing a bit. Those who have done this and remember the Dew pond, well it’s still wet I can tell you and it’s still a bit stinky. I don’t seem to be doing that bad when my lung recuperation kick in and surprisingly not too far away from Roadhoggs impressive Nick Cobley and Barrow`s Alex Toll which may mean I’ve gone off too fast or perhaps not when I’m still within reach at three miles. Although those two kick on greatly out of my reach my main goal is fending off a former coaching partner and impressive runner Nick Hando of Wymeswold which I successfully do, although my falling face first in the stream wasn’t the most dignified part of the race I can tell you.

The last field with all its bumps and ups and downs never feels good to me, some fly across it looking like Usain Bolt certainly feels better on the watching side.

Special mention to Poplar Runners who had many going round en masse in gentle style hurling mud at each other and rubbing it on each other, hilarious!

Overall results; Rob Beers (40:33, 17th place), Mike Brighty-impressive finish from Mike who had done Melton Parkrun before the race! (48:58, 56th place), Lou Houghton (54:28, 81st place), Steve Dewick (55:03, 82nd place) and debutant in a Strider vest Kaye Mead (1:08:23, 124th).  [Rob]

6 Dec 2015 – Derby Runner XC, Bradgate Park

The third race in the Derby Runner XC league, again although a slightly different route more a one lap course than the one small/one big lap it did last time. A huge crowd on hand again and they changed it round with the car parking so that Newton Linford wasn’t gridlocked like last year, we actually got a very decent parking space at the Old John car park so didn’t have to get the club tent out(!).

A mere three grizzled Stilton Striders represented the veined cheese today, Rob Beers, Greg Pettingill (Who knows every contour of the area) and Steve Dewick. I missed the juniors race whilst doing a warm up (up Old John!) with Greg only to come back and somehow develop cramp in both calves ten mins before the race started, no idea why they locked up could hardly move at the time, not ideal race prep.

Anyway we lined up elbows at the ready heading from the Old John gates heading towards Newton Linford before jutting left, Greg had got ahead in the opening elbow flaying contest and believe me it’s not fun trying to make headway in that to try and keep with him. Seem to be running well but put far too much into trying to catch Greg quickly rather than over a mile and this was detrimental to my race given the undulation of the race. So I shift past Greg only for him to go past me half a mile later and remain just in front of me throughout the rest of the race.

The ladies go off ten mins after us and we see them on the horizon, it’s a nice touch, I know it doesn’t happen at all the Derby Runner races but its nice shouting them in at the end. Legs don’t feel so great today maybe suffering from Fridays Stilton Bash! The pull up from Newton Linford to the war memorial has many grown men reduced to a walk; Dave Mann does a fiendish job with these courses. Take nothing off the Gregmeister, he is a wily fox with this area and looks very strong in the last mile (Although he said he wasn’t) and comes home first strider. I follow Greg home 19 seconds later (tell me a year ago I’d be 19 seconds behind Lord Pettingill on his own estate and I’d have laughed), very tough but enjoyable.

Overall Greg Pettingill (109th) Rob Beers (117th) and Steve Dewick (332nd), no Ladies team from Stilton! Next Derby Runner is January at Allstree Park, Derby, and no idea of the course if it’s a good one or not? I’m sure they make these as far from Melton as possible!  [Rob]

   
    
 

22 Nov 2015 – Bagworth Heath XC

Three Stilton Striders – Rob Beers, Greg Pettingill and Steve Dewick – made the trip to Bagworth for the second of this season`s Derby Runner XC league races.

A very cold morning, leaving the warmth of Greg`s car was hard enough, Steve estimates around 550 runners at the start line, very big attendances for the series this year. A vested and bare armed Rob and Greg hit the start line, perhaps the minimalist shorts weren’t the smartest move at first but Greg`s extended warm up has us quite toasty pre-race briefing.

We have started quite high up and flying elbows are minimal, I nudge in front of Greg and make a positive (Split?) start, it’s certainly undulating and I recall feeling a bit worn, looking at my watch and had only been running ten minutes!

Nice and muddy course within Bagworth Heath woods with sections of technical and the odd surprising incline, quite a few ending up on their backsides also. It is tough as I’m sure most groaned after the first lap knowing they had to do it again, the second lap for me went faster although my legs felt a little bit slower. Spend the race chasing Barrow Runners shirts, also weirdly I never saw any ladies running near me after the first 400m of the race??? Stilton crew had all gone for rubber studs though many went for spikes and just were sliding everywhere; it was slippy rather than deep mud today.

