2008 Keyworth Turkey Trot Half Marathon

Keyworth, Nottinghamshire

Sunday 14th December 2008

TIM HARTLEY smashed the course record to secure a superb and emphatic runaway victory to successfully claim a remarkable sixth title at the annual Keyworth Turkey Trot Half Marathon held in perfect conditions for fast road running.

Hartley from Notts AC has been in fine form of late having won the British & Irish Masters Cross Country title in Swansea in his first year as a Vet40. However, he has spoke of his reluctance to race in the masters category and on this sort of form you can see why.

Following the torrential rain that swept across the United Kingdom the previous day, Hartley, the Loughborough-based athlete, winner of the high profile adidas London Half Marathon back in March, here representing second claim club Barrow Runners made good use of the drier conditions to simple storm to victory powering away from the chasing field over the undulating course to smash the record set by Chris Mayo 21 years ago by a margin of just three seconds crossing the finish line in the Nottinghamshire village of Keyworth in a time of one hour 7 minutes 39 seconds.

Charnwood’s James Douglas, winner of the recent Shepshed 7, claimed second place almost four-minutes adrift of the leader in 1:11.30 with Stilton Strider Chris Southam third in 1:13.51.

Hartley’s winning time was outside of his personal best over the distance set just over three-years ago in Benidorm where he clocked 1:07.06. James Douglas in second placed combined with team mates Glenn North and Richard Brown secured the team prize for Charnwood.

In the Women’s race Arnold’s British Masters international Carolyn Hay, 36, representing Redhill also completed a comfortable victory ahead of former World Masters Mountain Running champion Sally Newman of Wreake in a time of 1:24.10, with Northbrook’s Amanda Deavy taking third.

A record number of 793 runners completed the event this year.

Report by Mark Woolley.

Full results are available on the following link: http://freespace.virgin.net/keyworth.turkeytrot/2008results.htm

Whetstone Harriers 5km

Whetstone, Leicester

Tuesday 9th December 2008

ASHLEY SABIN and Kate Ramsey were the individual winners of the annual pre-Christmas Whetstone Harriers 5km.

In perfect conditions for running on a cool but dry afternoon, Sabin, here representing his second claim club Leicester Coritanian AC ran virtually solo to win the Men's race ahead of team mate Gareth Deacon as the 21-year-old crossed the finish line in a time of 16mins 13secs taking victory by a margin of 19 seconds with the inform Carl Sommer representing Huncote Harriers securing third in 16:46.

The Women's race witnessed Leicestershire's top two British Masters internationals going head-to-head with Barrow's Kate Ramsey, currently enjoying a sparkling return to form on the cross-country with two impressive victories in the Derby Runner League prevailing over Huncote's Nicki Nealon in a time of 17:56.
Full Results (Mixed):
1 A. Sabin Leicester Coritanian 16-13; 2 G. Deacon Leicester Coritanian 16-32; 3 C. Sommer Huncote 16-46; 4 K. Cook Huncote 17-23; 5 I. Paramore Barrow 17-28; 6 C. Sabin Leicester Coritanian 17-28; 7 D.Eggington Huncote 17-41; 8 G. Fenton Whetstone 17-53; 9 K. Ramsey Barrow L 17-56; 10 N. Nealon Huncote L 18-29; 11 R. Gregory OWL 18-35; 12 J. Noble Notts 18-37; 13 G. Slight Huncote 18-45; 14 P. Hopewell Whetstone 19-22; 15 J. Carnegie Huncote 19-29; 16 D. Bryant Huncote 19-31; 17 M. Sandford Huncote 19-37; 18 M. Aylwin Whetstone 19-39; 19 K. Chambers Huncote 19-43; 20 W. Kula-Przezwanski Huncote 19-51; 21 R. Lewin Graceland 19-54; 22 R. Hames Whetstone 20-27; 23 D. Gill UHCW 20-31; 24 M. Green Unatt 20-32; 25 B. Hibberd Huncote 20-49; 26 P. Watts Huncote 21-07; 27 R. Gilder UHCW 21-22; 28 J. Heywood Huncote 21-44; 29 T. Corr Huncote 21-50; 30 A. Gardner Unatt L 22-02; 31 P. Symons Whetstone 22-05; 32 R. Walton Whetstone 22-14; 33 N. Marrs Whetstone 22-19; 34 P. Mulholland UHCW 22-36; 35 E. Haigh Whetstone 22-48; 36 J. Hadland Whetstone 23-36; 37 M. Carter Whetstone 23-55; 38 R. Dent Whetstone 24-30; 39 T. Wynn-Williams Whetstone 24-54; 40 J. Milner Whetstone 26-41; 41 S. Shaw Whetstone L 26-41; 42 C. Mills UHCW 27-26; 43 G. Walpole Whetstone 27-30; 44 M. Morris Kenilworth 33-14

2008 Nene Valley 10

Bretton, Peterborough

Sunday 7th December 2008

SARAH HAINES representing Harborough AC completed a fine individual victory at the 28th edition of the Nene Valley 10 mile held in fine bright, but cold conditions on the course surrounding the village of Bretton, Peterborough.

Haines, 33, the reigning England Athletics East Midlands 10km road champion crossed the line in a new lifetime best of 1hr 00mins 07secs to take a comprehensive victory ahead of Southampton’s British & Irish Masters champion Karen Rushton (1:00.37) by a comfortable margin of 30 seconds at the finish.

In the Men’s race Neil Addison claimed victory for Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers with a 51:27 clocking as the 31-year-old - winner of the Peterborough 5km back in June - finished clear of Woodford Green’s Dave Wardle by just six seconds at the tape this following a close race.

The Leicestershire duo of the Gordon Lee (51:54) representing his new club Leicester Coritanian's and Haines team mate at Harborough, Peter Swaine (54:59), secured third and fourth places respectively.

Lee's performance - a new personal best and the fastest United Kingdom Vet40 Men's time over the distance in 2008.

Full results are available on the following link: www.nvh.org.uk/newsletters/nvh_10_071208_main_race_results_1.pdf

Sunday 7th December 2008

FORMER Great Britain athlete Jon Brown finished in 9th place at the 62nd annual Fukuoka International Marathon as Tsegaye Kebede claimed victory in a new course record time of 2:06:10 - a Japanese all-comers record.

