Wednesday 20th May 2009

LEICESTER Coritanian AC collected a set of silver medals for the second consecutive year at the 2009 British Masters Road Relays staged at Birmingham's Sutton Park on Saturday 16th May.

The team of Phil Makepeace (15:14), David Miles (16:01), Rob Sheen (15:59), Andy Hart (16:41), Gordon Lee (14:48), Derek Guess (16:01), Gareth Deacon (15:46) and Simon Cotton (15:20) finished runners-up by a margin of just 18 seconds over the line as Herne Hill Harriers claimed the title with defending champions Bristol & West taking the third podium place.

Leicester also finished in 18th place in the Four-Stage Men’s 35-39 category with the team of Dave Saunders (17:42), Craig Austin (17:42), Nev Francis (17:46) and Craig Sabin (16:59).

Full results: www.joelee.co.uk/2009/vets/vet091leg.html

Laura Johnson representing Charnwood AC, (pictured left) winner of the Grace Dieu Derby Runner Cross Country League race earlier this year, won the Long Clawson 10km Challenge Race on Sunday 10th May 2009. The 25-year-old in what she described as 'one of the hardest races she had ever run' clocked a time of 46:53 to take victory over the tough course in the Vale of Belvoir.

Full results: www.long-clawson.com/files/712/Clawson_10k_2009_results.pdf

Over the 26.2 mile distance the Julie Lamb (OWLS) set a new lifetime best at the 2009 Brathay Windermere Marathon in Ambleside on Sunday 17th May with a mark of 3hrs 10mins 59secs over a very hilly course in cold and blustery windy conditions to finish in third place overall and claim the first Vet40 prize.

Full results: www.brathay.org.uk/download/pdf/Brathay%20Marathon%20Results%202009.pdf

Hannah Eveleigh of Harborough AC won the 2009 Marie Curie Great Daffodil Run held at Kelmarsh Hall in Northamptonshire on Sunday 10th May with a time of 40:49.

Full results: www.chiptiming.co.uk/pdf/090510_marie_curie_10k.pdf

Photo by Jason Addison.

Tuesday 19th May 2009

TARA KRZYWICKI and Paul Richardson were on top form smashing the course records at the annual Wymeswold 5 mile race staged on the roads surrounding the picturesque Leicestershire village on Sunday 17th May.

In the event first staged in 1987 reigning British Masters cross-country champion Tara Krzywicki, fresh from spell of warm-weather training in southern Spain, continued her fine renaissance in the sport following foot surgery last year by completing a comprehensive victory crossing the line in a time of 27mins 30secs over the undulating course - to finish in fourth place overall.

Krzywicki, the 35-year-old former United Kingdom 3,000m Steeplechase record-holder representing Charnwood AC, having won the North Midlands Cross Country League title this year and subsequently adding the British Masters title to her CV in March on her debut in Ruthin, finished ahead of team mates Gemma Steel (29:06), the previous course record-holder and defending champion, and the Midlands Masters cross-country gold medalist Clare McKittrick (29:10).

Krzywicki, who lives in the neighbouring village of Rempstone reflecting on her victory said: “I felt really good over the tough course and to finish fourth overall was really pleasing - Gemma and Claire had a good fight for second and third places.”

In the Men’s race Paul Richardson ran a stellar race to completely obliterate the existing course record set by Loughborough’s Martin Lewis last year of 26:57 as the 27-year-old representing the OWLS finished two-minutes clear of British triathlete Joel Jameson in a time of 24:46.

Jameson, runner-up to Mark Couldwell in the Leicester City Half Marathon back in October and coached by Martin Yelling (husband of GB marathon runner Liz), claimed second in 26:45 ahead of Barrow’s Stuart Spencer (27:08).

Report by Mark Woolley.

Full results are available on the following link: www.wymeswold.com/Waddle%20Results%202009%20Provisional.pdf

Sunday 17th May 2009

GLOBAL superstar and reigning world marathon record-holder, Ethiopia’s Haile Gebrselassie's, and Kenyan Vivian Cheruiyot eased to fine individual victories despite the strong windy conditions at the BUPA Great Manchester 10km Run (IAAF Gold Label Road Race).

Gebrselassie aiming to attack Kenya’s Micah Kogo's world-record for the distance (27:21) set on the same Manchester course in 2007 was simply a class apart as the 36-year-old cruised home in a time of 27mins 39secs finishing eighteen seconds short of the global mark due to the strong headwinds that affected the course on the final stages into the city centre.

Ali Zaied of Libya and Ukraine's eight-time European cross-country champion Sergiy Lebid finished second and third respectively with times of 28:13 and 28:36.

Gebrselassie commented afterwards: "I expected bad weather here, but not this wind," he said. "In the second half of the race it made it very difficult, "I need to do 10k, 15k for speed and today tells me that my speed is okay, I wanted to run a world record but in the second half it proved too difficult."

Loughborough graduate Chris Thompson produced his best performance for quite sometime to finish as leading Brit in a superb sixth place in 28:45, followed by Californian-based steeplechaser Andrew Lemoncello in 7th with 29:18. Leicestershire’s Tim Hartley representing Notts AC finished in 34th place with 30:36.

The wind also blew any chance of Kenya’s Vivian Cheruiyot breaking Paula Radcliffe’s worlds-best for the distance of 30:38 achieved almost seven years ago in London's Richmond Park as the 25-year-old world 5,000m track silver medallist prevailed in a time of 32:01.

Cheruiyot finished ahead of Portugal's Sara Moreira, the European indoor 3,000m silver medalist (32:33) with the two-time former ING New York Marathon champion Jelena Prokopcuka of Latvia, third in 32:41.

Cheruiyot also reflected on the difficult conditions following her victory: "I broke clear after five kilometres and the race was not hard to win but the wind was so strong I couldn't achieve the time I wanted."

Kendal’s mountain-running specialist Rebecca Robinson was the first Brit across the line in 34:13 finishing just a second ahead of Charnwood’s IAAF World Cross Country Championships representative Jane Potter. Twin sister Juliet (Doyle) was also on top form in the class field as the Silverstone half-marathon champion clocked 34:22 to secure 11th place. Loughborough student Emily Pidgeon clocked 35:09 to finish in 16th place.

In the week that will see the city of Manchester stage the 2009 BT Paralympic World Cup, Great Britain’s Brian Alldis, coached by the legendary Tanni Grey-Thompson, claimed victory in the wheelchair race in a time of 23:20, ahead of Tushar Patel (25:26) and Daniel Lucker (26:10). The Women’s race was won by Blackpool’s Paralympic 1500m silver medallist Shelly Woods in 25:27.

Report by Mark Woolley.

Leading Results:
Men
1 H Gebrselassie (Ethiopia) 27:39, 2 A Ali Zaied (Libya) 28:13, 3 S Lebid (Ukraine) 28:36, 4 F Joseph (Tanzania) 28:41, 5 J-M Martinez (Spain) 28:42, 6 C Thompson (GB) 28:45, 7 A Lemoncello (GB) 29:18; 8 P Nicholls (GB) 29:21, 9 M Lauret (Netherlands) 29:34, 10 A Brownlee (GB) 29:35, 34 T Hartley (GB) 30:36
Women
1 V Cheruiyot (Kenya) 32:01, 2 S Moreira (Portugal) 32:33, 3 J Prokopcuka (Latvia) 32:41, 4 A Kalovics (Hungary) 33:23, 5 M Sig Moller (Denmark) 33:33, 6 L Simon (Romania) 33:46, 7 R Robinson (GB) 34:13, 8 J Potter (GB) 34:14, 9 A Aguillar (Spain) 34:20, 10 C Hoyte (GB) 34:21, 11 J Doyle (GB) 34:22, 16 E Pidgeon (GB) 35:09
Wheelchairs (All GB)
Men
1 B Alldis 23:20, 2 T Patel 25:26, 3 D Lucker 26:10, 4 K Nicholson 27:10, 5 A Booth 28:35, 6 J Gill 28:36
Women
1 S Woods 25:27, 2 S Piercy 35:43

2009 East Midland Road Running Grand Prix Series – Rugby 6

Rugby, Warwickshire

Wednesday 13th May 2009

ASHLEY SABIN secured his second straight series win as defending champion Nicki Nealon began her campaign on a positive note with victory as Leicestershire athletes dominated the second race in the 2009 East Midland Road Running Grand Prix Series at the Rugby 6 mile.

