The English Cross Country Relays attract the elite runners from the country’s top performing Clubs, and so Buxton AC runners had a chance to compete against the finest at last weekend’s event held at Berry Hill Park, Mansfield. Fielding five Senior Teams in total, the Senior Ladies ran against 140 other teams, while the Senior Men’s field included over 200 teams.
A short and undulating 3K course for the ladies gave little chance other than to run at “eyeballs out” pace. Buxton “A” team included Jo Cudahy, Sheila Bradley and Adele Thornton, with Cudahy’s 13.20 finishing time being fastest overall out of the Buxton Ladies, giving a final placing of 83rd team in 41 minutes and 50 seconds. Buxton “B” included Liz Nocton, Fran Ross and Kate Ledin, with a finishing team place of 102nd in 44.56, while Buxton “C”, with Sarah Soles, Sue Jeff and Heather Fryer-Winder, claimed 111th team place in 48.31.
Two teams of four Buxton Senior Men ran a 5k course, two laps of undulations through woodland and fields. Buxton “A” saw David Fryer-Winder, Dan Latham, Rob White and Nat Winfield’s total time of 1 hour, 15 minutes and 40 seconds give them an 86th overall placing. Buxton “B” included Richard Bouglas, Nigel Jeff, Andy Lidstone and Richard Goff, and their 1.29.56 total time saw them claim 139th position. Winfield’s 18.06 was the fastest overall for the Buxton Senior Men.
On the fell running calendar since the 1950s is the delightfully mad Dovedale Dash, attracting up to 1500 runners who take their life in their hands to hare downhill to a spectacular crossing of the River Dove. On Sunday last, most eschewed the safer option of the stepping stones to cross the river, instead plunging into the icy cold waters, with several getting more than they bargained for when slippery limestone rocks took them by surprise. Junior Club Members apart (reported elsewhere), 11 Seniors took part in Sunday’s crazy scramble, with the first three home fresh from their cross country exploits the day before – Dan Latham (32.38), Rob White (33.07) and Richard Bouglas (34.06). Tania Wilson was first Buxton female home in 38.44, with Sam Willis not far behind in 39.47, and Katie Rolfe in 40.44. Nick Jones (35.14), Terry Fowler (36.22), Pete Bailey (40.24), Sheila Bradley (42.53) and Dave Forshaw (49.42) also ran in the almost five mile race.
On the roads, Adele Thornton and Fran Ross took on the challenge of the Tatton Park Half Marathon just a day after competing in the cross country relays, and both returned with personal best times – 1.51.46 and 1.51.47 respectively. Kevin Mottram, meanwhile, knocked a huge 3 minutes from his personal best time for the 10 mile distance at the Flying Fox 10m, coming a remarkable 36th from a total of 254 runners in 67.41.
Parkrun results include Justin Holmes (26.03), Gill Thompson (27.57) and Mary Rooney (31.05) at Bakewell, Michael Abrahams (30.56) at Macclesfield and Tracy Gregory (31.42) at Marple.