Scorching conditions are not generally conducive to outstanding athletic results, but hardy Buxton Athletic Club runners laugh in the face of adversity and produce amazing results ….
Kevin Mottram smashed his 10K personal best time at the Stone 10K road race by almost 30 seconds, racing home in 40.36. Fellow Buxton Club member Jason Burgess was a mere 2 seconds awry of his all-time PB, finishing in a cracking 15th place from 500 runners, in a fabulous 35.32 and was rewarded with 4th Vet 40 placing.
On the fells, the Buttermere Horseshoe has a fearsome reputation, consisting of 21.2 miles with over 8,000 feet of climbing, so not surprising. Taking in Wainwright’s favourite ridge of hills – Red Pike, High Stile, High Crag and Haystacks – before crossing the famous Honister Pass, the route returns to Buttermere via Littledale Edge. Four resilient Buxton athletes took part in this third counter for the British Fell Championships and successfully completed the round – Alasdair Campbell, Bryan McKenna, Tania Wilson and Dan Latham.
More locally, and with a few less miles and hills to conquer, was Sunday’s Kinder Trog, a mere 16 mile stroll with just 3,490 feet of ascent. However, with temperatures soaring, six Buxton runners had their work cut out to get round without mishap. Starting with a tough climb up Lantern Pike, the route heads over Mill Hill and on to the edge to the currently absolutely dry Kinder Downfall. A short trek over to Edale Cross brings the runners around towards Mount Famine and, a nasty sting in the tail, sends them up Cracken Edge before a welcome descent back into Hayfield. Jason Bennett, Jon Sewell, Debbie Hope, Samantha Willis, Jo Cudahy and Sheila Bradley survived the heat and hills, with Sheila claiming first female vet over 60 place.
The Staffordshire Moorlands AC Summer Series third counter was yet another formidable climb, this time up the distinctive Shutlingsloe hill and straight back down again. Thirteen Buxton runners took on the challenge last Thursday evening. Fran Bromley, gaining her form as the weeks go by, was second female overall, while Ben Light was 6th in the race. 192 ran.
Also returning to form is Paul Drabble, with a strong run at Bakewell Parkrun on Saturday, finishing 21st in a respectable time of 19.40. Katie Rolfe cracked the 23 minutes to claim a personal best time of 22.58. Over at Macclesfield, Ben Light was a fantastic second in the 5K race in 18.30, while Justin Holmes claimed a PB at the hilly Lyme Park 5K in 25.41.