On a blustery but dry morning, the popular monthly Pavilion Gardens 5K attracted over 60 runners, all very thankful that the New Year hadn’t brought any seasonal snow and ice.
Gusting winds meant a distinct lack of personal best times, although Steve Watson (1st Male Vet 55) managed to knock almost a minute from December’s time, evidence of the hard training he’s undertaking towards returning to form. His time was 20.02, in 5th overall place. Fellow team-mate Jake Fearn was first overall, in an excellent time of 17.20, which although not his best time, was an 8 second improvement from his last 5K, despite the stiff breezes. 1st Female, and 1st Female Vet 50 was Buxton’s on-form Annette Fowler in a very respectable 21.34.
Buxton runners claimed 1st Male Vet 45, 1st Male Vet 50, 1st Female Vet 35 and 1st Female Vet 45, a fine crop of firsts. Jon Sewell (1st MV45) was 4th overall in 19.59, Terry Fowler (1st MV50) 6th in 20.51. Emily Mellor, newcomer to the Club and showing fine form, was 1st FV35 in 26.50, her first 5K race, and another recent joiner, Jasmin Reeves, was 1st FV45, 18th in a great 24.34.
Sam Franklin was first Male Junior in a cracking 22.25 (13th overall) and Matilda Reeves finished well in 21st place, first Female Junior, in 25.19.
Alan Scorer was 1st Male Vet 60, 14th, in 23.20 and visiting all the way from Australia to claim 1st Male Vet 65 was Dave Kelly in 27.30. Gabby Costello, unattached, was 1st FV60 in 26.51, and local runner Janet Brereton was first FV55 in 29.37.
Second fastest female runner in the country in all parkruns, and improving on her recent fifth place at Bakewell Parkrun was Buxton’s Lauren McNeil in a stupendous 17.20 at Congleton. Great signs for the coming year for this talented U23 runner.
Tatton Park was the venue for the penultimate Manchester Cross Country League fixture last Saturday and Buxton sent their finest to take part at this very scenic Cheshire country estate.
Eleven senior and veteran ladies took part, with Debbie Hope leading her team-mates home over the fast & flat five mile course in 90th place in 38 minutes and 51 seconds, just 5 seconds later in 92nd position was the ever-improving Katie Rolfe. Tania Wilson closely followed in 96th place in 39.07. Completing the quartet was Kate Ledin, 146th spot in 41.11. This gave the first team placing of 21st from 69 teams, a solid performance. For the men, Jason Brunnock, at his first outing in the league, demonstrated his form by finishing a fine 66th from a massive field of almost 500 over the 10K course in 36.15. David Fryer-Winder was next home for the team in 119th in 38.04, followed by Rick Aldred in 40.12, (191st), Matt Hawtin 41.33 (243rd), David Soles 41.58 (252nd) and Mark Thorogood 45.12 (333rd). This gave the Senior Men 30th team placing from 62, and the Veteran Men 25th team from 57 teams. 