Sabin, (22) representing Notts AC led home a trio of county athletes taking victory in a time of 31mins 47secs finishing ahead of Beaumont’s reigning Derby Runner Cross Country League champion Phil Chritchlow (32:27), with Steve Platts (32:33) from the OWLS just six seconds adrift over the line in third place.

In the Women’s race the eight-time and defending series champion Nicki Nealon racing in the colours of Huncote Harriers made her first appearance as the 41-year-old British Masters international comfortably out paced Nuneaton’s Eleanor Greenfield to take victory by a gap of 31 seconds in a time of 36:06, finishing just two seconds outside of her winning time in the race twelve months ago.

Full results are available on the following link:

http://mcs.open.ac.uk/mkac/09emgprugbyall.htm The next race in the 2009 East Midland Grand Prix Series is the Bedford 6 Mile on Tuesday 19th May - start time 7.45pm.

2009 Hinckley Dog & Hedgehog Half Marathon

Bosworth Water Park, Leicestershire

Sunday 10th May 2009

MARK POWELL and Diana Lobacevske completed fine individual victories leading home a field over 1,000 runners to secure the Hinckley half-marathon titles in the warm early summer conditions at the Bosworth Water Park.

Having triumphed in the sweltering conditions that affected the event twelve months ago, Mark Powell, racing in the colours of the Leicester OWLS made light work of the more favourable weather in the 2009 edition to retain his title in fine style.

The 30-year-old, preparing for his marathon debut in Edinburgh later this month, competed victory in a time of 1hr 10mins 04secs having pulled clear of the reigning Northamptonshire county cross-country champion, Coventry Godiva Harrier Matt Almond, by a margin of 27 seconds to significantly improve on his winning time of last year (1:11.09).

Powell finished well outside of his personal best of 1:08.14 set at the Experian Robin Hood Half Marathon last September, nevertheless this was another fine performance from one of the county’s leading athletes as he heads to the Scottish capital in three weeks time.

Triathlete Mark Couldwell, the reigning Leicester City Half Marathon champion, a week after leading Charnwood to the East Midlands title at the Livingston Relays, finished third in a time of 1:11.30.

In the Women’s race Diana Lobacevske representing Beaumont Running Club continued her rich vein of form as the 28-year-old Lithuanian-born athlete followed her top performance at last months Flora London Marathon where she finished as the leading women in the mass race with a new personal best of 2:38.26 by completing victory in Bosworth having won the Leicester City Marathon title back in October.

Having also won at the Ashby 20 mile event this winter, Lobacevske added the Leicestershire half-marathon title with a comprehensive solo victory clocking a time of 1:17.18 to finish ahead of a strong field led by reigning county cross-country champion Gemma Steel (Charnwood) by a significant margin of over two-and-a-half minutes over the line.

Steel, having recently set a lifetime best for the half-marathon of 1:19.02 in Sheffield, led home a trio of top masters athletes as Nicola Clay (Stilton), winner over the distance at Belvoir last month, claimed third place in 1:21.33 with British Masters internationals Nicki Nealon (Huncote) and Kate Ramsey (Barrow) filling the next two places in 1:21.44 and 1:23.08 respectively.

Report by Mark Woolley - Copyright athletics-leics.com

FULL results are available on the following link:
http://hinckleyrunningclub.com/images/phocagallery/2009/summerlrrl/hhm/resultsiss1.pdf

2009 East Midland Road Running Grand Prix Series – Silverstone 10km

Silverstone Motor Racing Circuit, Northamptonshire

Tuesday 5th May 2009

TOP young emerging talents Ashley Sabin and Loughborough College student Blue Haywood completed fine individual victories to win the opening round of the 2009 East Midland Grand Prix Series held at the world famous Silverstone motor racing circuit in Northamptonshire that attracted a huge field of over 800 runners including members of the Renault, and Force India F1 teams.

Sabin representing Notts AC completed a five second victory ahead of Highgate Harrier Ryan McKinlay crossing the finish line in a new lifetime best time of 32mins 22secs with Phil Holland of Ampthill & Flitwick Flyers securing third a further 10 seconds adrift in 32:37.

Sabin’s time surpassed his previous best for the distance (32:28) by a margin of six-seconds that the 22-year-old had set earlier this year at the Leicestershire Road Racing League fixture in Desford.

In the Women’s race the undoubted talent of teenager Blue Haywood was clearly in evidence as the 17-year-old from the Lincoln Wellington Club, the reigning Leicestershire & Rutland Schools 3,000m champion, ran virtually solo to take the win in a time of 36:22 well over half-a-minute ahead of second placed Jude Craft of Headington Road Runners (36:59), with the experienced British Masters international Kirsty Gallagher third in 37:53 for Wootton Road Runners.

Haywood has a personal best of 35:10 for the distance that she set two-years ago in Lincoln at the age of just 15.

The event also incorporated a Wheelchair race this year where Brian Alldis won the men's title in 24:16, whilst, Nikki Emerson prevailed in the women's race in 37:13.

Report by Mark Woolley.

Full results are available on the following link: http://mcs.open.ac.uk/mkac/09emgpsilverstoneall.htm
The next race in the 2009 East Midland Road Running Grand Prix Series is the Rugby 6 that takes place on Wednesday 13th May - start time 7.45pm

2009 LRRL Livingston Relays

(incorp. England Athletics East Midlands Road Relays Championship), Loughborough University Campus

Sunday 3rd May 2009

CHARNWOOD AC completed a fine double success on their home turf with comprehensive senior team victories at the 2009 LRRL Livingston Relays to collect the England Athletics East Midlands road-relays titles.

On the opening stage of the event - the oldest road-race in Leicestershire dating back to 1928 which returned to the athletics calendar in 2003 - the reigning Leicester City Half Marathon champion Mark Couldwell set the green and gold’s on their way to victory on the opening leg of the Men’s 4-Stage race where the 34-year-old triathlete clocked the fastest individual leg with a time of 15mins 17secs over the three-mile course surrounding Europe’s biggest university campus at Loughborough.

Couldwell was followed on the second stage by Peter Swaine who kept the pressure on and maintained the led ahead of Heanor AC with a swift 15:17 as James Douglas took over the mantle to clock 15:33 to hand over the Richard Brown on the anchor leg.

Brown was left virtually out on his own over the final stage bringing home Charnwood to victory well over four minutes clear of the chasing field in a combined time of 62mins 47secs.

Heanor finished runners-up in 67:33 with Steve Ashmore (16:26), Pete Smale (16:42), Joe Rainsford (17:34) and Jon Wainwright (16:51) completing their line-up, whilst, Barrow Runners claimed the bronze medals as Ian Paramore (17:15), Dave Battersby (16:32), Geoff Newell (18:27) and Stuart Spencer (15:53) finished in 68:07.

Midland Masters relays champions Leicester Coritanian AC were equally dominant in the Men’s Vets 4-Stage race as they romped to a comprehensive victory by a margin of three minutes ahead of Redhill Runners. Simon Cotton with 15:43 on the opening leg was followed by Gordon Lee’s fastest stage clocking of 15:01, Welsh Masters international Rob Sheen (16:06) and Gareth Deacon (16:06) completing their winning line-up.

