2008 Cassidy Lady Godiva Half Marathon

City of Coventry

Sunday 19th October 2008

TEWODRAS SHIFERAW led an African 1-2-3 domination over the line at the high quality Cassidy Coventry Half Marathon held in the West Midlands city as the 28-year-old Ethiopian representing Birchfield Harriers won with a stunning new personal best time of one hour two minutes 41 seconds defeating Kenya’s Joseph Chebon by a margin of just three seconds at the finish. Burundian Zak Kihara, winner of the Sheffield Half Marathon back in April, finished third in 1:03.43.

Shiferaw, a Steeplechase specialist who represented Ethiopia in the event at the 2004 Athens Olympics when finishing 28th is a prolific road racer in the United Kingdom having won the Reebok Bristol Half Marathon last year.

Kenyan Joyce Kandia - a previous winner of the Loch Ness and Belfast City Marathons and the recent Admiral Swansea Bay 10km - prevailed in the Women's race in a time of 1:15.57 as Leamington’s Sue Harrison finished second in 1:18.29 with Debbie Walters, club mate of Shiferaw at Birchfield, securing third in 1:19.59.

The Leicestershire duo of British Masters international Nicki Nealon representing Huncote Harriers (1:21.02) and Harborough’s Sarah Haines (1:21.46) finished fourth and fifth respectively.

Hampshire’s Aaron Phipps won the Wheelchair race in a time of 1:32.01 to finish clear of Tom Collyer (1:44.19).

Full results are available on the official web-site at: www.ladygodiva-halfmarathon.co.uk/

2008 Nike National AAA Men's 6 Stage & Women's 4 Stage Road Running Relays Championships

Sutton Park, Birmingham

Saturday 18th October 2008

BELGRAVE HARRIERS and Aldershot, Farnham & District successfully defended their Men's and Women's titles respectively in commanding style by dominating the 2008 edition of the Nike National AAA Road Relays held in bright dry conditions at Birmingham’s Sutton Park.

Neil Speaight anchored home Belgrave to a 32-second victory as the London-based club finished ahead of Notts AC and Newham and Essex Beagles to retain the Men’s title in a combined time of 1:45.18.

Whilst in the Women's four-stage race Aldershot, despite missing world junior 1500m gold medallist Steph Twell from their squad - absent from the event this year due to the 2008 Waterford Crystal European Rising Star Awards taking place in Amsterdam on the same day where the 19-year-old is the recipient of the female prize - were led to victory by another of Britain’s outstanding junior talents, reigning English schools 3,000m champion Charlotte Purdue, as the Southern area champions repeated their triumph of twelve months ago by once again finishing ahead of the Midlands title-holders Charnwood AC in a time of 57:24.

Brunel university student Emma Pallant, winner of the St Mary’s 3,000m Classic race, set Aldershot on their way to their successful title defence clocking a time of 14:21 on the opening stage as the Hampshire team lay in second place overall following former Loughborough student Barbara Parker - a Team GB representative in the 3,000m Steeplechase in Beijing - had given the City of Norwich club an early lead with a time of 14:14.

That advantage was soon to be wiped away as British Under-23 international Emily Adams recorded 14:45 on Stage 2 handing Aldershot the advantage as Loughborough student Ruth Senior (14:55) kept Norwich in second place.

Charnwood following Clare Mensley’s opening stage of 15:17 moved through to 15th place overall as the 2007 British Universities 10,000m champion Sarah Maude clocked 15:15.

Vicky Gill took over the mantle for Aldershot on Stage 3 increasing their advantage with an individual time of 14:24 as Edinburgh University student Freya Murray recorded the fastest overall individual time of 13:50 to push Chester-le-Street into the silver medal position as Juliet Doyle (nee. Potter) - drafted into Charnwood’s team to replace the Midland cross country champion Hannah Whitmore, missing the event due to a troublesome ankle injury that has required an injection - produced a stellar performance for the Loughborough club clocking 14:12 to move them up a massive ten places to fifth overall at the beginning of the final stage.

The outstanding junior talent Charlotte Purdue, one of Britain's brightest athletics prospects, with a significant advantage over the field then ran a superb solo leg of 13:54, their fastest overall individual time over the four stage to anchor home Aldershot's superb young squad to victory in a combined time of 57mins 24secs to retain their title in fine style.