Completed the race with a smile, Rob Beers (97th), Greg Pettingill (102nd) and Steve Dewick (300 and something, he said!). Really nice warm down mile round the park also taking in some of the trails and slopes we didn’t do in the race, cracking area to do a few miles round.

Bradgate Park is the next race of the series on December 6th, a 5.25 mile two lap course with like the other races of this series a very well thought out course with a bit of everything. We`d ideally like to triple the attendance of Stilton Striders for this one, race usually costs a mere £3.00 (may be £4.00 at Bradgate but will inc parking at Newton Linford gates) and we usually go and get warm in a local pub after so please give it some consideration.  [Rob]

7 Nov 2015 – Seagrave Wolds Challenge 

Twelve Stilton Striders in attendance for the annual Seagrave Wolds challenge, a 16 mile XC event for runners and walkers, again as last year taking a route through the Wreake valley. It’s quite warm but very wet weather with many showers and quite strong winds, great when behind you bit hard going when not! As per usual we are set off by the town crier at 9a.m, 618 runners and walkers in today`s well sold out in advance event although not all did make the start line. The beginning couple of miles are best described as a warm up as on road up Berrycott Lane and onto Paudy lane as we come into Six Hills, a friend I run up with complains about `Not good in Walsh`s`. The first real stretch of muddy underfoot comes as we head towards Ragdale hall with driving rain hitting us face on, I’m running in tandem with fellow Strider Michael Atton making good headway as we hit the village of Hoby at the half way point.

For me that first hour went really quick and the route carries on through Brooksby and Rearsby, then quite a few miles of gates and stiles as we head towards Ratcliffe on the Wreake. Last couple of miles aren’t my finest but do my good turn shouting to someone who went the wrong way, and those who know me knew I’d be turning my nose up about running through a golf course! The hill back into Seagrave felt like climbing the side of Everest, not many out supporting today it is a bit rough weather-wise but get back in a time and position I’m massively proud of, mind you I think we all did well not just speed wise but conditions were erm challenging.

Naturally anyone who has done this event will tell you it’s one of the best organised and friendliest locally with extra special mention to the fabulous catering. Plenty of smiley faces from the team afterwards, not to mention a massive load of Running shirts for Katie Hateley`s Gambia appeal! [Rob]

Striders Results: Rob Beers (1:58:43, 18th place) Mike Bryan (2:03:24, 31st) Dan Valencia (2:05:48, 38th) Michael Atton (2 :05:50, 39th), Simon Bottrill (2:18:44, 91st), Richard Gray (2:24:13, 118th) Katie Hateley (2:24:16, 119th) John Houghton (2:25:13, 124th) Lee Quinn (2:26:28, 129th) Mike Brighty (2:36:47, 156th) Vicki Lowe (2:40:52, 178th) and Abigail Arnott (2:40:54, 179th)

4 Oct 2015 – Great Dalby Dollop

Sunday 4th October saw the first ever “Great Dalby Dollop”, a tough (no doubt down to Jim Hatherley) 5k cross country course. It was a well organised event with plenty of marshals and a lovely friendly atmosphere enjoyed by an impressive debut turnout of over 120 runners and walkers. First across the line was…

1. Mike Bryan 23.27
2. Mick Atton 23.57
5. Simon Bottrill 25.30
6. Martin Riley 26.18
12. Matt Chalmers 28.12
31. Laura Pickard 35.47
32. Ben Pickard 35.48
34. Steph Barlow 36.39
35. Tam Nicol 36.39

So all in all a great turn out for the Striders with 9 runners and 4 of them getting into the top 10… wahoo!!