Kebede broke the previous record of 2:06:39 set by the Olympic champion Samuel Wanjiru on his marathon debut twelve months ago. He also broke the Japanese all-comers record of 2:06:33, recorded by Gert Thys at the 1999 Tokyo Marathon.

Finally, it was also a personal best for Kebede, the Beijing Olympic Marathon bronze medallist, breaking his previous best of 2:06:40 set earlier this year at the Paris Marathon.

Jon Brown, coached by Loughborough University’s Director of Athletics George Gandy, who now competes for his adopted country Canada crossed the line in a time of 2:12.27 to claim a top ten finish.
Leading Results: 

1 Tsegaye Kebede (ETH) 2:06:10 
2 Satoshi Irifune 2:09:23 
3 Arata Fujiwara 2:09:47 
4 Tomoyuki Sato 2:09:59 
5 Felix Limo (KEN) 2:10:59 
6 Jose Manuel Martinez (ESP) 2:11:11
7 David Makori (KEN) 2:11:54 
8 Yuko Matsumiya 2:12:18 
9 Jon Brown (CAN) 2:12:27 
10 Shigeru Aburaya 2:13:48

2008 Florence Marathon

Florence, Italy

Sunday 30th November 2008

LEICESTERSHIRE-based athlete Nigel Stirk secured a well-deserved top twenty place when finishing in 13th position at the 25th Anniversary edition of the Florence Marathon held in the beautiful Tuscany city.

Stirk (36), representing Tipton Harriers, who won double bronze over 5,000m and 10,000m at this year’s World Firefighter Games in Liverpool, claimed 13th place overall in the race that began at the Piazzale Michelangiolo and ran through the historic city centre crossing the line in a time of 2hrs 30mins 19secs despite the wet conditions as a train of Kenyan athletes filled the top three positions where 22-year-old Jackson Kirwa Kiprono won in 2:12.34 ahead of John Birgen (2:12.35) and Paul Kipkembos Ngeny (2:13.36).

Salford’s Andi Jones was the highest placed Brit narrowly missing out by just two-seconds on his personal best finishing 8th in 2:17.51 with compatriot Thomas Payn (Winchester) 2:18.47 one place adrift. Phil Killingley (Winchester) also secured a top twenty place in 2:32.49.

In the Women’s race Britain’s Alice Braham (Harrow) produced a fine performance to take second place overall as the 32-year-old smashed her lifetime best clocking 2:35.21 as Italian Giovanna Volpato claimed a home victory in 2:34.12.

Volpato, finished eighth at the European Championships in Gothenburg in 2006 contributing to the Italian win of the European Cup, and ran her last marathon in Osaka 2007 where she sustained a serious Achilles tendon injury. She returned this year to competitions running some club track races for her local team Assindustria Sport Padova. Volpato is coached by Mario Del Giudice who also trained Italian sprint record holder Manuela Levorato.

About 9,000 runners took part in the 25th anniversary race of the Florence Marathon which attracted many supportive fans along the course despite the poor weather.

http://212.19.106.232/b3p_FirenzeMarathon/

Friday 28th November 2008

TWO of the biggest and most prestigious road running events in the world; the Bupa Great North and Bupa Great South Run, have been given IAAF Gold label status. They join the Bupa Great Manchester Run which was given the same status earlier this year.

The Bupa Great North Run (Half Marathon) is staged in Newcastle Upon Tyne, with the Bupa Great South Run (Ten Miles) takes place in Portsmouth.

Only the Great Run Series of races organised by Nova International, and the Flora London Marathon, of the hundreds of road races organised in the UK each year, hold the Gold Label category.

Both events attract many of the world's greatest athletes which was a key factor in them receiving membership of a very elite club which by the end of next year will have no more than 20 Gold Label events affiliated.

This, plus the fact the meetings receive live and worldwide television coverage plus together with extremely high standards of organisation and drug testing procedures, were key elements in their recognition.

2008 Clowne Half Marathon

Clowne, Derbyshire

Sunday 23rd November 2008

MARK POWELL led a superb 1-2 over the line for Leicestershire athletes as the 30-year-old claimed victory in a time of 1hr 09mins 27secs at the Clowne Half Marathon in Derbyshire where Charnwood's James Douglas finished runner-up in 1:12.48.

This fine performance from Powell (Owls) - the reigning Birmingham & District League champion - marked another positive step forward having returned to winning ways at the North Midlands League fixture in Corby earlier in the month having struggled for form and fitness over the summer months with a niggling foot injury.

For Douglas, winner of the recent Shepshed 7, he will now hope to build on his recent run of good form in preparation for December’s Keyworth Half Marathon and then he hopes to break 71 minutes for the distance as he travels to the Portuguese capital Lisbon next March to compete over one of the world’s fastest courses where Ethiopia’s Haile Gebrselassie set the 2008 world leading time of 59:15.

Full results are available on the following link: www.clowneroadrunners.co.uk/

2008 Chiba International Ekiden Relays

Chiba, Japan

Monday 24th November 2008

TEAM GB finished in 7th place this morning at the 2008 edition of the Chiba International Ekiden Relays as Ethiopia smashed the course record to secure overall victory ahead of defending champions Japan.

The Ethiopian team covered the six stage, 42.195 km course in a record time of 2:05:27, taking four of the six stage best titles and setting two individual stage records. Japan were second in 2:06:39.

13 teams from 11 countries contested the 20th edition of the Ekiden which was contested today, a national holiday. Since last year, the race which is contested over six stages totaling the marathon distance of 42.195Km, has been run as a mixed gender race. The first 5Km stage, third 10Km stage, and fifth 10Km stage are reserved as men’s stages, while 5Km second stage, 5Km fourth stage and 7.195Km sixth and final stage are reserved for women.

Ali Abdosh of Ethiopia surged ahead half way into the first stage, but the team dropped to second during the last part of the second stage. However, Dejene Gebremeskel took over the lead for good half-way into the third stage and Ethiopians never looked back, thus bringing their first victory in the mixed gender format Ekiden.