Jane Potter with a swift 14:25 over the final stages outpaced Maxine Czarnecka to secure second place for Charnwood as they finished in a combined time of 59:09 to claim the silver medals by a margin of just seven seconds ahead of Chester-le-Street.

Havering Mayesbrook with Loughborough graduate Alexa Joel on the opening stage were anchored home by World university cross country champion Faye Fullerton in a time of 59:19 to secure fourth place.

The Aldershot victory will have been well received by Great Britain’s double Olympic gold medallist Dame Kelly Holmes as two of their squad, Charlotte Purdue and Emma Pallant, are current members of her Norwich Union sponsored ‘On Camp with Kelly’ mentoring programme.

Charnwood’s ‘B’ team finished in 24th place as reigning Leicestershire 10,000m track champion Debbie Marsden clocked their fastest individual stage on the opening leg with a time of 15:37 as team mates Kate Lomas (16:15), Kim Looms (15:58) and Amber Magee (16:35) recorded a combined time of 1:04.25.

British Masters international Kate Ramsey with a time of 15:27 on Stage 2 helped Barrow Runners to 49th place overall with Emily Ault (16:58), Kath Eastwood (19:49) and Monique Raaijmakers (17:36 completing the team that clocked a combined time of 1:09.50.

In the Men’s Six-Stage race Belgrave as with Aldershot dominated the event for the second consecutive year as their squad of Steve Sharp (17:37), Nick Goolab (17:34), Steve Davies (17:40), Simon Jones (17:51), Phil Wicks (17:00) and Neil Speaight (17:36) claimed victory in a combined time of 1:45.18 to finish clear of Notts AC and Newham and Essex Beagles who were separated by just one second over the line.

The Notts team of Loughborough graduate and middle-distance specialist Chris Warburton (18:01) combined with Martin Whitehouse (17:46), Adidas London Marathon Half Marathon champion Tim Hartley (17:43), Nottingham Trent University student Jonathon Thewlis (17:40), Ian Boneham (17:19) and the UK Indoor Challenge 800m champion Bruce Raeside clocked a time of 1:45.50 to finish 32 seconds down on their London rivals.

Newham led by former Edinburgh Marathon champion Ian Grime and despite missing their talismanic European 5,000m silver medallist Mo Farah from their team clocked 1:45.51 as Leicester’s Moumin Geele anchored them home just one second adrift of Notts following a tight sprint finish.

Leicester Owls finished in 14th place in a time of 1:49.55 with their team of Gaz Davies (18:13), Gordon Lee (17:51), Paul Miles (17:44), Steve Platts (18:52), Paul Richardson (18:12) and Jason Williams (19:03).

Charnwood clocked 2:01.35 to finish in 62nd place as Steve Mears (19:49), Leicester Half Marathon champion James Douglas (18:27), Ben Lacey (21:14), Paul Harmer (21:00), Michael Brind (20:21) and Glen North (20:44) completed their line-up in Birmingham.

British universities cross country champion Andy Vernon recorded the fastest over individual leg clocking a time of 16:49 for Aldershot on Stage 2 as they finished in 12th place with Loughborough student Aaron Harris, winner of the recent Derby Mid-Week 5,000m race running on the opening leg.

Report from Birmingham by Mark Woolley – Copyright athletics-leics.com

Full results are available on the results page: www.athletics-leics.com/results.html

2008 Merrill & Shelton Striders 10km

Merrill College, Shelton, Derby

Sunday 12th October 2008

BRITISH marathon international Neil Renault produced a stellar performance to smash the course record at the Merrill & Shelton Striders 10km following a superb solo performance to finish clear of the Charnwood duo James Douglas and Mark Couldwell.

Renault, the 25-year-old Leicestershire-based athlete winner of the Ashby 20 back in March, has returned to top form over recent months having undergone foot surgery in June with quality victories at the Ashbourne Half Marathon and over 5km in Mansfield in September plus a fine win at the opening Derby Mid-Week Race Series - and on a bright beautiful warm October morning over the course around the district of Shelton on the outskirts of Derby, the Long Eaton athlete wearing his now trademark red head band claimed an impressive victory crossing the line on the playing fields of Merrill College in a new course record time of 30mins 12secs - slicing a massive 31 seconds off the previous 14-year-old mark of Derby's Gerry Hall.

