AMY CLARK annihilated a long held Buxton AC Ladies’ Club Record at the Wilmslow Festive 10K last weekend. Clark demolished Deb Thompson’s 1986 record of 38.27 by a massive full minute, giving her a fourth Senior Female placing, 8^th finishing female, and 105^th in the entire race. Her fantastic time of 37.27 was almost 3 minutes faster than her previous best time at the distance.

Clark’s wasn’t the only personal best time of Buxton AC’s Club runners at the event – an astonishing seven others ran their socks off at the race, which had almost 3,300 competitors, and came home equally proud of their PB performances. First home for the Club was Ben Light, just 10 seconds shy of his PB in 34.54 (397^th), Rick Aldred’s 36.52 (82^nd) was a PB, as was Dan Latham’s 37.44 (115^th), Jon Sewell’s 38.07 (130^th), Katie Rolfe(s 44.23 (496^th), Adele Thornton’s 47.09 (730^th), Janet Taylor’s 47.18 (727nd), and Tim Rolfe’s 51.45 (1333^rd). Also running well were the inexhaustible Alan Talbot (47.55, 827^th) and Emma Wentworth, returning to racing, 52.15 (1419^th). A great day out for Buxton AC!

The annual Cheddleton Christmas Pudding 10K run does what it says on the tin – everyone who completes the three-lap undulating course wins their own delicious festive fare to take home. Five Buxtonians now have no need to stock up for Christmas Dinner after taking part last Saturday – and pride of place must go to the on-form Alasdair Campbell who was just a cat’s whisker behind the winner, finishing in 33.36, only five seconds awry. Jason Burgess, first Male Vet Over 40, finished in 7^th place in a cracking time of 36.18, while Kev Mottram, in a PB for the course, came home in 41.35. Alan Talbot, warming up for the Wilmslow 10K, finished in 2^nd Male Vet Over 65 in a time of 50.12, while Elizabeth Nocton ran in 58.06. Some 214 runners took part.

Still on the roads, but with a smidgeon of grass part way round to keep the runners on their toes, was the Derby 10 miler. Just short of 1250 competitors took part, and Rob White’s 10^th placing in 58.30 was an excellent result to bring home to Buxton.

Taking in one of the most beautiful of the White Peak’s stunning dales, Lathkill, was the aptly-named “Leg It Round Lathkill” fell race recently, with a challenging route covering just over 7 miles, and a thousand feet of climbing. Rob White demonstrated his ability to perform well on any surface by claiming a very creditable 8^th placing from a field of 275, in 48.14. Richard Goff was next home for the Club in 114^th position (63.52), Pete Bailey 141^st (66.56) and Sue Jeff 244^th (82.28).

A short, sharp and furious five miler, the Famous Grouse Fell Race heads steeply uphill for the first two miles, contours around the hills above Glossop, before a downhill blast back to the finish. One-time Buxtonian star, Lloyd Taggart, who ran his first ever fell race for the Club, returned to the area to claim first place in the race, while Tania Wilson claimed 1^st Female Vet Over 50, 3^rd female and 27^th placing overall from a field of 64.