Masterclass could aptly describe the destination of the women’s race as the top two teams over the line contained no less than three British Masters internationals as reigning GB Vets cross-country champion Tara Krzywicki gave notice of her fine form and recent good run of success as the 35-year-old flew round the opening stage in 16:14, clearly the fastest individual time to give the defending champions an unassailable lead.

Junior Amber Magee, the reigning Leicestershire county U20 cross-country champion at more youthful 18 years of age maintained the advantage with 18:51 on the second stage before the vastly experienced Nicki Thompson anchored home the host club to victory in a combined time of 55:16. This fine victory adds yet another relays title to their bulging trophy cabinet having won the national 6-stage title last month in Birmingham to the national cross-country crown and the Midlands territorial 4 and 6 stage championships.

Krzywicki reflecting on the teams success commented: "It was good to see the mens team getting some results and due recognition as well, some awesome performances from them. Also great to see the junior team doing so well and to think we will have those athletes coming through into the senior teams is really encouraging."

The silver medals went to Barrow Runners where multiple Masters champion over various distances and surfaces, Kate Ramsey, anchored their team of Monique Raiijmakers (19:42), Kirsty Hillier (20:43) across the line in 58:17 with Ramsey clocking the second fastest overall stage of 17:52.

Harborough AC clocked under the hour mark to take the final podium place with a combined time of 59:25 with their squad of Hannah Eveleigh (18:49), Jessica Edge (20:35) and Karen Brooks (20:01).

In the Junior Under-20 races the Leicester OWLS were a class apart in the men’s race as Lewis Smart (16:17) anchored home the team of Josh Norman (15:40), Tom Mahon (16:02) and Danny Hallam (16:07) in a time of 64:06 to take the title ahead of rivals Charnwood and Leicester Coritanian AC.

The women’s race was dominated by Charnwood as their team of Lizzie Mellor (19:02), Joni Ashford (19:49) and Briony Bendle (20:04) with a combined time of 58:55 finished ahead of the Loughborough clubs ‘B’ team and third placed Leicester Coritanian AC.

Report by Mark Woolley – Copyright athletics-leics.com

Full Results:
Senior Men (4-Stage)
1 Charnwood A 62:47
Mark Couldwell-15-17
Peter Swaine-15-32
James Douglas-15-33
Richard Brown-16-25
2 Heanor A 67:33
Steve Ashmore-16-26
Pete Smale-16-42
Joe Rainsford-17-34
Jon Wainwright-16-51
3 Barrow A 68:07
Ian Paramore-17-15
Dave Battersby-16-32
Geoff Newell-18-27
Stuart Spencer-15-53
4 Beaumont A 70:55
Rahim Madarbux-18-03
Andy Machin-18-33
Mike Townsend-18-20
Phil Chritchlow-15-59
5 Stilton A 71:04
Darren Glover-17-25
Toby Day-18-53
John Creswell-18-52
Chris Southam-15-54
6 Harborough A 72:03
Sean Fenwick-16-12
Jason Pitcher-17-06
Adam Brooks-19-27
Andy King-19-18
7 Charnwood B 72:22
James Paramore-20-57
Tom Whitmore-15-27
Nigel Sloggins-18-14
Jordan Ling-17-44
8 Hinckley A 73:13
Mark Frost-17-57
Robert Hall-McNair-17-56
Richard Whitelegg-17-06
Steve Hatcher-20-14
9 Buxton A 73:56
Nigel Critchlow-17-59
Rob White-17-28
Steve Claye -19-12
Simon Harden-19-17
10 Wreake A 74:05
Runner-18-23
Runner-19-14
Bruno Nikoloff-17-22
Runner-19-06
11 Heanor C 76:24
Tim Simpson-20-51
Chris Rainsford-17-18
Rob Rainsford-21-14
Russ Wilkinson-17-01
12 Shepshed A 77:00
Martin Booth-18-01
James Watkin-19-35
John Golding-18-14
Brian Barnett-21-10
13 Charnwood C 77:02
Nye Cranage-20-04
Mark Whitmore-19-13
Rob Jalland-18-17
Steven Jeffers-19-28
14 Barrow B 78:05
Russell Lewin-18-42
Ross McGregor-19-52
John Rees-18-28
Joe Sadler-21-03
15 Desford A 78:37
Alistair Richards-17-53
Tom Bassnett-20-52
Kieron Smith-20-05
Lee Barber-19-47
16 Heanor B 79:00
Rich Sims-18-44
Steve Wardle-19-34
Simon Baker-20-27
Chris Mellors-20-15
17 Leics Cor A 79:39
Ashley Sabin-15-24
Craig Austin-18-22
Michael Haines-18-29
Tony Forryan-27-24
18 Stilton B 79:55
Phil Douglas-19-14
Thomas Nicol-22-16
Loz Robinson-18-41
Neil Jaggard-19-44
19 Buxton B 80:29
Dan Feely-19-40
Ian Francis-20-29
Matt Barlow-20-59
David Nutton-19-21
20 Birstall A 81:36
Carl Voisey-17-47
John Brennan-23-15
Steve Powell-19-17
Tim Lyon-21-17
21 Barrow C 86:07
Kev Huddart-21-48
Kevan Naylor-22-00
Mark Sadler-22-04
Nigel Hillier-20-15
22 Desford B 100:10
Mark Dixon-21-30
Sean Tebbutt-24-55
Gary Grimsley-23-10
Steve Morris-30-35
Fastest Leg: Mark Couldwell (Charnwood) 15:17
Vets Men (4-Stage)
1 Leics Cor 63:19
Simon Cotton-15-43
Gordon Lee-15-01
Rob Sheen-16-29
Gareth Deacon-16-06
2 Redhill Runners 66:18
Mark Yates-16-31
Alan Smith-15-51
Nigel Cobb-17-18
Paul Newton-16-38
3 Leics Cor B 67:39
Derek Guess-16-27
Andy Hart-16-41
Craig Sabin-17-05
Robin Brookes-17-26
4 Harborough A 70:08
William Clapp-16-40
Martin Gore-17-05
David Waddington-18-00
Richard Bufton-18-23
5 Shepshed 72:30
Mark Rose-17-05
Graham Hebdon-19-15
Mark Stock-18-02
John Noble-18-08
6 OWLS A 74:28
Colin Baxter-18-08
Rob Gregory-18-22
Michael Stiff-19-33
Ed Brougham-18-25
7 Desford A 77:20
Andy Ball-17-40
Steve Humber-19-32
Paul Goddard-19-56
Duncan Percy-20-12
8 Harborough B 78:46
Shane Edge-19-11
Richard Brown-19-37
Graham Rolfe-20-38
Richard Callan-19-20
9 OWLS B 79:23
Craig Baker-20-19
Nigel Ayres-19-53
Clive Jones-19-37
Les Chesterton-19-34
10 Wreake 80:40
Mark Jelley-19-16
Andy Steer-19-48
Steve Cooper-20-20
Trev Goodbourn-21-16
11 Leics Cor C 84:48
John Grindley-17-01
Nev Francis-18-18
Dick Willingale-22-45
Kevin Jarvis-26-44
12 Harborough C 89:57
Martin Hughes-20-49
Chris Loake-22-31
Alan Fordham-20-32
Dave Oram-26-05
13 Barrow Runners 91:37
Malcolm Harris-21-05
Bill Phillips-23-01
Terry Jones-22-11
Bob Aird-25-20
14 Desford B 99:29
Paul Goodchild-22-04
Mark Goodrich-22-55
Steve Bailey-25-23
John Greenlees-29-07
Fastest Leg: Gordon Lee (Leics Cor) 15:01
Men Under-20 (4-Stage)
1 OWLS A 64:06
Josh Norman-15-40
Tom Mahon-16-02
Danny Hallam-16-07
Lewis Smart-16-17
2 Charnwood 67:25
Scott Baxter-16-48
George Buttery-17-17
Jake Harrison-16-43
Michael Brind-16-37
3 Leics Cor 68:23
Stephen Maddocks-17-04
Liam Phelan-17-02
Danny Calow-17-14
Elliot Hart-17-03
4 Wreake A 78:24
David Freeman-21-07
Jim Payne-19-17
Josh Slingsby-18-52
Matt Kirby-19-08
5 Wreake B 89:51
Gregg Webb-19-29
Will Goodbourne-23-50
Spencer Lyon-20-59
Ollie Stabler-25-33
Fastest Leg: Josh Norman (OWLS) 15:40
Senior Women (3-Stage)
1 Charnwood A 55:16
Tara Krzywicki-16-14
Amber Magee-18-51
Nicki Thompson-20-11
2 Barrow A 58:17
Monique Raiijmakers-19-42
Kirsty Hillier-20-43
Kate Ramsey-17-52
3 Harborough A 59:25
Hannah Eveleigh-18-49
Jessica Edge-20-35
Karen Brooks-20-01
4 Birstall A 61:12
Veronica Powell-19-30
Lesley Griffin-21-12
Katrina Kemp-20-30
5 OWLS A 64:42
Tania Brandon-22-16
Maxine Baker-22-55
Julie Lamb-19-31
6 Heanor A 67:13
Lisa Palmer-17-55
Tracie Morris-24-03
Jackie Hancock-25-15
7 Barrow B 69:45
Jackie Reynolds-23-01
Lindsey Atkinson-23-40
Alison Cherry-23-04
8 Stilton A 70:21
Catherine Voyce-23-28
Julie Jaggard-23-34
Jenny Miles-23-19
9 Barrow C 70:51
Sue Zurawliw-24-39
Kathy Farrar-23-05
Kath Eastwood-23-07
10 Harborough B 71:35
Unity Hamilton-Harding-22-08
Lianne Brooks-24-35
Lin Farrow-24-52
11 Birstall B 72:01
Liz Jones-23-00
Marie Squires-23-23
Chris Cobley-25-38
12 Harborough C 72:27
Sarah von Nierop-23-34
Lynette Lewington-23-33
Bev Wilson-25-20
13 Wreake A 73:06
Jackie Cooper-23-52
Linda Haywood-25-39
Liz Goodbourn-23-35
14 Barrow D 75:38
Alison Newell-26-38
Lisa Rees-24-28
Janet Hudson-24-32
15 Harborough D 75:43
Dot Burrows-24-43
Nicola James-23-07
Yvonne Barber-27-53
16 Desford A 79:54
Anne Robertson-24-10
June Morriss-29-54
Marie Hobbs-25-50
17 Wreake B 80:10
Karen Roberts-25-27
Lyndsey Wilson-29-48
Tracy Amor-24-55
Fastest Leg: Tara Krzywicki (Charnwood) 16:14
Women Under-20 (3-Stage)
1 Charnwood A 58:55
Lizzie Mellor-19-02
Joni Ashford-19-49
Briony Bendle-20-04
2 Charnwood B 61:09
Katie North-19-29
Katya Blackledge-21-41
Zoe Hawkins-19-59
3 Leics Cor 61:13
Chloe Morris-20-31
Louisa Monk-20-12
Amy Danaher-20-30
4 Wreake 75:53
Jenny Smith-22-39
Hannah Simmons-26-54
Charlotte Merry-26-20
Fastest Leg: Lizzie Mellor (Charnwood) 19:02

