Buxton AC fielded seven teams at the annual Hairy Helmet Relays, and once again the Juniors swept all before them, claiming 1^st team in their age categories both female and male. Despite not returning with the coveted Norseman “hairy helmet” trophy this year, the Senior Men – “Buxton Bullets” – were 3^rd in the Male Open category, as were the “Buxton Belles” in the Female Vet category, a pretty respectable result. “Buxton Spice” made their mark, if not in the results, by their Spice Girls On Tour costumes, enclosed in the ingeniously created Spice Girls Bus. “Buxton Old Spice” needs no explanation as to the ages of the team and “Buxton Buccaneers” took no prisoners! Twenty Eight Buxton AC members had a fine night at Darley Abbey.

The inaugural DCRO Dash, a new fell race in aid of Derbyshire Cave Rescue, tested the mettle of even the hardiest of fell runners, with a course profile resembling a gigantic sleeping monolith, some 8.5k in length and with 370 metres of ascent. Held over the hills South West of Castleton, the night was wet with persistent rain and hill fog, a true fell running challenge. Some 16 Buxton AC runners faced the challenge with relish and weren’t found wanting. Ben Light was 4^th overall from a field of almost 100, in a steaming time of 40.05, while Rob White, 6^th overall, claimed 1^st Male Vet 40. Jo Bednall, true to current excellent form, was 1^st Female Vet 50, 37^th overall, in 51.39. Nick Jones, 18^th in 47.14, completed the winning Men’s Team, while ever-improving Sam Willis, 40^th in 52.10 and Debbie Hope, 47^th in 53.14, completed the winning Ladies’ Team.

The third race in the Staffordshire Moorlands AC Summer Series was held over the Roaches, a race of 5.5 miles, over rocky and testing terrain, a short but speedy road section before back to the finish over muddy and gnarly country. Sixteen Buxton AC runners took part, and first home for the Club in cracking form was Chris Rushworth, 15^th overall in 40.11. First Buxton female home was once again the fleet-footed Katie Rolfe in 87^th position, in a time of 50.19. Sheila Bradley, in 55.17 (122^nd) was 1^st Female Vet Over 60. Some 183 runners took part.

The Baslow Boot Bash, a 27 mile tour of our beautiful White Peak, starting in Chatsworth park, taking in Edensor, Haddon, Over Haddon, Sheldon, Monsal Dale, Foolow, Eyam and, a nasty sting at the 25 mile point, Bramley Wood and Bank Wood ridges, before dropping back down to Baslow. Ten long distance devotees from Buxton AC rose to the occasion, with four finishers in the first 10, from a field of 143. Nick Jones, 3^rd in a superb time of 4 hours and 13 minutes, 5^th Martin Ward in 4.37, 6^th Nigel Jeff in 4.37 and Richard Bouglas 8^th in 4.47. Sheila Bradley was 16^th overall, 4^th Lady, in 5.29, Kate Phillips, 5^th Lady and 17^th overall in 5.29 and Tracy Gregory finished in 6.27, 44^th overall. Bev Golden and Rachel Dowle completed the course in 7.04, while Sue Jeff came home in 7.42.

Jason Brunnock continues to impress, and at the Bosley Fete Fell Race showed he is a force to be reckoned with, claiming 2^nd place in the 7.5K race in 31.18. Rob White, meanwhile, was third home in 32.11, while Tim Aldridge was 22^nd in 37.20.

Jennie Light, building on her race experience, took part in the Dark Peak Trail Run, a 12K tour over footpaths trails & tracks starting and finishing at Hayfield, finishing in 1.41.16.

Ross Martland led the Buxton AC team home at the speedy Bakewell parkrun, with a 21^st finishing place in 21.12. Ian Drayton, in a personal best time, was 45^th in 23.16, while Tim Rolfe just pipped wife Katie to the post in 24.30, just a few seconds ahead and in 68^th place to her 71^st in 24.41. A throwing down of a challenging gauntlet, without doubt!