Jim Bradley, stalwart, legend and a founder member of Buxton Athletic Club, devised his “Dream-on Mile” some years ago, giving Club Members a chance to test their speed at the relatively short but always painful mile distance. A sly nod to the famous “Oslo Dream Mile”, Jim imagined that most Club Members could only dream of achieving the times run in the official event – “Jarrow Arrow” Steve Cram still holds the UK record of 3 minutes 46 seconds, setting it in 1985.
The Club event takes in a two-lap route starting and finishing on Broad Walk, and the current records are 4.44 (Alasdair Campbell) and 5.35 (Amy Clark). The latest event took place last week and although the main records still stand, there were some outstanding times recorded by some of the 60 runners who took part. Jake Fearn finished first in 4.52, while Junior Helen Thornhill matched Amy’s record of 5.35. Junior Sam Soles, second home, broke the Junior Male record in 5.05. Youngest competitor was Georgia Cudahy, aged 4, who got the loudest cheers as she crossed the finishing line in an amazing 11 minutes and 10 seconds.
Also this week…
BUXTON AC SUPPORTS “FINISH FOR MATT”
Over 2,000 people pledged to “Finish for Matt” the 3.7 miles Matt Campbell sadly wasn’t able to at last week’s London Marathon, and more than £116,000 has been donated so far to the charity the 29 year old was running for, the Cumbria-based Brathay Trust. Tragically, Matt, who had been a BBC MasterChef semi-finalist in 2017, collapsed at the 22.5 mile mark during the marathon. Twelve Buxton Athletic Club runners took part in the searing heat of the Marathon, and they were joined by Club mates last Saturday morning at 10 am in Buxton’s Pavilion Gardens to run the 3.7 miles in memory of Matt, a fitting tribute in honour of Matt’s life.
A SECOND PLACING FOR JASON
The Helen’s Trust 10K, held in the beautiful parkland of Derbyshire’s “jewel in the crown” Chatsworth House, raises funds each year for the charity which helps terminally ill people remain in their own homes. This popular event attracts many hundreds of runners, and this year almost 900 people took part, 12 of whom came from Buxton AC. Second home overall in the race was Jason Brunnock in a cracking time of 37.09, with fellow Club mate Ben Light hot on his heels in 3rd just one second later. Tim Aldridge was 12th home in 40.33, while Katie Rolfe was first female home for the Club in 50.00, with Adele Thornton second Buxton female back in 53.24.
PARKRUN ROUND-UP
At half the distance but, some would argue, twice the amount of pain, are the 5K Parkruns held nationally (and internationally) in parks across the entire country at 9am every Saturday morning. Our nearest event is Bakewell, out of Hassop Station, and Buxton AC athletes are regular competitors. Last weekend saw Dan Latham smash his personal best time for the event, finishing in 4th place overall in 18 minutes and 31 seconds. David Newton ran 20.34 and was 13th finisher, while Pete Bailey came home in 22.27, and first timer Teresa Macmillan ran in 32.04. Paul Light was sole Buxton AC runner in the newly-established Macclesfield Parkrun, and was rewarded with first male vet position in 22.05, 32nd from a field of almost 370 runners. Michael Abrahams took part in the Glossop Parkrun and finished in 29.08.
MID-CHESHIRE 5K
In the auspicious Mid Cheshire 5K, which incorporates England Athletics 5K Championships, Rob White, Jake Fearn and Rick Aldred tested their mettle against 520 other runners, finishing in 16.36, 16.54 and 17.42 respectively.