Buxton AC athletes were again out in force at local race events this past week, and the Seniors are increasingly having to contend with playing second fiddle to the Club’s talented youngsters.

There was a sprinkling of Seniors amongst the sparkling Juniors at the precipitous Shutlingsloe fell race on Bank Holiday Monday, and first home for the “elders” of the Club was Rob White who was 12^th overall in 20.27 from a field of 87 runners. A mere 3K in distance, the climb is always going to be vertiginous, and at 506 metres, doesn’t give the runners much chance to appreciate the glorious Cheshire views. Chris Rushworth’s 18^th placing and in a time of 21.20 demonstrates the clear return to form for this talented runner. First female Club runner home for the Seniors, following the lead of her daughter Lucy who was first female home overall, was Jo Bednall, who finished in 37^th place in 25.07. A total of eight Buxton Seniors took part.

The first race in the popular Staffordshire Moorlands AC Summer Series is a short & snappy 4.5 miler over at Tittesworth Reservoir, and nineteen Buxton athletes were proud to represent their Club. From a sizeable field of over 270 runners, Jason Burgess and Jason Brunnock tussled throughout, with Burgess romping home in 3^rd place overall, just ahead of Brunnock in 4^th. First female home for the Club was the ever improving Katie Rolfe, showing that there’s plenty more to come as the season progresses, finishing in 92^nd place. Sheila Bradley, after a long lay off due to injury, finished in 138^th place, 2^nd Female Vet 60, just a smidgeon ahead of Adele Thornton in 139^th position.

The Wincle Trout fell race is very quickly full, surely something to do with the award of a fresh trout to every finisher, so the nine Buxton AC runners who competed all had the pleasure of a “fish supper” last Saturday evening. Ben Light and Jo Bednall were the two Club runners in pride of place, with Light’s 3^rd finishing position and Jo Bednall’s 1^st Female Vet 50 prize. Light, along with team mates Jason Brunnock, Jason Bennett and Jake Fearn, claimed 1^st Male Vet team prize too.

An outing to Clumber Park, Nottinghamshire attracted seventeen Club runners, and the 10K trail race takes part beautiful parkland, around heath and woods which cover almost 4,000 acres. A dazzling performance from Kate Ledin earned her the first female Vet 55 prize, in 90^th place in a time of 48.17, while Ben Light “shone” yet again giving him the prestigious 4^th place overall in 36.53. Richard Goff was second male home from Buxton, 55^th placing in 45.23, while Katie Rolfe was first Club female home in 73^rd place, in a time of 46.36. Over 400 runners took part.