Stuart Waters took part in the Outlaw Half Iron Man Triathlon at the weekend at Nottingham, and when most of us were enjoying the lovely sunshine, it made for tough going for the half marathon section of the race. It was based round Pierre Point natural water sports centre, and involved a 1.2 mile swim, a 56 mile bike ride through the Nottinghamshire countryside and concluding with a half marathon, 3 laps of the lake. Stuart's time of 6 hours 43 minutes was a very pleasing outcome, and well done Stuart.
Meanwhile, on an equally hot day, Paul Peacock was among the 4000+ at the Chester Half Marathon coming an excellent 163rd in an England age-group qualifying time of 1.26.31. Another superb result for a quiet, unassuming runner who is always high up in any race results, whether it be a 2 mile time trial, 5k, 10k, 5 miles, 10 miles or half marathon.
Perhaps the toughest of the Dave Parry Fell Race Series, the Fox and Hounds, was chosen for the latest club championship race, event 1 in the summer series on another day with warm sunshine and blue skies. Two dozen members took on the very challenging race which covered almost 10 miles with 1800 feet of climb, and for fell race novices and even the stalwarts, it was very hard work. Matt Jones was first club finisher, 15th out of 123 in 87.31 with Josh Cooper 34th in 93.33, the ever present Paul Peacock 35th in 94.04, Tom Levi 42nd in 97.38 and Andreas Kruger 46th in 97.52, closely followed by first club lady, Esther Harrison, 47th in 97.56. Gary Wilkinson, another ever present, came 62nd in 104.10, Joe O'Keeffe 65th in 105.47 and Rosamund Kruger 68th in 106.56. Others taking part were Alan Simpson, Dan Garthwaite, Olivia Mulligan – obviously going better after a long lay-off, Kirsty Naylor, Marc Davies, Clare Rowntree, Duncan Fothergill – never misses a club championship race, Helen Ashworth 102nd and 2nd F55 in 124.23, Louise Mayfield, Andrew Pollard, Rosie Gatenby, David Tervit, Pedro Carrasco, Ruth Pollard and Beth Haggath. A wonderful effort for everyone involved.
The National Parks committee on Sutton Bank are keen to inaugurate a park run up there, with a view to encouraging us all to take more exercise! The club were invited to test out a possible course, and 71 members, along with a few visitors, took the opportunity. It involves 3 laps of a course which has been laid out for off road cyclists with plenty of humps and bumps and a camber and was well received by all who took part. Matt Jones was again 1st in 19.52, with Esther Harrison a superb 2nd in 20.59, Tom Levi 3rd in 21.15 and Paul Peacock (wouldn't you know it?) 4th in 21.23.
There were park runners at the usual local venues, plus a few further afield, and Martyn Coy and Allison Whiteley both achieved PBs at Millfield.
Joe O'Keeffe at the finish of the Fox and Hounds fell race.
Photo courtesy Bev Davies