The young (all under 22) Ethiopian team recorded the bests in four of the six stages. The host nation’s team, who briefly took the lead in the second stage with Yuriko Kobayashi, finished second, one minute and 12sec behind. The Russian squad finished third while the Japanese Collegiate team was fourth. They were followed by Australia, Chiba, Great Britain and USA.

Mainly due to cold rain, weather condition was far from perfect. “It was not an easy race. My leg felt heavy because of cold rain,” said Sule Utura, who ran the second stage for Ethiopia. She is a bronze medallist at 3000m from the 2007 World Youth Championships and a gold medallist at 5000m from the 2008 World Junior Championships.
Cold rain also bothered Dejane Gebremeskel, who gave his team a 23 second lead at the end of stage three. “I could not run my best race partly because it was quite cold, but I felt my responsibility as a member of national team,” said Dejane, a World Junior bronze medalist at 5000m.

“It was my first Ekiden. I am very happy to win,” said Tsega Gelaw, who anchored the Ethiopian team.

The host nation’s team also consisted of up-and-coming promising runners. Yusei Nakao, who was fifth in last month’s World Half Marathon championships said, “I think I have learned a lot by running the World Half marathon championships. If I had not run in Rio, I would be scared to run against Ethiopians. But today I was able to challenge Ethiopians head on.”

Yuriko Kobayashi, a medalist at both the World Youth as well as World Junior championships recorded a stage best in the second stage. “I found out that I was running against the World Junior gold medallist. Since she was just ahead of me when I took over, it was a great opportunity to challenge her. I am happy that I was able to run good last 1000m, which I think is very important.”

On the other hand Mizuno Nasukawa, who anchored the Japanese team said, “I could see the runner ahead of me, but I could not close the gap. We could not defend the title this year, but I hope we can win again next year.”

Charlotte Purdue (AFD) guided Team GB to seventh place in the overall standings clocking 15.32 for her 5k leg of the race.

On her senior debut Purdue, who currently sits in tenth place on the McCain Power of Ten UK Rankings for 5k, showed great form ahead of the European Cross Country Championships to be held in Brussels, Belgium on Sunday 14th December.

Her time is faster than the U20 5k record of 15.42 held by Loughborough student Sian Edwards however due to the downhill gradient it may not be ratified.

Team GB finished with an overall time of 2:10:12, helped particularly by Scott Overall (Blackheath & Bromley Harriers AC) who clocked the fastest lap of the team with 13.44.

Team members Ian Boneham (Notts AC), who completed his 10k in 29.44, Freya Murray (Chester le Street & District), who finished the fourth leg with 16.08, Ian Hudspith (Morpeth Harriers), clocking 30.29 as he crossed the line and anchor leg Caroline Hoyte (Arena 80 AC) who finished the 7.195k distance in 24.55, returning to the international fold after last representing GB at this event in 2001 made the trip a successful individual and team affair.

Charnwood's Juliet Doyle took part in the 5,000m track event for travelling reserves and clocked 16:23 to finish in third place.
Team GB individual times:
Scott Overall 13:44 (5km)
Charlotte Purdue 15:32 (5km)
Ian Boneham 29:44 (10k)
Freya Murray 16:08 (5km)
Ian Hudspith 30:29 (10km)
Caroline Hoyte 24:25 (7.2 km)

Full results are available on the following link: www.inter-chibaekiden.jp/record_fr.html

2008 Leeds Abbey Dash 10km

City of Leeds

Sunday 23rd November 2008

BRITISH record-holder for the Steeplechase, Helen Clitheroe, produced an excellent solo performance to take a comfortable victory at the 25th anniversary edition of the Leeds Abbey Dash 10km which attracted a field of over 6,000 runners to the West Yorkshire city.

Clitheroe, the 34-year-old Preston Harrier coached at Loughborough by John Nuttall, made good use of the cold but favourable conditions over the fast and flat city centre course through the grounds of the ancient Kirkstall Abbey crossing the finish line in a time of 32mins 12secs to take the win ahead of Loughborough graduate Katie Ingram - the Horwich athlete setting a new lifetime best of 33:42 to claim second - with Susie Bush representing Aldershot, Farnham & District securing third in 33:53.

In the Men’s race Bedford’s Matt Janes produced an equally impressive run to out pace Wells City Harrier Ben Tickner as the 25-year-old finished in a personal best time of 29:32 - slicing over 20 seconds off his previous mark set in the race last year - as the top six athletes over the line all went under the 30-minute barrier in this high quality event.

Loughborough student Chris Rainsford (Heanor) clocked 31:59 to secure a top twenty position as the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games Marathon bronze medallist and Team GB representative in Beijing, Dan Robinson, was forced to pull out near to the half-way point with a calf problem.

Full results are available on the following link: www.racelive.co.uk/applet-search.php?event_id=LAD08

http://sdc.lboro.ac.uk/shownews.php?news_id=859&cat_id=16&level=1

2008 Matthew Walker 10km

Heanor, Derbyshire

Sunday 16th November 2008

GEMMA STEEL and Neil Renault were the major winners of the 22nd edition of the Matthew Walker 10km held over a new tough and demanding course that began and finished at Heanor’s Shipley Park situated in Derbyshire's Amber Valley.

Gemma Steel, the Leicester Half Marathon champion representing Hermitage Harriers, having celebrated her 23rd Birthday in the week leading up to the race decided to compete in the Heanor race rather than begin the defence of her Derby Runner Cross Country League title as the 2008/09 campaign began in Hinckley on the same day, was a comfortable winner of the women’s race out pacing fellow Leicestershire athlete Jenni Muston of Shepshed to take an impressive solo victory to underline her huge potential for the future by crossing the line in a time of 36mins 57secs.

Muston, following her win over the mile at the latest round off the Derby Mid-Week races finished over a minute adrift in 39:13 with Redhill Runners Antoinette Minniti securing third and first Vet 35 with 40:35.

In the Men’s race the inform Neil Renault, despite suffering from a slight sore throat, completed another superb individual victory as the 25-year-old Leicestershire-based British marathon international running in the colours of Long Eaton gave another indication of his class following a remarkable return to action following foot surgery in the summer taking victory in a time of 30:44 ahead of Southend’s triathlete Adam Hickey having broken clear of the chasing pack at the half-way point.

