Set in the heart of the Staffordshire Moorlands with glorious views over the Cheshire plain, the Meerbrook 15K is a testing road race which has fast become a regular and popular fixture in local runners’ diaries.   Alongside the usual race competition, the event is a County Invitational and Buxton sent their finest to compete against rivals from nearby counties.

As well as claiming 5^th county team, Buxton Ladies were an astonishing first team overall, with Amy Wadsworth, Katie Rolfe and Tania Wilson counting. Rebecca Day, Adele Thornton and Fran Ross were 9^th team, while Sarah Guise, Charlie Narejko and Jennie Light were 16^th team. Equalling the ladies, the men were also 5^th county team, and 11^th team overall, with Rob White, Jon Sewell, Pete Bailey and Tim Rolfe as the four team counters. Some 255 runners took part.

A brand new race venue met the Staffordshire Moorlands Summer Series competitors last Thursday, and in stunning Derbyshire countryside. Ilam Hall, a spectacular 19^th century Gothic mansion, is surrounded by 84 acres of beautiful Peak District parkland, a perfect venue for an early summer’s evening race. Two laps made up the 5¾ mile route, over fields and alongside the lovely River Manifold. Seventeen Buxton AC runners took part, from a field of 207 competitors. First home was Chris Rushworth, improving his finishing placing each race, in a fine time of 38.12, 11^th position, followed by Kevin Mottram (55^th in 44.32) and Mark Thorogood (61^st in 45.04). Leading the Buxton ladies home once again was Katie Rolfe (79^th in 47.01), while Sheila Bradley was 1^st Female Vet Over 60 (101^st in 49.20), and Adele Thornton (118^th in 51.08). “Packing well” were Alison Hitchin (54.16), Charlie Aucott (54.41) and Tim Rolfe (54.43). Fifth race this coming Thursday will be a hill-runner’s dream – Shutlingsloe!

The Kinder Trog, a 16 mile fell race with 3,500 feet of ascent, is a counter in the Hayfield Championship Series, and is categorized as a BL, so fairly steep and quite long, with necessary experience required. The challenging route starts at Hayfield, heads pretty much straight up to Lantern Pike, over to Mill Hill and Kinder Downfall, before skirting the plateau to Edale Cross, and eventually back down to Hayfield. Ben Light was just a couple of minutes behind race winner Billy Cartwright of Matlock, and was a very creditable 4^th overall in 2 hours 1 minute and 52 seconds. Team mates Nick Jones and Richard Bouglas finished the race in 2.24.14 and 2.29.06 respectively. Junior Jacob Winfield was 6^th in 2.05.

Ross Martland had cause to be well pleased with his Bakewell Parkrun time last Saturday, first time ever under 21 minutes (20.56) and 32^nd position from 277 runners, a superb effort. George Webb (115^th in 26.02) and Jane Poulter (179^th in 29.25) also took part.