Cross country running isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. It’s fast, it’s furious and it hurts. Not easily deterred by such trivialities, some 30 Buxton AC athletes took part in the first of the season’s North Staffordshire league races over at Winsford in Cheshire.
Seventeen females from the Club took part, representing the whole gamut of age categories. Amy Clark ran a stonking race to finish in an excellent 20th place, and from a field of over 200 runners, this is a great start to her season. Amy Mellor, one-time Junior Buxton AC runner, has recently returned as a Senior, and a promising 45th position demonstrates there’s much more to come from her. Tania Wilson was 3rd home for the team in 53rd, with Katie Rolfe finishing in 4th team position in 69th place.
In the Senior Men’s race, from a massive field of over 300, Buxton was represented by thirteen men. Jason Burgess had a cracking race, finishing in a brilliant 26th position, while Jon Sewell was next home in 98th, Dan Latham in 107th, Andy Lidstone in 124th, David Fryer-Winder in 129th and David Soles completing the six-to-count team in 130th.
A couple of hard-core fell races took place last weekend, both over tough long distances and both with testing climbs. First up was “A Groovy Kinder Love” fell race, a good all round test of fell running skills, demanding speed, endurance, and with repetitive climbs over difficult high moorland terrain around the Kinder Plateau area. It covers some 15½ miles and an astonishing 4,800 feet of climbing. Dan Latham, fresh from his cross country pursuits the day before, completed the race in 3 hours 23 minutes and 40 seconds and in 26th place, while teammate Nick Jones was just 16 seconds slower and in 29th position.
Buxton Mountain Rescue’s “Fell and Back” event, a new race around the Buxton hills and dales attracted over 100 runners, and promises to be a regular fixture in the fell calendar in future years. Starting at the top of Burbage on Macclesfield Old Road, the route follows some of the toughest local climbs and covers rough underfoot terrain. Eight hardy Buxton athletes took part, and pride of place must go to Fran Bromley who claimed first lady placing in an outstanding one hour 42 minutes and 59 seconds, and in 14th place overall. For the men, Jason Brunnock was 4th overall finisher in a fantastic 1.30.32, while Rob White was 7th overall in 1.35.28.
Teresa MacMillan was the only Buxton runner in the Tissington Half Marathon, and finished in 2.25.37.
A trio of Parkrun results from the weekend includes Alan Talbot claiming first Over 65 place at Bakewell in 22.21, Matt Hawtin’s 25th placing at Marple in 20.57 and Michael Abraham’s 29.39 over at Glossop Parkrun.