Last Thursday’s Staffordshire Moorlands Summer Series race, fourth from a total of eight, was held around the stunning Rudyard Lake and on a glorious evening, eleven Buxton AC athletes took part in the five mile race.  The first two miles head along the side of the lake, so a speedy start, before following the undulating path back to the dam wall on the far side.  Ben Light was first home for the Club, followed by Jason Brunnock.  Fran Bromley was 28th overall, and was first in her age category.  Fran Ross, Charlie Aucott and Adele Thornton packed well for the entire race, finishing in 41.06, 41.07 and 41.07 respectively – a great team effort.  Next week’s race is at the much hillier Biddulph Grange Country Park.

Usually held on the Sunday after Buxton’s Carnival Day 4 mile road race, the Peak Forest Fell Race was a week earlier so guaranteed a decent turnout from Buxton runners.  The six mile route starts in the lovely Peak District village, soon climbing up the nearby hills, skirting the top of Castleton’s Cave Dale and eventually taking the runners by surprise when suddenly faced with the daunting climb up Eldon Hill.  A satisfactorily speedy descent follows, with a sprint along Perryfoot Dale to the finish line. Star of the day was Helen Thornhill, with a first female place, 7th overall in the race and first local to finish, a fantastic result.  Both Ben Light and Jake Fearn are having a storming season, and Sunday’s race was no exception, Light finishing in 4th place, Fearn right behind him in 5th.  Buxton pretty much swept the board at prize-giving, with Thornhill, followed by Fran Bromley (2nd female, 9th overall and 1st Female Under 23), Tania Wilson (1st Female Vet 50, 18th overall), Sam Willis (1st Female 35, 25th overall), and Sheila Bradley (1st Female Vet 60, 29th overall).

Dan Latham and Michael Abrahams headed over to Sale to take part in the first of the “Sizzler” 5K’s, a series of four speedy races.  Latham was rewarded with a personal best for the distance in 18.34, Abrahams a solid 27.31.

Five Buxton runners represented their Club at a variety of races over the past week.  Mark Thorogood ran at the Whaley Waltz fell race, with a 76th position; Rick Aldred took part in the Kettleshulme fell race and was rewarded with a 7th finishing place for the six miler; Tania Wilson was 2nd female home in Glossop’s Cock Hill which has nearly a thousand feet of climbing in just four miles.  Kev Mottram continues to chase down his times on the roads, with a cracking 26.45 at the Cheadle 4, and 41st from a field of over 260, while Neil Wainwright headed over to Conwy to take part in the Let’s Rock 10K, returning triumphant with the first Male Vet Over 60 prize, with a finishing time of just under 45 minutes.

Carnival Day comes to Buxton on Saturday next, and with it the hugely popular 4 mile road race.  Enter on the day at Registration in the Derbyshire University Halls of Residence (behind the Railway pub) from 12 noon, with the race starting at 1.45 pm.  More details here