Renault’s fine victory follows his classy performance when equalling his personal best (1:05.24) over the half-marathon distance in Stroud at the end of October.

In second place, Adam Hickey, the very highly promising 22-year-old Team GB international, part of the World Triathlete Performance squad based at Loughborough University and winner of the Hermitage 10km back in August, clocked 31:24 to hold off the strong challenge of Derby’s Colin Hawkins (31:33) to take the runners-up position with Charnwood’s James Douglas - as with Gemma Steel a winner at the recent Shepshed 7 - taking 5th place in 32:39.

Loughborough student Chris Rainsford running for his home club Heanor was 6th in 32:43 with Beaumont’s Phil Chritchlow running a solid race to claim the first Vet 40 prize in 7th place with 32:43.

Report by Mark Woolley – Copyright Athletics-leics.com

Full results are available on the following link: http://heanorrunningclub.com/doc/HEANOR10K.htm

Sunday 16th November 2008

GREAT BRITAIN's Mara Yamauchi finished third in the 30th and final edition of the Tokyo International Women's Marathon as Japan's Yoshimi Ozaki completed a fine home victory.

Competing in her adopted home town, Yamauchi - sixth in the Olympic marathon in Beijing - crossed the finish line in a time of two hours 25 minutes and three seconds, one minute and 33secs behind Ozaki.

Yamauchi had been hoping to ensure the event finished its 30-year run as it had started - with a British runner taking victory. Joyce Smith, Tokyo Women's first winner in 1979, served as the race starter.

Twenty-seven-year-old Ozaki pipped compatriot Yuri Kano with a personal best of 2:23.30 to win by 57 seconds.

Pre-race favourite Yoko Shibui, who won the Berlin marathon in 2004, finished fourth in 2:25:51.

The event will now be discontinued, with an elite women's field set to take part in the mass participation Tokyo Marathon from 2009.

Tipton Coseley 5km

Victoria Park, Tipton, West Midlands

Sunday 16th November 2008

LOUGHBOROUGH graduate Sarah Bull broke the course record to win the second edition of the Tipton Coseley 5km as Phil Nicholls representing the host club also replicated the feat in the Men’s race to take a comprehensive victory.

Former British international Sarah Bull, 33, representing Derby AC - winner over 800m at the Charnwood Open in August - crossed the line in a time of 18mins 13secs over the leafy course surrounding Tipton’s Victoria Park to take victory ahead of Lyne Cox (Tipton) and Halesowen’s teenager Jade Burke.

In the Men’s race British international Phil Nicholls was the runaway winner stopping the clock in 14:54, the 25-year-old, winner of over 5,000m at the Accenture Loughborough International back in May, sliced a massive 48 seconds off last years inaugural course record.

Full results are available on the following link: www.tiptonharriers.co.uk/joomla/images/stories/tipton/tipton5k2008.pdf

Derby Winter Mid-Week Training 5km

Horizon's Health & Fitness Club, Raynesway, Derby

Wednesday 12th November 2008

NEIL RENAULT and Jenni Muston claimed fine victories at the latest round of the Derby Winter Mid-Week Training races.

