Fresh from his resounding marathon debut, Mark Sherrat’s star is clearly rising with a strong 5^th finishing place in the tough Peak Skyline Ultra 29.7 mile race out of Buxton’s Community School last weekend.

Based around the notoriously tough Peak District Challenge – the Five Trigs Round – the route takes in 2,000 metres of elevation with climbs up all the local “mountains”, starting with Axe Edge, followed by the Roaches, Shutlingsloe, known as the Cheshire Matterhorn, Shining Tor, finishing with Burbage Edge above Buxton. Some 83 runners took on the challenge, which has an eight hour cut-off, and Buxton AC runners weren’t found wanting. Behind Sherratt’s 5 hours 15 minutes and 19 seconds finish time was ultra-fiend Nick Jones, coming home in 9^th position in 5.29.50, with Nigel Jeff in 12^th in 5.43.55 and in 46^th position was Martin Ward in 6.42.21.

Other Buxton AC ultra runners took part in the Dovedale Dipper at the weekend, which starts at Hartington and visits both the beautiful Dove and Manifold Valleys, and ventures briefly into the Staffordshire Moorlands. The event attracts several hundred runners, and includes a 27 mile run, a 27 mile walk, a 15 mile run and a 15 mile walk as options to choose from. Buxton AC runners aren’t known to be faint-hearted and three who took part all completed the 27 mile running option.   First Buxtonian home in 5 hours and 16 minutes was Richard Bouglas, while Kate Phillips and Sheila Bradley finished in 6 hours exactly.

On the fells, the Salt Cellar 7.1 mile fell race starts from below the Derwent “Dambusters’ Dam, and climbs steeply up to Back Tor before returning to contour across Pike Low, with a final dash through the woods to the finish. Nine Buxton runners took part and pride of place goes to Rob White who finished in a cracking 9^th place from a field of 228, in a time of 56.19. Samantha Willis was first Buxton female home in a strong 71.03, 99^th overall. Jon Sewell was 36^th in 63.22, while Debbie Hope was 116^th in 75.29.

Kate Ledin took part in the Green Space 10K in London’s Battersea Park, finishing in a creditable 47.35, 3^rd Female Vet, while Ross Martland ran at Cambridge’s Milton Parkrun and was 58^th in 21.20 from a huge field of over 600.

The Juniors outshone the Seniors yet again at the Glossop Parkrun, with a resounding and clear win for Sam Soles in 17.02, almost a minute and a half ahead of the second finisher. Neil Evans was the first Buxton Senior home in 13^th place (22.04 and a personal best), followed by Junior Amy Whelan in 17^th (22.41). Next up was Junior Heather Wilshaw in 24^th (23.59), while Junior Lucy Whelan was 61^st in 28.09. Rachel Dowle ran a personal best time, finishing in 68^th position in 28.46.