Ten Buxton AC runners have been training hard over the winter and spring months in preparation for that most iconic of races, the hugely popular Virgin London Marathon, and all ten returned home suitably satisfied with their performances and impressive finishing times.

Well under the three hour mark and first back for the Club was Nat Winfield in a sparkling 2 hours 52 minutes and 7 seconds, 783^rd from an estimated field of 42,000. First time at London, Richard Bouglas was more than happy with his speedy 3.13.40 finishing time, while Andy Lidstone’s 3.24.05 time was all the more remarkable given he ran the Boston Marathon only a couple of weeks ago. Relative newcomer to Buxton, the Club and first timer for the London, was Rebecca Day who gave a great account of herself by finishing in 3.42.03. Just three seconds separated the excellent finishing times of Emma Wentworth (3.46.27) and Kate Ledin (3.46.30). Alan Talbot, fresh from his hot-weather training in Tenerife, came home in 3.56.24, and first timer both at the distance and at London Chris Morten should be rightly proud of his 4.04.46 time. It’s taken Wendy Bainbridge a full nine years to get a place in the London Marathon ballot, so her time of 4.32.02 was reward indeed for patience and determination. Liz Nocton completed the Buxton contingent in a respectable time of 4.37.46.

“The Light Shines On” is a fitting expression for Ben Light’s current dazzling performances. His latest triumph was at the Kinder Downfall fell race, some 9.6 miles in length and almost 4,265 feet of climbing. The testing route takes the runners from Hayfield past Kinder Reservoir, all the way up William Clough to traverse the Kinder Plateau Edge via Sandy Heys to the Downfall, before continuing on to Kinder Low, and dropping back down to Hayfield. His winning time was 1.12.54. Team-mate Jason Burgess, 3^rd overall, claimed 1^st Male Vet 40 place, in a superb time of 1.13.38 while Junior Jacob Winfield claimed 1^st Junior Male and 1^st Local, 7^th overall in 1.15.54, taking the three to the team prize. Joanne Bednall, in excellent form after last year’s injury lay-off, took the 1^st Female Vet 50 position, 114^th overall, in 1.39.49. 273 runners finished, with 12 of them Buxton AC athletes. Other Club Members were: Jason Bennett (26^th, 1.23.21), Richard Goff (107^th, 1.38.50), Shaun Coram (122^nd, 1.40.34), Sam Willis (134^th, 1.41.52), Don O’Brien (165^th, 1.46.36), Pete Bailey (170^th, 1.47.50), and Sue Jeff (265^th, 2.23.05). Sadly Jason Brunnock retired due to injury, but finished in 1.51.24, 196^th.

Still on the fells, at the first of the British Fell Championships for 2019, over in the Mourne Mountains, Northern Ireland, both Dan Latham and Tania Wilson worked hard at the tough 9.5 mile race. With a total ascent of 4,265 feet, this wasn’t going to be an easy ride. Their finishing times and places were Latham 1.28.03 (124^th) and Wilson 1.44.09 (189^th). 234 ran.

Tracy Gregory not only took part in an Aquathon last Saturday, but followed it the next day with an off-road marathon of four laps at Thoresby Hall, finishing in her best time by 12 minutes from the past three years.