The inform Leicestershire-based British international Neil Renault (Long Eaton) won the Men's 5,000m for the second time this winter in a time of 14mins 45secs, whilst, Jenni Muston of Shepshed Running Club came home first in the women's section of the one mile event as the 34-year-old crossed the line in 5:51 to take victory by a margin of four-seconds ahead of Redhill's Catherine Charlton.
Full Results:
One Mile
1 0:04:33 BOSTOCK, Gary Amber Valley AC M
2 0:04:41 LAWRENCE, Thomas Derby AC M
3 0:04:47 HARMER, Paul Charnwood AC M
4 0:05:01 ASHTON, Andrew Hermitage Harriers M
5 0:05:03 EUSTACE, Malcolm Tipton Harriers M40
6 0:05:10 HOPE, Kevin Notts AC M
7 0:05:11 BENSKIN, Ian Shepshed RC M
8 0:05:15 PYE, Kevin Charnwood AC M40
9 0:05:17 DOULL, Jonathan Matlock AC JM
10 0:05:19 JEFFERS, Steven Charnwood AC M
11 0:05:22 NORMAN, Robert Belper Harriers M
12 0:05:30 FEARN, Jake Matlock AC M
13 0:05:33 BENNETT, Steve North Derbyshire RC M50
14 0:05:35 WILSON, Daniel Hatton Darts M
15 0:05:36 DUMELOW, Matthew Hermitage Harriers M
16 0:05:42 HANCOCK, Neil Shelton Striders M
17 0:05:43 WATSON, Alastair Hermitage Harriers M
18 0:05:46 SADLER, Sam Derby AC JM
19 0:05:51 MUSTON, Jenni Shepshed RC W
20 0:05:55 CHARLTON, Catherine Redhill Road Runners W
21 0:05:56 HISCOX, Trevor Mansfield H&AC M40
22 0:05:56 MARTIN, Andrew Little Eaton Hornets M40
23 0:05:58 RADBOURNE, Mat Sinfin RC M
24 0:05:59 RODDIS, Suzanne North Derbyshire RC W
25 0:06:00 SHARRATT, Robert Ilkeston RC M50
26 0:06:01 ILSLEY, Ron Wirksworth RC M40
27 0:06:02 PAGE, Jez Grantham AC M40
28 0:06:03 SIMS, Richard Ilkeston RC M40
29 0:06:04 HARVEY, Martin Bell Harp Hornets M50
30 0:06:11 MELLORS, Sharon Belper Harriers W
31 0:06:12 SINNOTT, Colin North Derbyshire RC M50
32 0:06:13 SMITH, Steve Unattached M40
33 0:06:14 HALL, Andrew Little Eaton Hornets M
34 0:06:14 EUSTACE, Tom Cannock & Stafford JM
35 0:06:22 HEWITT, Ben Unattached JM
36 0:06:23 HEMPSALL, Theresa Belper Harriers W40
37 0:06:24 HEWITT, Ian Unattached M
38 0:06:29 HEMPSALL, Lucca Unattached JM
39 0:06:30 OLDFIELD, John Holme Pierrepont RC M60
40 0:06:32 BURTON, Shaun Long Eaton RC M40
41 0:06:38 MARKS, Yasmin Unattached W
42 0:06:43 WILSON, Darren Hermitage Harriers M
43 0:06:44 BOSTOCK, Colin Long Eaton RC M50
44 0:06:51 JOSEPHS, Heidi North Derbyshire RC W
45 0:06:51 ILSLEY, Steph Wirksworth RC W40
46 0:06:51 GRIFFIN, Lesley Birstall RC W50
47 0:07:04 SENSECALL, Rose Belper Harriers W
48 0:07:15 COWLISHAW, Damian Long Eaton RC M40
49 0:08:57 WRIGHT, Ken Rolls Royce H M60
50 0:09:03 JONES, Zoe Sutton in Ashfield HAC W40
51 0:09:06 SADLER, Tim Ilkeston RC M
5,000m
1 0:14:45 RENAULT, Neil Long Eaton RC M
2 0:15:16 WILLIAMS, Nathaniel North York Moors RC M
3 0:15:30 THRELFALL, Mark Loughborough Students M
4 0:15:40 POWELL, Mark OWLS AC, Leicester M
5 0:15:43 BISHOP, Tom Derby AC M
6 0:15:49 MITCHELL, Philip Heanor RC M
7 0:15:58 SHELTON, Chris Chesterfield & DAC M
8 0:16:01 LEWIS, Martin Poole Runners M
9 0:16:10 KAY, Richard Notts AC M
10 0:16:19 WATSON, Alastair Hermitage Harriers M
11 0:16:22 BOWLES, Robert Loughborough Students M
12 0:16:33 CARDWELL, Joshua Loughborough Students M
13 0:16:38 GREENWOOD, Mark Lincoln Wellington AC M
14 0:16:42 GASCOYNE, Steven Chesterfield & DAC M
15 0:16:45 KNIBB, John Derby AC M40
16 0:16:57 GIBSON, James Loughborough Students M
17 0:17:02 OTHER, AN M
18 0:17:03 HOPE, Kevin Notts AC M
19 0:17:04 MCNEILL, Andrew Long Eaton RC M40
20 0:17:18 EUSTACE, Malcolm Tipton Harriers M40
21 0:17:31 GREGORY, Paul Hermitage Harriers M
22 0:17:34 WILSON, Darren Hermitage Harriers M
23 0:17:50 ARMOUSH, Tamara Amber Valley AC W
24 0:17:51 THORNTON, Andy Derby Tri Club M
25 0:17:51 BENSKIN, Ian Shepshed RC M
26 0:18:04 BRENNAN, Matty Erewash Valley RC M
27 0:18:07 RADBOURNE, Mat Sinfin RC M
28 0:18:12 MACRORY, Jess Unattached W
29 0:18:13 SIMS, Richard Ilkeston RC M40
30 0:18:15 BENNETT, Steve North Derbyshire RC M50
31 0:18:17 ORRIDGE, Sharon Long Eaton RC W40
32 0:18:28 BIRCH, John Long Eaton RC M40
33 0:18:41 FLETT, Dougie Mansfield H&AC M40
34 0:19:19 SCOTT, Neil Unattached M40
35 0:19:22 KERR, Martin Unattached M
36 0:19:25 MUSTON, Jenni Shepshed RC W
37 0:19:26 HACKLAND, Matt Unattached M
38 0:19:28 ARMOUSH, Amer Amber Valley AC M40
39 0:19:31 RODDIS, Suzanne North Derbyshire RC W
40 0:19:44 NORMAN, Robert Belper Harriers M
41 0:19:47 MELLORS, Sharon Belper Harriers W
42 0:19:52 HEWITT, Ian Unattached M
43 0:19:56 BOLLAND, Mary Redhill Road Runners W
44 0:20:00 MILNER, Luke Unattached M
45 0:20:01 HANCOCK, Neil Shelton Striders M
46 0:20:02 ARKWRIGHT, Steve Unattached M40
47 0:20:06 JEFFERY, Ken Unattached M40
48 0:20:09 ILSLEY, Ron Wirksworth RC M40
49 0:20:22 MARKS, Yasmin Unattached W
50 0:20:29 SINNOTT, Colin North Derbyshire RC M50
51 0:20:36 CHARLTON, Catherine Redhill Road Runners W
52 0:20:36 STRAW, Matthew Unattached M
53 0:20:53 DUMELOW, Matthew Hermitage Harriers M
54 0:20:54 MCWILLIAM, Angela Charnwood AC W
55 0:21:01 MARTIN, Andrew Little Eaton Hornets M40
56 0:21:06 SMITH, Steve Unattached M40
57 0:21:09 BOOTH, Aimee Birchfield H W
58 0:21:15 GOULD, David Trail Runners Assoc M50
59 0:21:16 SHARRATT, Robert Ilkeston RC M50
60 0:21:16 PAGE, Jez Grantham AC M40
61 0:21:16 HALL, Andrew Little Eaton Hornets M
62 0:21:22 ILSLEY, Steph Wirksworth RC W40
63 0:21:26 HEMPSALL, Theresa Belper Harriers W40
64 0:21:32 BYTHWAY, Glyn Unattached M40
65 0:21:46 MATHER, Jackie Long Eaton RC W40
66 0:21:47 BOSTOCK, Colin Long Eaton RC M50
67 0:22:02 LEAKE, Peter Hermitage Harriers M60
68 0:22:07 BURTON, Shaun Long Eaton RC M40
69 0:22:18 GRIFFIN, Lesley Birstall RC W50
70 0:22:19 ROBERTS, Barrie Bournville Harriers M60
71 0:22:58 JOSEPHS, Heidi North Derbyshire RC W
72 0:23:01 GOODWIN, Sarah Derby Tri Club W
73 0:23:03 WATKINSON, Susan Mansfield H&AC W40
74 0:23:03 HISCOX, Trevor Mansfield H&AC M40
75 0:23:13 PAPE, Nick Unattached M40
76 0:23:46 BAKER, Maxine OWLS AC, Leicester W
77 0:23:54 WILSON, Tim Hatton Darts M
78 0:23:55 WILSON, Daniel Hatton Darts M
79 0:23:57 WARD, Dean UKNetrunner M
80 0:24:12 COWLISHAW, Damian Long Eaton RC M40
81 0:25:00 WARD, Katherine Unattached W
82 0:26:43 MILLS, Jayne Unattached W40
83 0:27:12 ARTHUR, Diane Unattached W40
84 0:27:49 SENSECALL, Rose Belper Harriers W
85 0:27:51 CHARLES, Nicky Derwent Damsels W
86 0:28:12 WILSON, Jennie Derwent Damsels W
87 0:28:13 BIRCH, Carole Wirksworth RC W40
88 0:28:32 WOOLERTON, Mark Hermitage Harriers M
89 0:29:36 PAPE, Kerry Unattached W40
90 0:30:59 WRIGHT, Ken Rolls Royce H M60
91 0:31:34 JONES, Zoe Sutton in Ashfield HAC W40
92 0:33:27 SADLER, Tim Ilkeston RC M