Sunday 3rd May 2009

MICAH KOGO and Deena Kastor underlined their pre-race favourite billing by cruising to comfortable and impressive victories at the BUPA Great Edinburgh 10km Run.

Kogo, the Beijing Olympic 10,000m bronze medallist turned his fine track ability to the road with consumate ease as the 22-year-old ran clear of Kenyan rival and defending champion Bernard Kipyego to win the men's race in a time of 28mins 12secs over a revised undulating course around the Scottish capital city.

Kogo and Kipyego had moved clear of their rivals early in the race as the duo tracked each other but with two kilometers remaining Kogo made his move to breakaway on route to victory. This win coming five weeks after Kogo smashed Haile Gebrselassie's world-record for the distance with a mark of 27:01 in the Dutch town of Brunssum at the end of March.

Spain's Jose Manuel Martinez claimed third with former British athlete Jon Brown, who finished fourth in the 2004 Athens Olympic marathon and now competes for Canada taking fifth.


In the women’s race American Deena Kastor, the winner of the 2006 Flora London Marathon and a bronze medalist at the Athens Olympics, led from gun-to-tape to win her first race since breaking her foot in the Beijing Olympic marathon last September.

The 36-year-old Californian was in top form finishing out on her own 38 seconds clear of her nearest rival Latvia's Jelena Prokopcuka, the three-time former winner, crossing the line on her first visit to Scotland in a time of 32:37 with Kenyan Sally Barsosio taking third.

Katrina Wootton was the first home for Great Britain in 7th place as the 23-year-old Bedford athlete clocked 34:18.
Leading Results:
Men
1 Micah Kogo 28:13; 2 Bernard Kipyego 28:27; 3 Jose Manuel Martinez 29:33; 4 Rui Pedro Silva 29:35; 5 Jon Brown 29:56; 6 Barnabas Bene 30:31; 7 Mike Skinner 30:32; 8 Jean Ndayisenga 30:40; 9 Tsegai Tewelde 30:45; 10 Russell Desaix Chin 30:48
Women
1 Deena Kastor 32:38; 2 Jelena Prokopcuka 33:14; 3 Sally Barsosio 33:34; 4 Aniko Kalovics 33:42; 5 Karolina Jarzynska 33:52; 6 Maria Sig Moller 34:10; 7 Katrina Wootton 34:18; 8 Sonia Bejarano 34:53; 9 Jennifer McClean 36:11; 10 Melissa Whyte 36:50

http://onrunning.com/

Wednesday 29th April 2009

SUNDAY'S Flora London Marathon was also the host race for both the UKA and the England Athletics Championships where Mara Yamauchi with her stunning new lifetime best of 2:23.12 to finish runner-up behind German Irina Mikitenko was the clear winner of the championship title.

For the men, first over the line was Andi Jones (Salford Harriers) in a time of 2:15.20, followed by Benedict Whitby (WSE & Hounslow) and Tomas Abyu. Cardiff's Richard Gardiner secured the 3rd position in the UKA result.
Leading Results:
ENGLAND INDIVIDUAL MEN
1st: Andi Jones (Salford Harriers) 02:15:20
2nd: Benedict Whitby ( WSE & Hounslow) 2:18:14
3rd: Tomas Abyu (Salford Harriers) 02:20:09
ENGLAND INDIVIDUAL WOMEN
1st: Mara Yamauchi (Harrow A.C. ) 02:23:12
2nd: Michelle Ross-Cope (City of Stoke ) 02:36:02
3rd: Jo Wilkinson (Bedford & County A.C.) 02:37:09
UKA INDIVIDUAL MEN
1st: Andi Jones (Salford Harriers) 02:15:20
2nd: Benedict Whitby (WSE & Hounslow) 02:18:14
3rd: Richard Gardiner (Cardiff A.C.) 02:19:48
UKA INDIVIDUAL WOMEN
1st: Mara Yamauchi (Harrow A.C. ) 02:23:12
2nd: Michelle Ross-Cope (City of Stoke ) 02:36:02
3rd: Jo Wilkinson (Bedford & County A.C.) 02:37:09

Tuesday 28th April 2009

AS the eyes of the athletics world were concentrating on the Flora London Marathon, on the same day over 3,000 runners took to the streets of Sheffield for the annual half-marathon that began and finished on the track of the Don Valley Stadium, venue for the 1991 World Student Games.

