The Buxworth 5 mile road race has, over the past 20 years or so, followed several route variations, but wherever the start and finish lines have been, the climb up to Eccles Pike has always figured, and there was no escaping it last Thursday evening. An apt route description would be “half of it uphill, the other half back down again”. Twenty nine Buxton AC athletes relished the challenge of the hill climbs, returning to Buxton laden down with hard-earned trophies.

It was “Buxton 1-2-3” from a field of 189, with Jake Fearn taking the prestigious first place in a magnificent 29 minutes and 40 seconds, Junior Sam Soles only 8 seconds behind in 29.48 and Ben Light’s 29.49 just a hair’s breadth between them in third place. Next home for Buxton was Junior Stu Diamond in 6^th overall in 31.35. First lady overall was the talented Amy Clark, 14^th in the race, and in a splendid 32.36. Ellie Wilson was 1^st Junior Female back, and 5^th female overall, in a cracking time of 34.48. Mum Tania Wilson claimed the first female Over 55 place, in 39.16, making it a worthy family double.

Rainow fell race is another event on the local race calendar, and attracts runners from the area, taking in the fearsome climb up to the local landmark of White Nancy, the 19^th century monument to the victory of the Battle of Waterloo. A five miler, over country fields and hills, some 200 runners took part, with three from Buxton. Jon Sewell was first home in 38.24, while Richard Bouglas finished in 40.35, and Nick Jones in 40.40.

Alan Talbot, before returning to the Canary Islands for a further spot of hot weather training, made the most of the cooler conditions in Uttoxeter at the weekend, running in the Half Marathon, and claiming a 1.46.39 finishing time and second Male Vet 65, very respectable on this hilly course around the country lanes of Staffordshire.

A Parkrun round-up includes Neil Pearson’s personal best time at the undulating Macclesfield course, 21.27 (19^th from 305). Ross Martland was 36^th in 22.11, Richard Goff’s personal best of 22.38 gave him 40^th placing, while Pete Bailey finished in 60^th in 23.51. At Lyme Park, more of a fell course given the testing hills, Neil Evans finished in 38^th place in 25.44, Rachel Dowle was 60^th in 28.24 and Tracy Gregory 29.39 – 143 ran. As a warm-up to the Half Marathon the following day, Alan Talbot ran 23.13 (76^th from a field of 310) at the Bakewell Parkrun, while Ian Drayton finished in 23.53 (90^th), Katie Rolfe 29.26 (212^th) and Angela Higgins 30.20 (226^th).

The Pavilion Gardens 5K returns this coming Saturday, 11 May, and starts on Broad Walk at 9am.  It’s free, it’s friendly and it’s the ONLY way to start your weekend.  Come along and give it a go.  All abilities welcome – children under 10 to be accompanied by an adult please.