2008 Birmingham University Relays

Birmingham University Campus

Saturday 8th November 2008

CHARNWOOD's Clare Mensley clocked the second quickest time of the day over the 3km course in 10mins 29secs as the 20-year-old anchored home the Birmingham Students to a fine victory in their annual RLF relays.

Mensley, the reigning Leicestershire county 1500m champion, combined with team mates Non Stanford (10:30) and Emma Langdell (10:37) to cross the line in a combined time of 31:36 over the 3-Stage event held on the roads surrounding the university campus.

Leeds Metropolitan University won the Men's 4-Stage race in a time of 36:03 ahead of the hosts Birmingham (36:55) with the Leicester University team of Daniel McCormack (10:22), Jason Leigh (11:33), Owen Johns (11:31) and Sam Morton (11:46) finishing in 30th place in 45:12.

Full results are available on the following link: www.bhamuniathletics.com/home/more/results/UBRelays08.html

Rugby 10

Draycote Water

Rugby, Warwickshire

Sunday 9th November 2008

TWO of Leicestershire’s most prolific road-running exponents, Phil Chritchlow and Gemma Steel, secured fine runners-up positions at the annual Rugby 10 mile event.

Chritchlow (41), representing Beaumont Running Club - a former winner of the Derby Runner Cross Country League title - finished in second place in the Men’s race as 21-year-old Birmingham University student Harvey Speed eased to victory over the two-lap course surrounding the Draycote Water reservoir finishing well over half-a-minute ahead of the field as the Coventry Godiva Harrier crossed the line in a time of 54mins 11secs with Chritchlow, the Buxton Half Marathon champion, clocking 54:48.

Nigel Marley of the host club Rugby & Northampton claimed third place in 55:22.

In the Women’s race Gemma Steel, the reigning Leicestershire county road league champion and defending title-holder of the race also had to settle for a second place finish this year.

Steel representing the Hermitage Harriers club - winner of the Shepshed 7 the previous weekend who celebrates her 23rd Birthday this coming week - finished runner-up to the vastly experienced British Masters international Sue Harrison as the 37-year-old Leamington athlete, runner-up at the recent Lady Godiva Half Marathon claimed an impressive victory finishing inside the hour-mark in a time of 59:37.

Steel finished second in 1:03.39 holding off the challenge of Coventry’s Myshola Kirkham who secured third place eleven seconds adrift (1:03.40).

Full results are available on the following link: www.randnac.org/results/promo/2008Rugby10/Rugby10_2008Result.html

2008 ING New York City Marathon

New York City, USA

Sunday 2nd November 2008

BRITAIN'S world record-holder Paula Radcliffe led from start to finish to win the ING New York City Marathon for the third time in her career.

The 34-year-old Loughborough graduate, world champion over the distance in 2005, clocked a time of two hours 23 minutes and 55 seconds.

Radcliffe won by a margin of 1min 49secs ahead of 40-year-old Ludmila Petrova of Russia (2:24:44), who held off a strong finish from American Kara Goucher who secured third on her marathon debut in 2:26.58.

Radcliffe became the second woman to win the race three times - Norway's Grete Waitz won a record nine times, the last in 1988.

Marilson Gomes Dos Santos of Brazil won the Men's race in 2:08.43 with a stunning final push on Central Park South to pull away from Abderrahim Goumri of Morocco, Dos Santos also won the race back in 2006.

Radcliffe crossed the line to be greeted by daughter Isla and husband and coach Gary Lough as the Monaco-based athlete put the Olympic disappointment behind her and a season of injury fighting a stress fracture of the femur that left her just 23rd in Beijing.

"To win three is really special to me," Radcliffe said. "To even be one third of the way towards the mark Grete Waitz achieved is amazing.

"New York is just a place I love to come but it was different this year. The last two times it was really close at the end but I was nice to make it a little bit easier on my husband and help him stay more relaxed."

Radcliffe went to the front from the gun in her tenth outing over the distance to lead the elite field over the Verrazano Bridge from Staten Island to Brooklyn and straight into a headwind on the first, uphill mile toward the apex of the bridge.

American Olympian Goucher made a bold start to her marathon career by staying on the Briton's shoulder while major contenders Wami, last year's runner-up, 2008 Boston Marathon winner Dire Tune, Jeptoo of Kenya all tracking the leader.

Once the bridge had been negotiated, Radcliffe settled into a strong pace between 5:34 and 5:39 per mile that had quickly stretched out the 49-woman elite field and whittled down the leading group to just 10 runners as the world record-holder led them down Brooklyn's Fourth Avenue.

Radcliffe gradually pushed the pace, further diminishing the leading pack to seven as the race continued through Brooklyn towards Queens.

As the defending champion pressed the pace heading towards halfway, still shadowed by Goucher, Catherine Ndereba, one of Radcliffe's greatest rivals, appeared to lose touch with the leaders, who also numbered Russia's Ludmila Petrova, Wami, Tune and Jeptoo.

They went through the halfway point in Queens with Radcliffe still running into a head wind, clocking 1:13:28 for the first 13.1 miles.

Jeptoo was the next to fall off. Goucher was more than holding her own and looking as relaxed as Radcliffe while Petrova and the Ethiopian duo of Wami and Tune were beginning to show signs of strain at the mile 17 mark.

Radcliffe turned the screw again on the 19th mile with Goucher slipping from her shoulder for the first time as Petrova took up second place in the train, followed by Tune and Wami with slight gaps beginning to develop between each runner and the American sitting in fifth.

