Another weekend of races, another collection of trophies! Ben Light’s first placing last week at Mow Cop fell race must have given him a taste for the high life because he triumphed yet again at the Whitehall Wiggle 10K multi terrain race at the weekend, claiming 1st overall from a field of over 70 runners, finishing in 44.55.
Held to raise funds for The Thomas Theyer Foundation, the race heads down towards Whaley Bridge from Whitehall Outdoor Centre, but sneakily turns back uphill for a tough little climb around Ladder Hill. Another descent all the way into the beautiful village of Combs, before taking the unwary all the way back up the fields to Whitehall, a climb that can only be described as a spiteful afterthought by the route planners. A brilliant run from Lauren McNeil gave her the winning female place in 50.19, a welcome return to form and racing. Amy Clark was close behind to take second position home in 51.02, while Tania Wilson took the 1st Female Over 50 prize, finishing in 60.14. Jon Sewell was 1st Over 45 Male in 50.52. Twenty Buxton AC runners took part in this local event.
Almost 100 runners turned out on a perfect spring morning for the Pavilion Gardens 5K last Saturday, and in ideal conditions, Rob White took the lead from the outset, storming round the three laps in a speedy 16.45. Amy Clark, on a warm up for the Whitehall Wiggle, was first lady home, 4th overall in the race, in a cracking 18.53. First Junior Male home was Owen Smith in 18.56, while the First Junior Female home was Matilda Reeves of High Peak AC in 23.26. Danielle Watson’s “21 at 21” challenge has included a whole host of innovative and unique fundraising ideas, all in aid of Mind, the mental health charity, and The Thomas Theyer Foundation. Her cake stall consisting of 21 different types of cakes at the event was a resounding success, and raised a tremendous £298.21 from the generous runners, helpers and spectators.
Two Buxtonians headed over the hill to the Sheffield environs to take part in the hugely popular Sheffield Half Marathon. From a huge field of over 6,000 runners, Matt Barlow was first Club runner home in 1.53.24, while Tracy Gregory knocked 12 minutes from a previous time, finishing in 2.08.21.
Still on the roads, Kevin Mottram sliced 20 seconds from his course personal best at the undulating Newcastle 10K finishing strongly on the final flat mile in 40.50, 47th from a field of 455. Junior Harry Bond had a veritable storm of a run, with a 15th overall finishing place in 37.48.
Kate & Stefan Ledin competed in a couple of London-based Parkruns last Saturday, with Kate venturing to Peckham Rye where from a field of 334, she claimed 1st Female Over 55 place in 22.59, and 72nd finisher. Husband Stefan ran at Burgess Park and, not to be outdone, claimed 1st Male Over 55 position, finishing in 21.29, 183rd from 504 runners.
A splendid four records were annihilated at the Club’s “Dream On Mile” recently, testament to the talented runners within the Club. Sam Soles was 1st finisher overall, taking the Junior Male record to an incredible 4.51, Amy Clark beat her own Senior Female record by 4 seconds, taking it to 5.31, David Soles claimed the Male Over 50 record with a 5.50 finishing time, and Annette Fowler smashed the Female Over 50 record to finish in 6.04. The race attracted a massive 78 runners, from both the Junior and Senior Sections.