This is likely to be the last sports report for the next few months as all racing has been cancelled for the time being, but hopefully NOT a swansong! However, if you have anything you’d like to have posted here on our website, such as training tips, recent training runs, any interesting snippets that are running-related, pictures, let me know and I’ll post them. Stay safe and keep on running! Sheila 🙂
Buxton Athletic Club runners had a variety of races to chose from last weekend, from the popular Pavilion Gardens 5K, to the local fells out of Crowden or a tough fell race in mid Wales, through to a scenic but testing 21 miler starting in the lovely Peak District village of Grindleford.
Starting with the ever-popular Gardens 5K, a sizeable field of 89 runners took part in ideal conditions, and included the latest batch of beginners from the Club’s Target 5K group. Fourteen graduates successfully completed the three-lap course, after a 9 week training programme, and are all excited at the prospect of progressing to the 10K distance after their triumph at the 5K. A perfect start to their new running careers.
Will Spalton was first home overall in the race in a time of 18.31, while Ashley Deeming of Heanor was second home, and 1st Male Vet 45, in 18.39. Buxton’s Steve Watson, still training hard, took almost a minute from his January 5K time, claiming 1st Male Vet 55, in third position in a time of 19.13. Talented Buxton AC Junior Jonty Brown was 11th overall, claiming 1st Junior Male position in 21.48, while the Club’s Sienna Phillips was not only 1st Female home (16th overall) but first Junior Female too in a time of 23.24. Second female and 1st FV 45 was Jasmin Reeves in 24.07, with Mia Jones was 3rd female home and 1st Junior Female in the 16 age category.
Lad’s Leap fell race, a 5.9 mile toughie with 1700 feet of ascent, 800 of which greets the runners from the outset, isn’t an event for the faint-hearted and demands exceptional navigational skills. Some 116 experienced runners took part, and Buxton athletes displayed their mettle from the outset. Sam Soles, Jake Fearn and Stu Diamond (2nd, 4th and 11th finishers respectively) claimed the Men’s team prize, a great result. David Fryer-Winder was next home in 52nd place, followed by Pete Bailey (69th), Tania Wilson (74th) and Heather Fryer-Winder (105th). 
The 21 mile Grindleford Gallop visits some of the prettiest Peak District villages throughout its hilly route, touching Froggat, Eyam, Great Hucklow, Edensor and Baslow before returning to Grindleford via Curbar and Froggat Edges. Andy Lidstone, consoling himself after the cancellation of the Paris Marathon, finished strongly in 3 hours 35 minutes and 18 seconds (104th) from a field of 400 runners. Sheila Bradley was next home in 3.56.32, 178th and second Female Vet 60, followed by Katie Rolfe (210th in 4.06.10) and Rebecca Day (211th in 4.06.11). Kate Phillips and Bev Golden took part as walkers, and were 6th and 7th overall from around 100 others, coming home in 4.57.01 and 4.57.10. Also walking the course was Mark Fitzgerald who finished in 5.28.52.
Over in Wales, at the Ras yr Aran 10 mile fell race, close to the beautiful Lake Bala, competitors were faced with a route taking them on unmarked fells over high mountainous terrain. Junior Jacob Winfield led his Senior team mates home to finish in 72nd place, in a time of 1.42.01. Rob White was 113th in 1.50.54, while Richard Goff was 296th in 2.46.04.