Radcliffe finally shook off Petrova at Mile 22 as the race turned back into Manhattan and the world record holder was looking as comfortable as she had done on the first mile.

Radcliffe was alone running down Fifth Avenue and getting faster, turning in mile times of 5:12 and 5:14 before slowing to 5:32 for mile 24 and then 5:33 as the finish line approached in Central Park and she was able to savour the acclaim for her third New York win.

"It was tougher out there this year because of the wind but I was determined to come and run a negative split because last year I started fast and wasn't really as strong in the closing half.
"But it was tough out there in the wind and everyone was running behind me.

"I knew Kara was there for a long time and Wami and Tune and Petrova but I just wanted to stay comfortable and be controlled through the first half, I was trying to stay relaxed."

When the race came down to just Radcliffe and Petrova, the British star said she was confident of winning.

"At that point I felt a little more relaxed because even if it came down to a sprint finish I felt I could outkick Ludmila," she said, "but at the same time I wanted to finish my game plan and finish the race running fast through Central Park."

Great Britain’s other representative in the elite race, Scot Hayley Haining, finished in 12th place with a time of 2:35.11.
Leading Results:
Women
1 Paula Radcliffe (GB) 2:23:56
2 Ludmila Petrova (Rus) 2:25:43
3 Kara Goucher (US) 2:25:53
4 Rita Jeptoo (Ken) 2:27:49
5 Catherine Ndereba (Ken) 2:29:14
6 Gete Wami (Eth) 2:29:25
7 Dire Tune (Eth) 2:29:28
8 Lidia Simon (Rom) 2:30:04
9 Lyubov Morgunova (Rus) 2:30:38
10 Katie McGregor (US) 2:31:14
Men
1 Marilson Gomes Dos Santos (Bra) 2:08:43
2 Abderrahim Goumri (Mar) 2:09:07
3 Daniel Rono (Ken) 2:11:22
4 Paul Tergat (Ken) 2:13:10
5 Abderrahime Bouramdane (Mar) 2:13:33
6 Abdi Abdirahman (US) 2:14:17
7 Josh Rohatinsky (US) 2:14:23
8 Jason Lehmkuhle (US) 2:14:30
9 Hosea Rotich (Ken) 2:15:26
10 Bolota Asmerom (US) 2:16:37

Full results are available on the following link: www.nycmarathon.org/

http://sdc.lboro.ac.uk/shownews.php?news_id=850&cat_id=16&level=1

Shepshed 7

Shepshed, Leicestershire

Sunday 2nd November 2008

JAMES DOUGLAS and Gemma Steel secured fine breakaway victories in the cold blustery conditions at the annual Shepshed 7 race.

Douglas, having finished runner-up at the Worksop Half Marathon the previous weekend the 37-year-old representing Charnwood broke away from the pack over the opening circuit of the two-lap course surrounding the picturesque Garendon Park Estate to build a significant gap by the half-way point maintaining the advantage over the field to take victory ahead of club mate Mark Couldwell - the athlete who claimed his title at the last months Leicester Half Marathon - crossing the line in a time of 37mins 23secs- outside of four-time champion Tim Hartley's 2003 course-best of 36:00 achieved in far more conducive conditions for fast road running.

Couldwell finished runner-up in 37:47 almost a minute clear of team mate Martin Lewis (38:19) as the Loughborough-based club dominated the top three positions.

Douglas reflecting on his race victory said: “I’m very pleased with the victory, having finished second over a tough course at Worksop last week this was a very good win.”

Douglas will now hope to build on this success as he prepares for December’s Keyworth Half Marathon and then he hopes to break 71 minutes for the distance as he travels to the Portuguese capital Lisbon next March to compete over one of the world’s fastest courses where Ethiopia’s Haile Gebrselassie set the 2008 world leading time of 59:15.

In the Women’s race Gemma Steel was in a class of her own, the 22-year-old running in the colours of Hermitage Harriers produced a virtual gun-to-tape victory clocking 41:49 to finish ahead of Charnwood’s Debbie Marsden.

Steel commenting on her victory reflected: “ The conditions were really tough up against the strong wind, but I’m pleased with my first win here.”

Marsden, the 30-year-old reigning Leicestershire 10,000m track champion as with Couldwell in the men's race competed for Charnwood in the Saucony National Cross Country Relays at Mansfield's Berry Hill Park the previous day - secured second in 42:12 with four-time past winner of the race, British Masters international Nicki Nealon, battling her way to third place in 42:37.

In the one mile fun run support race there were excellent victories over a rain-soaked muddy course for James Hatton (5:53) and Georgia Gartside (6:18).

Report by Mark Woolley – Copyright Athletics-leics.com

Leading Results:
Men
1 J Douglas (Charn) 37:23; 2 M Couldwell (Charn) 37:47; 3 M Lewis (Charn) 38:19; 4 J Harrison (Leics TRI) 40:40; 5 T Curtis (Charn) 40:42
Women
1 G Steel (Herm) 41:49; 2 D Marsden (Charn) 42:12; 3 N Nealon (Hunc, W40) 42:37; 4 J Muston (Shep) 45:52; 5 H Spotak (Barr, W35) 48:15

Full results are available on the following link: www.shepshedrc.org.uk

2008 Lifestyle Sports adidas Dubin Marathon

City of Dublin

Monday 27th October 2008

ANDRIY NAUMOV of the Ukraine won the 2008 Lifestyle Sports adidas Dublin Marathon in a time of 2hrs 11mins 06secs as a record field of 11,700 people took to the streets of the Irish capital.

Thomas Omwenga from Kenya finished second one minute 23 seconds adrift of Naumov in 2:12.29, as Tomas Abyu representing Great Britain - runner-up twelve months ago - finished third in a time of 2:13.06.

Larissa Zousko from Russia won the Women's race with a time of 2:29.55. Zousko, who finished second last year, moved past the leader, Ethiopia’s Haile Kebebush, over the final last mile and to take victory by a margin of just eight seconds at the finish.

The winners in Dublin follow other impressive big city marathon victories for European athletes over the weekend.