Well done to Jim Hatherley and family for a great event. [Mike]

21 June 2015 – Bradgate Park XC

Four Striders made their way to Bradgate Park for the 5km and 10km races, with around 100 other runners.
In the 5km race Stuart Gregory was the only Strider taking part and made hard work of the course in his third race of the weekend finishing the very tough route in 46.40 his slowest time to date with one race still to go later that morning.
In the 10km race, Rob Beers was the first Strider home and 2nd overall in a none too shabby 52.34, followed in 7 minutes later by John Houghton (8th overall) in 59.39, and Louise Houghton (2nd lady) in 1.05.05 to continue her solid form of results on a very hilly course. [Stuart]
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It’s well known that a few of the more intrepid of us would be doing the double and following this with the Prestwold 10k straight after. Following Excuses (!) by Dan and Mike , its myself, Lou and John Houghton running the 10k and Stuart Gregory doing the 5k who are rocking the Stilton colours at Bradgate this fine morning.
It is laid back and nicely organised and looks like it’ll be a growing event (the next one in March 2016), the race starts with a mainly downhill route towards Newton Linford gates although I set off far too quick not realizing my legs are badly hung over from Friday`s Beacon Hill run. Sharp left at the bottom and the first of the climbs but it’s a nice route through the park they’ve chosen, quite an incline near what I’d refer to as ‘the climbers rock’ see’s the first of people walking. Around the Tree plantation followed by the long pull up Old John which definitely see’s even more people walking (Well apart from certain people, ahem).
As the course is multiple lap, I seem to have woke up a little and kick on more the second lap, although two people passed me in the last 2k the `all runnable ` adage is a winner as going up Old John the second time I leave them standing (ok walking) . It’s all downhill from here (literally) as the guy behind me isn’t going to catch me on the descent or the rare sprint finish and I’m quite surprised to find I’m second in the 10k race!
John Houghton `s impressive form saw him 8th in the 10k and Lou Houghton 2nd lady, both Houghton`s in great form! Not a PB race by any stretch of the imagination and we`d all have done the 15k instead of racing over to Prestwold in hindsight but was a really great day overall none the less. [Rob]

18 Apr 2015 – Frisby Fun Run

RACE ONE

Future Strider Lily Bryan completed the course, along with Dad Mike warming up for later, in a very impressive debut time of 15.46.

RACE TWO Yrs 3-4

Race Two saw 5 junior Striders take on the 0.8 mile course, with Jorden Isaac being first home in 8th place with a time of 6.51, next in was Sammy Homewood in 7.15, with Grace Sercombe 7.26, Kaitlyn Pickard 7.52 and Megan Pressland 8.10 completing the contingent.

RACE THREE Yrs 5-6

Race Three saw more strong finishes for the junior Striders as William Sercombe was first home in 7th place with a time of 6.11 and he was followed closely behind by Archie Cropper 6.25, Daisy Sharpe 8.24 and James Pearson who completed the Striders contingent in 8.35.

RACE FOUR Yrs 7-12

Jess Hill was the only junior Strider to take part in race four which took place over two laps 1.6 miles, and finished 19th in a time of 15.54.

RACE FIVE ”seniors”

Race Five saw two senior Striders take to the two lap course, and in true form Mike Bryan was first to complete the 1.6 mile course in 3rd place with a time of 11.50, it was a further 5.32 before Stuart Gregory rolled in, in 36th place with a time of 17.22.

Overall, a brilliantly run, fun and friendly event, well done to everybody that took part and helped out on the day.  [Stuart]

28 Feb 2015 – Belvoir Challenge

The 25th annual Belvoir Challenge and something like 13 Stilton Striders running the 15.9 and 26.2 mile course in the worst conditions underfoot than many a year.  This for the group I’m with is a precursor to the Snowdonia Trail Marathon later in the year, y`know stick together and all that, which happened for like ooh 100 yards or so.

Ok, when Simon Bottrill says `I`m going to take it easy and see what happens` never believe him, I’ve found to my cost on a few races now he`s deadly competitive, great race today though for Simon home in 4:07 on his first Marathon absolutely great going!

Very nice course this year, superb support all the way round (thanks to Helen Bentley and Mike Bryan), comedy highlight for me was Mr Bentley getting a shoe change at Denton.For me it was a great and enjoyable day out, best Marathon I’ve ever run in view of performance (rather than time) as was told still looked fresh when I came in, ran the lot also! Every hill and mud bog conquered! Very good day to be a Strider.  [Rob]

Results:

15.9 mile – Natalie Teece (12th overall) 2.01, Darren Glover (2.11), Jenni Wisher (2.27), Luke Eggleston (2.36), Matt Taylor (2.37), Andy Nicholls, (2.53), Michelle Farlow (3.02)

26.2 mile – Simon Bottrill (4.09), Rob Beers (4.26), Andrew Bentley (4.33), John Houghton (4.49), Rich Gray (5.07), Gary Christmas (5.57)