In the women’s race Charnwood’s Gemma Steel continued her impressive rise up the rankings as the 23-year-old was in sparkling form smashing her lifetime best over the distance to finish runner-up in a time of 1hr 19mins 02secs.

Kendal’s Rebecca Robinson clocked an impressive 1:14.52 to take the title also in a new personal best by a margin of just one second for the 26-year-old who claimed a 12th place finish at last year’s BUPA Great North Run.

Stilton Striders Nicola Clay continued her run of recent good form having won the Belvoir Half Marathon earlier in the month the 35-year-old clocked 1:21.02 to finish in 5th position with fellow Leicestershire athlete and British Masters international Nicki Nealon representing Huncote Harriers claiming 6th place and leading Vet40 in 1:21.46.

In the men’s race victory went to Altrincham’s Jason Ward in 1:08.02 to add the half marathon title to the Sheffield Lord Mayor's 10km crown he won back in March.

The reigning Derby Runner Cross Country League champion Phil Chritchlow representing Beaumont RC finishing 11th in 1:13.20.

Full results are available on the following link: www.sheffieldmarathon.com/upload/2009ResP1.pdf

2009 Flora London Marathon

Elite Men’s Race

Sunday 26th April 2009

OLYMPIC champion Samuel Wanjiru with a surge and a sprint collected the Flora London Marathon title in the host city of the 2012 games with a new course record of time of two hours five minutes nine seconds taking victory ahead of the Beijing bronze-medallist, Ethiopian Tsegay Kebede.

In the final edition of the famous race under the current Flora sponsorship following a nine-year association with the event - the 22-year-old Kenyan’s attempt at breaking Haile Gebrselassie's world-record of 2:03.59, set over the super-fast flat course in Berlin last September, disappeared in the heat of the capital following the leading groups searing opening miles that ultimately cost any chance of Wanjiru attacking the global mark.

Wanjiru had arrived in London determined to go one better than his runners-up position last year and following defending champion Martin Lel withdrawal on the eve of the race his chances of victory significantly improved as the athletes lined-up at Greenwich. Lel had beaten Wanjiru in London last April for his third victory before finishing fifth at the Olympics due to a bout of malaria.

By the half-way point of this year’s race the world-record looked an outside possibility but with temperatures rising the three Beijing Olympic medallists Wanjiru, Tsegay Kebede and Moroccan Jaouad Gharib began to pay for their early furious pace as they began to pull clear after 18 miles.

With the mile splits beginning to drop to just over five minutes following the blistering 4.45s early pace, Wanjira had edged ahead of the chasing duo moving out on his own over the final three miles through the Embankment and onto The Mall as the Beijing gold medallist kept surging on with bursts of impressive speed.

Kebede tried to attack but had no answer as Wanjira holding his form and nerve despite having to check over his shoulder several times sprinted ahead to cross the finish line in a new lifetime best for the distance - six seconds inside the previous course record clocking a mark of 2:05.09.

Kebede and Gharib both finished in personal best times of 2:05.20 and 2:05.27 respectively to complete the podium places.

"I am very happy to see I got the course record, maybe next year I will break the world record," said a delighted Wanjiru afterwards.

This victory extends Wanjiru’s lead in the 2008/09 World Marathon Majors (WMM) Series with a total of 65 points, Boston's current champion Deriba Merga (30 pts) is in second place with last year's London champion and reigning World Marathon Series title-holder Martin Lel in third place (26 points).

The top five men's and women's finishers from the Flora London Marathon will be included on the 2008/09 WMM leaderboard, as well as joining last weekend's top finishers at the Boston Marathon in opening the 2009/10 WMM series.

WMM series points are collected for top five finishes with 25 points for first place, 15 for second, 10 for third, 5 for fourth and 1 for fifth. The WMM series features a $1 million purse with $500,000 for the men's and women's champions.

The current year's WMM series will continue this summer at the IAAF World Track & Field Championships in Berlin in August. The Autumn season will begin at the realr Berlin Marathon on September 20th, followed by the Bank of America Chicago Marathon on October 11th, and the series finale at the ING New York City Marathon on November 1st.

The first British athlete over the line in London was Salford’s Andy Jones who also finished in a personal best of 2:15.20 to claim 13th place overall.

Nigel Stirk (Tipton Harriers) was the highest placed Leicestershire club athlete in 39th place overall with a new lifetime best for the 37-year-old Firefighter of 2:27.55. He was followed by Barrow's Garry Dixon in 53rd place with 2:29.40 and Stilton Striders Chris Southam in 75th place in 2:32.45.

In the wheelchair event Great Britain's Dave Weir was denied a fourth successive London title following late surge from Australian Kurt Fearnley.

Weir had beaten Fearnley on the final straight last year but the two-time Paralympic champion had his revenge, taking victory ahead of his rival in a time of one hour, 28 minutes and 57 seconds. Ernst van Dyk of South Africa was third.

Report by Mark Woolley.

Leading Results:
Men
1 Samuel Wanjiru (KEN) 2hrs 05mins 10secs, 2 Tsegaye Kebede (ETH) 2:05:20, 3 Jaouad Gharib (MAR) 2:05:27, 4 Emmanuel Mutai (KEN) 2:06:53, 5 Hendrick Ramaala (RSA) 2:07:45, 6 Abderrahim Goumri (MAR) 2:08:24, 7 Yonas Kifle (ERI) 2:08:28, 8 Atsushi Sato (JPN) 2:09:16, 9 Meb Keflezighi (USA) 2:09:21, 10 Felix Limo (KEN) 2:09:47

www.worldmarathonmajors.com

www.virginlondonmarathon.com

2009 Flora London Marathon

Elite Women’s Race

Sunday 26th April 2009

IRINA MIKITENKO successfully defended her Flora London Marathon title as the 36-year-old German finished in an impressive time of two hours, twenty-two minutes, eleven seconds to secure a fine individual victory.

Mara Yamauchi of Great Britain crossed the finish line in The Mall with a time of 2:23:12 behind following a stunning career-best performance, whilst, Liliya Shobukova of Russia was third in 2:24:24.

Yamauchi, a sixth place finisher at the Beijing Olympics, easily surpassed her pre-race ambitions with the best performance of her career as the 35-year-old Japan-based athlete stepped out of Paula Radcliffe’s giant shadow to sparkle in the London sunshine following a tough battle with the world’s leading marathon exponent Mikitenko.

Yamauchi who was in contention to claim a surprise win until Mikitenko showed her class to pull clear at the 20-mile point.

Yamauchi looked a strong contender from the start and stayed with the fast early pace which saw many of her world-class rivals, including Beijing Olympic champion Constantina Dita fall off the pace in the first three miles and eventually pull-out at halfway.

With the pack reduced to five including the fine pacemaker Aniko Kalovics, the demise of Japan's Mika Okunaga after eight miles, was the first indication that Yamauchi could pull off a podium finish.

Her chances were further increased when Zhou Chunxiu the Olympic bronze medallist and 2007 London champion dropped off the pace just before 17 miles, leaving Mikitenko and Yamauchi to battle it out for the title.

Yamauchi looked comfortable but when Mikitenko turned up the pressure she could not match her opponent and had to settle for a well-deserved second place.

"I was always confident that I had it in my legs as everything in myself felt good and after 19 miles I saw no reason why I shouldn't win," said a delighted Mikitenko afterwards.

Mikitenko became the first woman to defend her title since Paula Radcliffe achieved the feat in 2003 with the second of her three victories.

Yamauchi reflected on her performance commented: "I thought I could lower my personal best but to take so much off it and finish second on the podium, against such a high-class field, is amazing."