German Sabrina Mockenhaupt clocked a personal best 2:26.22, taking more than three minutes off her debut best in Cologne last year to win the Frankfurt Marathon as Russian Yulia Gromova, winner of this year San Diego Marathon, won the Istanbul Marathon and Hungarian Aniko Kalovics completed victory in the Venice Marathon in 2:31.24, after victories in Carpi 2006 and 2007, Turin 2007 and a third place in 2008.

http://adidasdublinmarathon.ie/

2008 BUPA Great South Run

Portsmouth

Sunday 26th October 2008

PAULA RADCLIFFE returned to action and winning ways in fine style following her Beijing Olympic disappointment to produce a superb solo performance to smash the UK best performance mark for the 10 mile at the BUPA Great South Run held in windy rain-soaked conditions in Portsmouth.

Radcliffe warmed up for the defence of her ING New York Marathon title next weekend (2nd November) with a fine victory in her first race since she suffered fresh Olympic heartache in Beijing, when a fractured left femur left her short of full fitness as she finished in distress and virtually on one leg in 23rd place in the marathon on the track of the Bird’s Nest Stadium, crossing the line on the sea front watched by a large enthusiastic crowd despite the conditions in a time of 51 minutes 11 seconds to finish just outside Lornah Kiplagat’s world-record mark.

The victory was a UK best performance for the 2005 Helsinki World marathon champion surpassing the 51mins 41secs set 17 years ago by Jill Boltz (nee. Hunter) in New York.

Radcliffe, the 34-year-old Loughborough University graduate, looked in top condition and full of confidence when lining-up at the start of the race that was shown live on TV for the first time via Channel Five and broadcast in over 100-countries world-wide - and the Bedford athlete did not disappoint the watching global audience as she opened up a huge lead after going through the second mile in a swift 4mins 57secs - this despite the head wind and driving rain along the sea front.

From that point on there was only going to be one winner as the gap increased significantly over the second half of the race and became a virtual time trial of Radcliffe against the clock.

Portugal's Jessica Augusto clinched second place in 53:15 when holding off the challenge of Magdalene Mukunzi of Kenya, the BUPA Great North Run runner-up, who tried desperately to close her down in the last 400 metres finishing in 53:18.

Australia's former world cross country champion Benita Johnson, the race winner in 2004, clocked 55:16 to finish in 6th place as Radcliffe’s compatriot Hayley Yelling came home in eighth with a time of 56:14.

A smiling and delighted Radcliffe commented afterwards: "I felt it over the last two miles it was going to be really windy, so saved a little bit for that. Actually it wasn't too bad down the sea front as I was psyched up for it to be."

She continued: "I hadn't done enough running. I think I've done a bit more now and I felt more confident standing on the start line because you know you've done the preparations.

"At the Olympic Games I wasn't prepared and just had to get on with it. I just wanted to use today to have to have a good blow out.

"I didn't want to really totally hammer it, because I've a more important race next week but at the same time it was good to come down here.

"I felt good running it and didn't feel I left anything out there. When I finished my legs felt okay and I just.

"Generally I wouldn't put myself on the line unless I felt I was OK. There are always little niggles in any marathon build-up - any marathon runner will tell you that.

"But when you know you've got the weeks of training and basically done the best job to get there, it's kind of fun to go racing."

The Men's race witnessed an equally dominant display from Kenya's Bernard Kipyego who made his breakaway after four miles and went on to win in a time of 46mins 43secs.

Ireland’s Martin Fagan produced a storming finish to take second place just three seconds ahead of the defending champion, Kenyan Luke Kibet, the reigning world marathon champion, in a time of 46:58.

"He took advantage of me almost stopping and there was little hope of catching him after that," Kibet reflected.

"The conditions were hard, but I always felt in control of the race," said Kipyego. "In better weather I would have ran much faster."

Report from Portsmouth by Mark Woolley - Copyright athletics-leics.com

Leading Results:
Men
1 Bernard Kipyego (KEN) 46:43; 2 Martin Fagan (IRE) 46:58; 3 Luke Kibet (KEN) 47:01; 4 Jose Manuel Martinez (ESP) 47:16; 5 Tewodros Shiferaw (ETH) 48:07; 6 Andrew Carlson (USA) 48:08; 7 Mike Aish (NZL) 48:10; 8 Gary Murray (IRE) 48:11; 9 Dan Robinson (GBR) 48:12; 10 Moumin Geele (SOM) 48:16
Women
1 Paula Radcliffe (GBR) 51:11 (UK Best Performance); 2 Jessica Augusto (POR) 53:15; 3 Magdelane Mukunzi (KEN) 53:18; 4 Martha Komu (KEN) 54:29; 5 Christelle Daunay (FRA) 54:38; 6 Benita Johnson (AUS) 55:16; 7 Beata Rakonczai (HUN) 55:20; 8 Hayley Yelling (GBR) 56:14; 9 Alessandra Auguilar (ESP) 56:41; 10 Joyce Kandia (KEN) 56:54

Photo by athletics-leics.com

www.greatrun.org

http://sdc.lboro.ac.uk/shownews.php?news_id=841&cat_id=16&level=1

2008 Stroud Half Marathon

Stroud, Gloucestershire

Sunday 26th October 2008

NEIL RENAULT continued his recent rich vein of form by completing a solo victory equalling his lifetime best to take victory at the Stroud Half Marathon in Gloucestershire.

The 25-year-old Leicestershire-based British international representing Long Eaton dominated the race to cross the line in a time of 1hr 5mins 24secs finishing clear of Bedford’s James Lawler (1:07.16) and third place Ian Williams representing Tipton Harriers (1:09.03).

This victory marked another fine performance for Renault on his return to the sport following foot surgery at the beginning of the summer equalling his previous personal best set at the Shell Four Villages Half Marathon in Helsby back in January.

In the Women’s race British Masters international Wendy Nicholls was the clear winner replicating Renault’s solo effort as the 39-year-old from Cirencester - runner-up to Ethiopia’s Roman Gebresse at the Nationwide Bath Half Marathon back in March - finished in a time of 1:15.16 over two-minutes ahead of Bath University student Holly Rush (1:17.27) and Bourton’s Steph Lane (1:18.48).

Full results are available on the following link: www.stroudathleticclub.co.uk/