An energetic weekend for Buxton AC athletes, with a variety of races to choose from, some more demanding than others, from flat & fast road events to vertiginous & arduous fell runs.
At one of the UK’s quickest 10K road races which attracts top quality runners chasing early season personal bests, conditions at the Trafford 10K were breezy and damp, though this didn’t deter a couple of Buxtonians. Young Harry Bond, still a junior at the tender age of 17 which merited him a special mention for being one of the youngest competitors, ran a stonking 38.13 and finished in 187th place from a massive field of 850 runners. Senior Rick Aldred finished in 227th position, in a time of 39.34.
At the Lee Valley Olympic Park Velodrome used at the London 2012 Olympics, Emma Wentworth claimed second finishing female at the 5K in a time of 23.40, and from a field of 85 runners.
Rivers have burst their banks with alarming regularity recently and the River Dee was no exception, which meant the Chester Ultra 50 mile event was reduced to a mere 44 miler. Undeterred, 280 runners ran some of the very best and most beautiful natural trails in the region, taking in 850 metres of ascent. Buxton’s Stefan Ledin performed strongly throughout the entire race, and his 107th finishing position was testament to his hard work, giving him a 9 hour 49 minute and 40 second overall time.
The Fell Running Association is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2020 and as part of the celebrations, has introduced a series of races known as 50@50. Debbie Hope and Tania Wilson headed to the Shropshire hills to race in the Long Mynd Valleys 11.5 mile fell race. With some 3,800 feet of climbing and enduring four seasons in one day, Hope finished in 81st place in a time of 2 hours 55 minutes and 17 seconds, while Wilson came home in 3.05.11, 86th.
Still on the fells, but a tad closer to home, the Cloud 9 race is a scenic and challenging mostly off-road 9 mile race out of Congleton, over Bosley Cloud and back, covering 1125 feet of ascent, and via the ancient Bridestones cairn which dates back to 2000 BC. A fantastic 3rd finishing spot for the on-form Jason Brunnock in 61 minutes and 34 seconds, with Ben Light in 6th place in 62.28. Jon Sewell was 31st in 71.03, Richard Bouglas 75th in 79.52, Pete Bailey 116th in 85.55 and Bev Golden 221st in 103.00. 270 runners took part.
Ashbourne’s SeeSaw Half Marathon, an out and back along the beautiful Tissington Trail, gave Katie Rolfe an outstanding 1st finishing female in a speedy time of 1.43.57 101st overall, added to which she was first Female Vet 40, a fine crop of firsts for this ever-improving athlete. Jenny Cropper finished in the 10 miler in 1.58.14, while returning from injury, Tim Rolfe completed the 10K event in 59.43.
Buxton AC were well represented at a couple of local Parkruns last weekend, with a dozen heading down to Congleton to race around the beautiful Astbury Mere lake, whilst five took to the Monsal Trail at the Bakewell event. A couple of personal best times were recorded at Congleton – Martin Pigot’s 20.20 gave him 9th place from 250 runners, and Junior Matthew Rolfe was 71st in a PB of 26.00. Ross Martland was first Buxtonian home at Bakewell in a time of 22.02 and in 22nd place from 180 runners, and Richard Bouglas gave himself an extra burden by racing with baby Hattie in a running buggy, but performed strongly to finish in 23.10 in 32nd place. First timers at Congleton included Samantha Willis, 21st in 21.58, John Davies 49th in 24.14, Charlie Narejko 118th in 28.20, Julie Bettley 146th in 30.02 and Jennie Light 149th in 30.12.