Mikitenko won the women's World Marathon Majors Series last year, and she entered London as the race's defending champion. Having won the realr Berlin Marathon last September, Mikitenko now has a 35 point lead over Dire Tune of Ethiopia, who is second place in the standings.

There was a fine performance from Diana Lobacevske representing Beaumont Running Club as the 28-year-old Lithuanian, winner of the Leicester Marathon back in October, finished in first place in the women’s masses race with a time of 2:38.26.

In the women's wheelchair race, American Amanda McGrory beat defending champion Sandra Graf of Switzerland. Britain's Shelly Woods was sixth.

Report by Mark Woolley.

Leading Results:
Women
1 Irina Mikitenko (GER) 2hrs 22mins 11secs, 2 Mara Yamauchi (GBR) 2:23:12, 3 Liliya Shobukova (RUS) 2:24:24, 4 Svetlana Zakharova (RUS) 2:25:06, 5 Berhane Adere (ETH) 2:25:30, 6 Inga Abitova (RUS) 2:25:55, 7 Catherine Ndereba (KEN) 2:26:22, 8 Tomo Morimoto (JPN) 2:26:29, 9 Gete Wami (ETH) 2:26:54, 10 Lyudmila Petrova (RUS) 2:27:42

www.worldmarathonmajors.com

www.virginlondonmarathon.com

2009 Flora London Marathon – Preview

Thursday 23rd April 2009

THE World Marathon Majors Series jets over the Atlantic from Boston to London as the streets of the host city for the 2012 Olympic Games prepares for the final edition of the Flora London Marathon that takes place this Sunday (April 26th) before the event is re-launched next year under the sponsorship of Virgin Money.

Race Director Dave Bedford has once again excelled in attracting the finest exponents over the 26.2 mile distance as the men’s race features one the greatest field’s ever assembled with only the world record-holder Haile Gebrselassie missing from the elite line-up that will set off on the journey from Greenwich to Westminster.

The top-three Beijing Olympic podium finishers Sammy Wanjiru, Jaoaud Gharib and Tsegaye Kebede plus the reigning world champion Luke Kibet are all in London to try and attack Gebrselassie’s global mark of 2:03.59 set last September in Berlin.

Three-time and defending champion Martin Lel's ambitions of becoming the first man to win four Flora London Marathon titles could rest upon a scan for a hip problem.

Having set the course record twelve months ago of 2:05.15, the 30-year-old Kenyan is confident he will overcome the injury to chase a record fourth title.

Speaking at the pre-race press conference Lel commented: "I'm confident of running, in my mind I'm preparing to run."

His coach, Gabriele Rosa said: "If necessary we will wait until just before the race starts before making the decision. It will not take place until then."

The bookies favourite will be Sammy Wanjiru, the 22-year-old became the first Kenyan to win Olympic marathon gold, and he firmly believes he can better Gebrselassie’s Berlin mark.

Wanjiru finished nine seconds behind Lel in a sprint finish up the Mall in London last year and believes that the two-hour barrier is also possibility in the future, "I believe that one day we will see the world record go below two hours for the marathon," said Wanjiru. "The world record is something that means a great deal to the people of Kenya, it is something they deserve to have.”

One to watch, however, will be Eritrea's outstanding Zersenay Tadese - a former world cross country champion and Great North Run winner, the reigning world half marathon champion could cause a surprise on his debut at the distance, whilst, Tsegaye Kebede is hoping to bring Ethiopia its second major marathon victory in the space of a week following compatriot Deriba Merga's triumph in Boston on Monday (April 20th), describing it as "wonderful to see" and "an inspiration" coming just seven days before he toes the London start line for the first time in his career. If he wins on Sunday it will complete quite a journey for the 22-year-old who won his first ever marathon in Addis Ababa in 2007 in 2:15.53.

In the women’s race in the absence of world record-holder and reigning New York Marathon title-holder Paula Radcliffe, who withdrew due to a broken toe earlier this year, defending champion, Germany’s Irina Mikitenko, having been a surprise winner of last year’s race but proved it was no fluke by climbing to fourth on the all-time rankings by winning the Berlin Marathon in 2:19.19 – and landing the overall $500,000 jackpot for the World Marathon Majors will take some beating in London.

Zhou Chunxia of China, the 2007 London winner, is also entered and the former world record-holder Catherine Ndereba of Kenya is always one of the world’s most consistent marathoners. The Beijing Olympic champion Constantina Dita of Romania will also line-up.

Great Britain’s Mara Yamauchi has developed into one of the world’s toughest, most consistent marathoners. Having finished sixth in the Olympic Marathon, although her PB is more than six minutes slower than Ndereba, the fastest woman in the field, the Japan-based athlete will be targeting a top five finish.

Paula Radcliffe’s world record of 2:15.25 set in 2003 remains one of the finest performances ever and it is difficult to see it being challenged by any of the athletes in London. One athlete who will not be in the capital is American Kara Goucher - the world 10,000m bronze medallist has ruled out a possible double marathon appearance after finishing third in Boston (2:32.35) on Monday.
Race Timetable:
Elite Women 9.00am

Wheelchair 9.20am

Elite Men & Masses 9.45am
Television Coverage:
Live coverage: 
0830-1200,
BBC One/BBC Radio 5 Live/online

Live coverage: 
1200-1400,
BBC Two/online
Choice of races and finish line: 0830-1600, BBC Red Button/online

Highlights: 
1800-1900, BBC Two/online

Live coverage also available on British Eurosport 1 from 9.45am

www.worldmarathonmajors.com

Monday 20th April 2009

THE World Marathon Majors Series resumed in Boston as Ethiopia's Deriba Merga and Kenya's Salina Kosgei won the 113th edition of the oldest big city marathon on Patriots Day in the USA.

Merga, who was passed in the last 400m of the Olympic marathon to miss out on a medal in Beijing last summer, pulled away before the famous landmark of Heartbreak Hill and went on to win in a time of 2hrs 8 mins 42secs - almost a full minute ahead of Kenya's Daniel Rono and American Ryan Hall.

In the women’s race Salina Kosgei won following a sprint with defending champion Dire Tune, as they battled shoulder-to-shoulder sharing the lead several times in the final mile along Boylston Street before hitting the tape less than a stride ahead of the Ethiopian in a time of 2:32.16.

American Kara Goucher, the 2007 Osaka World Championships 10,000m bronze medalist, led the three as they crossed the MassPike into Kenmore Square with one mile to go, but she was outkicked down the stretch and finished nine seconds adrift.

The winners took home a $150,000 prize fund, but Merga had to wait for his traditional laurel wreath as the women's pace was so slow and the men finished so fast that he crossed the finish line before Kosgei had a chance to climb the champion's podium.

Kosgei commented afterwards: "The wind was a bit stronger so, it was very hard, I decided I must try so I tried."

In the wheelchair races, South Africa's Ernst Van Dyk won the men's title and Japan's Wakako Tsuchida claimed the women's race.

All eyes now turn to the streets of the host city for the 2012 Olympic Games when the final edition of the Flora London Marathon takes place this Sunday (April 26th) before the event is re-launched next year under the sponsorship of Virgin Money. London is also a part of the World Marathon Majors Series.

www.worldmarathonmajors.com

Sunday 19th April 2009

NEIL RENAULT led home a record field of over 3,000 athletes to win the 2009 edition of the Derby DBS 10km at Pride Park in a time of 31mins 05secs.

The 25-year-old British marathon international representing Long Eaton Running Club wearing his trademark red head band commented afterwards: "I'm a little bit tired - there's nothing quite like the feeling of blood in your lungs!

"It was hard work through the city centre - much harder than it looks when you're just out doing your shopping, but there's been really good support all the way along - I've been getting a big shout every half-kilometre."

Renault crossed the line inside Pride Park Stadium, home of Derby County FC, to finish 25 seconds ahead of second placed Patrick Hamilton of Annadale Striders (31:31) with Richard Weir (Team Challenge, Bemrose) third in 31:43.

Leicestershire's Ashley Sabin was just short of his personal best as he finished fourth, the 22-year-old, having represented Notts AC the previous a day at the Nike National 12 Stage road Relays Championships, clocked 32:30, just a couple of seconds outside of the 32:28 set at the Desford 10k lst month.

Edinburgh’s Scottish Masters cross-country champion Jennifer MacLean won the women’s race in 32:25 with a fine solo victory securing victory by a huge margin of nearly seven minutes clear of Amber Valley’s Tamara Armoush.

Full results are available on the following link: www.sporting-futures.org.uk/objects/2009Derby10kResult.pdf

2009 Nike National 12 & 6 Stage Road Relay Championships

Sutton Park, Birmingham

Saturday 18th April 2009

CHARNWOOD AC edged Steph Twell’s Aldershot to victory following a tight competitive race securing the national 6-stage road relay title and gaining revenge for defeat at the hands of the Hampshire club at the 4-stage event back in October at the same Birmingham venue.

Team manager Sarah Whitmore’s first team squad were at full strength at Sutton Park with world cross country championships representatives Jane Potter and Hannah Whitmore returning to the fold following their exploits for Team GB in Amman last month combining with Gemma Steel, Sarah Maude, Juliet Doyle and Tara Krzywicki to defeat the emerging young talents and defending champions Aldershot, Farnham & District who featured three-time European junior cross country champion Steph Twell to take victory by a margin of just six seconds over the line in a new course record time of 1hr 38mins 14secs.

Charnwood were made to work hard for their victory as they built a strong led over the opening two stages with Silverstone half marathon winner Juliet Doyle lifting them into first place overall on the third stage with their fastest individual time of 16:02, this following Gemma Steel (16:53) and Loughborough University graduate Sarah Maude’s (16:39) opening legs.

Aldershot were at this part of the race were languishing in 11th place before their big guns entered the race and from that point the chase for the title was on.

Hannah Whitmore took over the mantle as she faced the highly rated Emma Pallant, as with team mate Steph Twell fresh from their success at the KPMG Festival of Running that was held in Guernsey over the Easter weekend, as the gap was significantly cut with the 19-year-old British Universities 3,000m champion clocking a time of 16:04, twenty seconds quicker than Whitmore’s 16:24.

The inform British Masters cross-country champion Tara Krzywicki kept Charnwood’s momentum going with a swift 16:13 on the penultimate stage but was chased down by Steph Twell as the world junior 1500m gold medallist stormed round the course clocking a superb 15:15, easily the fastest individual leg time by a country mile as the destination of the title came down to battle between world cross representatives Jane Potter and Charlotte Purdue.

Potter held her nerve and produced a 16:03 stage time as Purdue, with another outstanding performance of 15:31 eventually ran out of road over the line to finish just seven seconds adrift as Charnwood prevailed to take the title in 1:38.14.

This victory completes a fantastic domestic season for the Loughborough-based club as their women’s squad have now won all but one of the relay competitions over the 2008/09 season, plus they also claimed the national cross-country team title at Parliament Fields in February.

Charnwood’s list of titles in the United Kingdom over the winter campaign includes the national cross-country crown, the Midlands territorial 4 and 6 stage championships and now the national 6 stage competition. Their only blip was when they finished runners-up to Aldershot at the national 4-stage event.

Bristol & West led by Loughborough University graduate Suzie Richards and runners-up to Charnwood at Midlands territorial 6-stage event two-weeks ago at the same Birmingham venue, finished in 1:40.44 to gain the third podium place.

The Charnwood ‘B’ squad of British Masters international Nicki Thompson (20:00), Angela McWilliam (20:12), Midlands Masters cross-country champion Clare McKittrick (17:34), Birmingham University student Clare Mensley (18:25) and Claire Wilson (19:00) secured a top-twenty place with a combined time of 1:53.51.

Harborough AC finished in 28th place with their team of Hannah Eveleigh (19:01), East Midlands 10km road-running champion Sarah Haines (17:12), Birmingham University student Hollie Williams (18:44), Katy Kenyon (21:50), Sarah Van Nierop (23:50) and Karen Brooks (20:07).

In the Men’s 12 Stage event the top honours went to the London-based powerhouse club Belgrave Harriers as they also completed a narrow victory ahead of Newham & Essex Beagles and Tipton Harriers in a time of 4:04.43. Phil Wicks leading them to victory with the fastest individual long leg of 25:13.

Notts AC with Leicestershire’s Tim Hartley and Ashley Sabin in their squad finished in 7th place overall as Charnwood AC secured 48th place with the team of Glen North (30:40), Tom Whitmore (17:34), James Douglas (28:50), Ben Lacey (17:04), Mark Couldwell (28:08), Kevin Pye (18:11), James Paramore (32:25), Scott Baxter (16:53), Michael Brind (32:01), Richard Brown (16:38), Steve Jeffers (36:57) and Steve Mears (15:49) completing the line-up as they clocked 4:51.10.

Report by Mark Woolley – Copyright Athletics-leics.com

Full results are available on the following links:

Men’s 12 Stage

www.race-results.co.uk/results/2009/nat1209.htm

Women’s 6 Stage

www.race-results.co.uk/results/2009/nat6w09.htm

Wednesday 8th April 2009

DESFORD Strider Mhairi Billington, fifteen years after her first marathon, returned to the 26.2 mile distance for a second attempt at Blackpool Marathon on Sunday 5th April and claimed a bronze medal position and the Vet40 title.

Conditions in the popular Lancashire holiday resort were near perfect with just a moderate southerly wind as 2,200 runners took part in the Promenade-based event, which started and finished outside the Hilton Hotel.

Cheryl Westley won the event clocking a time of 3hrs 10mins 20secs ahead of Stockport's Sally Keigher (3:16.30) as Billington finished in third place in 3:21:32, a mark 11 minutes inside her previous PB that gave her the top Vet40 position.

Full results are available on the following link: www.shoestringresults.com/Csv_Files/2009/Blackpool.htm

Friday 10th April 2009

IAN GRIME enjoyed a very Good Friday at the Salford 10km as the former Loughborough resident representing Newham & Essex Beagles claimed victory in a time of 31mins 13secs ahead of Eddie Simpson (Barrow-in-Furness) by a margin of just five seconds over the line.

Grime was forced to quit the sport five years ago, but made an inspirational comeback to win the Edinburgh Marathon in 2007.

Grime was told to stop running after it was discovered he was suffering from a rare heart condition.

The 38-year-old was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation - a condition which typically affects people over 65 - which meant his heart rate would jump dramatically, triggering pounding chest pains, breathlessness, dizzy spells and exhaustion which led him to undergo major heart surgery.

Full results are available on the following link: www.ukresults.net/2009/salf10k.html

2009 Belvoir Half Marathon

Hose, Leicestershire

Sunday 12th April 2009

CHRIS SOUTHAM and Nicola Clay completed a fine double victory for Stilton Striders at the annual pre-London event - the Belvoir Half Marathon that attracted an Easter Holiday entry of 561 athletes.

Over the fast course surrounding the village of Hose in near perfect conditions Southam successfully retain his men’s title with an impressive victory crossing the line 58 seconds clear of second placed Mark Sands representing Sleaford AC to clock a time of 1hr 12mins 05secs smashing his previous lifetime best as the 44-year-old also significantly improved on his winning time of twelve months ago (1:13.38).

Hinckley’s Richard Whitelegg ran a solid race to claim third place in 1:14.53 as Hermitage Harrier Paul Gregory claimed fifth in 1:17.13.

In the women’s race one of Leicestershire’s top Masters athletes Nicola Clay, (36) replicated team mate Southam’s dominant performance securing a comprehensive win in a time of 1:22.55, finishing just under two-minutes ahead of Northbrook’s Rebecca Smith (1:24.53) to retain the title she last won in 2007. Kate Wright of Stratford AC finished third in 1:26.00 with Shepshed’s Jenni Muston fourth in 1:27.53.

Full results are available on the following link: www.sportsystems.net/Belvoir/downloads/ResultsBelvoirHM09All.pdf

Thursday 16th April 2009

BRITISH Triathletes, Beijing Olympian Tim Don and world junior champion Hollie Avil were in fine form at the latest round of the Derby mid-week races as the duo based at Loughborough University as part of the World Performance programme won the 5,000m event with times of 14mins 33secs and 16:53 respectively.

Don's finishing time was just one second outside of the course record, as Derby's Martin Booth (4:39) and Ellie Stevens (4:49) won the mile event.
Full Results:
One Mile
1 0:04:39 BOOTH, Martin Derby AC M
2 0:04:49 STEVENS, Ellie Derby AC W
3 0:04:55 WHITE, Rob Buxton AC M
4 0:05:05 MADDOCKS, Stephen Beacon Hill Striders M
5 0:05:07 HALL, David Highwood Hornets M
6 0:05:10 MURDEN, Ed Shelton Striders M40
7 0:05:24 WINZER, Maddy Richmond Harriers JW
8 0:05:26 JEFFERS, Steven Charnwood AC M
9 0:05:29 NORMAN, Robert Belper Harriers M
10 0:05:35 HALLIWELL, Andrew Beacon Hill Striders JM
11 0:05:43 BAINES, Andy Blackwell & Dist AC M
12 0:05:47 COWIE, Duncan Sinfin RC M40
13 0:05:47 HALL, Andrew Little Eaton Hornets M40
14 0:05:48 RADBOURNE, Mat Sinfin RC M
15 0:05:49 CANNON, John North Derbyshire RC M40
16 0:05:50 MADDOCKS, Phillip Beacon Hill Striders JM
17 0:05:58 MULVANEY, Timothy Beacon Hill Striders JM
18 0:05:59 LOFTUS, Kevin North Derbyshire RC M50
19 0:06:00 HALL, James Highwood Hornets M
20 0:06:00 PAGE, Jez Grantham AC M40
21 0:06:01 FLETCHER, Gavin Shelton Striders M
22 0:06:02 SHARRATT, Robert Ilkeston RC M50
23 0:06:11 SINNOTT, Colin North Derbyshire RC M50
24 0:06:12 CHANT, Ian Long Eaton RC M
25 0:06:13 HEWITT, Ben Unattached JM
26 0:06:13 HEWITT, Ian Unattached M
27 0:06:19 LOWE, Alfie Beacon Hill Striders JM
28 0:06:24 ROBINSON, Paul South Derbyshire RC M40
29 0:06:34 LOWE, Niamh Barrow Runners W40
30 0:06:46 JOSEPHS, Heidi North Derbyshire RC W
31 0:06:57 ANDREW, Michael Ilkeston RC M40
32 0:07:08 SENSECALL, Rose Belper Harriers W
33 0:07:15 YOUNG, Betheny North Derbyshire RC W
34 0:07:48 REID, Matt Unattached M
35 0:07:50 HOWARD, Charles Wooton RR M
36 0:07:50 EVANS, Tony Unattached M50
37 0:07:55 SHARRATT, Carol Ilkeston RC W50
5000m
1 0:14:33 DON, Tim Thames Turbo TC M
2 0:15:38 GILMOUR, Jeremy Trafford AC M
3 0:15:42 COULDWELL, Mark Charnwood AC M
4 0:15:44 DOUGLAS, James Charnwood AC M
5 0:15:47 WILTSHIRE, Harry Tavistock AC M
6 0:15:54 DANIELS, Josh Peterborough AC M
7 0:16:12 PRICE, Stephen UKNetrunner M
8 0:16:16 BISHOP, David Derby AC M
9 0:16:20 GRIX, Jonathan Bournville Harriers M40
10 0:16:25 BUNNEY, James Grenville AC M
11 0:16:25 BOWLES, Robert Loughborough Students M
12 0:16:39 PARKER, Dean Bournville Harriers M
13 0:16:40 GIBSON, James Loughborough Students M
14 0:16:46 REED, Barney Bodyworks XTC M
15 0:16:53 HOLLIE, Avil Loughborough Students W
16 0:17:00 CARDWELL, Joshua Loughborough Students M
17 0:17:18 SMITH, Gavin Unattached M
18 0:17:19 HAYWOOD, Blue Lincoln Wellington AC W
19 0:17:22 HINCHLEY, Tony Royal Sutton Coldfield M40
20 0:17:25 CHANT, Ian Long Eaton RC M
21 0:17:28 MURDEN, Ed Shelton Striders M40
22 0:17:41 KELLY, Lauren Bournmouth AC M
23 0:17:44 PARKIN, Russell Derby AC M40
24 0:18:10 PLEASS, Matt Tamworth AC M
25 0:18:14 SWINDELL, Brian Derby AC M50
26 0:18:31 HOWARD, Charles Wooton RR M
27 0:18:37 EDWARDS, Simon Belper Harriers M40
28 0:18:46 RADBOURNE, Mat Sinfin RC M
29 0:18:49 BIRCH, John Long Eaton RC M50
30 0:18:51 DE BANKE, Gary Wesham RR M40
31 0:19:07 COWIE, Duncan Sinfin RC M40
32 0:19:10 DONALDSON, Tony Ilkeston RC M40
33 0:19:13 CANNON, John North Derbyshire RC M40
34 0:19:16 HULLIS, Jon UKNetrunner M
35 0:19:18 MARTIN, Andrew Little Eaton Hornets M40
36 0:19:19 KERR, Martin Unattached M
37 0:19:38 THOROGOOD, Eli Aber AC W
38 0:19:49 ARKWRIGHT, Steve Unattached M40
39 0:19:53 OLIVANT, Rachel Derby AC W
40 0:20:07 SINNOTT, Colin North Derbyshire RC M50
41 0:20:16 MANN, David Ivanhoe M50
42 0:20:35 SMITH, Lucy Loughborough Students W
43 0:20:36 WHITE, Rob Buxton AC M
44 0:20:41 LOFTUS, Kevin North Derbyshire RC M50
45 0:20:45 HEWITT, Ian Unattached M
46 0:21:00 PAGE, Jez Grantham AC M40
47 0:21:45 ROBINSON, Paul South Derbyshire RC M40
48 0:21:52 HOBSON, Roy Shelton Striders M
49 0:22:21 SHARRATT, Robert Ilkeston RC M50
50 0:22:29 FLETCHER, Gavin Shelton Striders M
51 0:22:40 REES, Joe Rolls Royce H M
52 0:22:41 TAYLOR, John Rolls Royce H M40
53 0:22:45 YOUNG, Betheny North Derbyshire RC W
54 0:22:50 JOSEPHS, Heidi North Derbyshire RC W
55 0:22:53 PARKIN, Paula Derby AC W40
56 0:23:19 BAKER, Richard Amazing Feet RC M50
57 0:24:28 CONROY, Matt Belper Harriers M
58 0:24:40 EVANS, Tony Unattached M50
59 0:24:41 HARRISON, Chris Unattached M50
60 0:24:46 REID, Matt Unattached M
61 0:25:23 HARVEY, Ash Unattached M
62 0:26:21 SHARRATT, Carol Ilkeston RC W50
63 0:28:24 SENSECALL, Rose Belper Harriers W