James Douglas, the reigning Leicester Half Marathon champion, finished second in 32:14 with club mate Couldwell third in 32:51 – this after a dead heat over the line with Notts AC’s Rob Keal, both given the same time.

In the Women’s race the vastly experienced Jill Burke representing Heanor was equally impressive as the 46-year-old secured a runaway victory in 40:40 with Bournville Harrier Linda Howell second in 41:37 and team mate Yvonne Crawley third (41:57).

Full results are available on the following link: www.merrill.derby.sch.uk/images/Merrill%20jobs/10K%20Result.xls

Photo by Mick Hall Photography - www.mickhall-photos.com/shelton2008.html

2008 IAAF/CAIXA World Half Marathon Championships

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Sunday 12th October 2008

ERITREAN Zersenay Tadese and the Netherlands Lornah Kiplagat both produced stellar performances to successfully defend their IAAF/CAIXA World Half Marathon Championship titles in the glamorous surroundings of Rio de Janeiro’s Copacabana beach.

Tadese, who opened up a 30-second lead after 10 kilometres, scorched to a sub-one hour time of 59 minutes 56 seconds to destroy the ambitions of Patrick Makau Musyoki and Ahmad Hassan Abdullah.
The Kenyan matched his runner-up feat of last year by clocking one hour, one minute and 54 seconds while the Qatari bronze medallist finished in a season's best 1:01:57.

The dominant Kenyans took team honours for the third successive year, their three counters posting a mark of three hours seven minutes and 24 seconds.

Eritrea and Ethiopia repeated their silver and bronze medal performances at the previous championships in 3:09:40 and 3:10:52.

"This was a race I was determined to win and yes, I did prepare specially for it," said 26-year-old Tadese, effectively clinching a third successive global title having claimed the now-defunct IAAF World Road Running crown over 20km two years ago.

Kiplagat also stood head and shoulders above the opposition in her 13.1 mile race when after forcing a fast pace through the first 5km uphill stretch, she accelerated two kilometres later to destroy her rivals.

"I just wanted to get away and not place myself under any pressure as happened last year," said Kenya-born Kiplagat, who has represented Holland since 2003 after marrying coach Pieter Langerhorst.

Kiplagat's scorching pace in a perfect racing temperature of 25 degrees saw her roar to a season's best of 1:08:37 to decisively win ahead of Aselefech Mergia and Pamela Chepchumba.

Great Britain’s representatives Wendy Nicholls and Michelle Ross Cope finished 40th and 47th with times of 1:18:52 and 1:20:43 respectively.

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

Tuesday 7th October 2008

TIM DORAN led the way for Leicestershire athletes in race action around the United Kingdom over the weekend producing a fine victory to retain his title at the 16th edition of the Julian Farrell Memorial 10km held in the leafy surroundings of Camberley, Surrey.

Away from the masses of the 52,000 runners that took to the roads of Tyneside at the high profile televised BUPA Great North Run, Doran, the 29-year-old representing the Leicester Owls returned to form completing a confidence boosting victory ahead of the 2008 Nike English National Six-Stage Road Relays that take place on Saturday 18th October by crossing the line over the undulating course that finished at the King's International College in Camberley in a time of 33mins 44secs - just three seconds outside of his winning mark twelve months ago.

Team mate at the Owls, Gordon Lee, was also in winning form taking victory at the Daventry 6 Mile in a time of 31:19 - and there was a double success for Leicestershire athletes in this event as Beverley Gray representing Charnwood AC won the women's race in 38:19.

At the 2008 British Masters Cross Country Relays Championships held at Mansfield’s Berry Hill Park Leicester Coritanian AC finished in 9th place overall in the Vet40 category as their squad of Welsh masters international Rob Sheen (13:47), Craig Sabin (14:54), Phil Hands (15:36), Andy Hart (14:36), John Grindley (15:25) and Gareth Deacon (14:05) crossed the line in a combined time of 1hr 28mins 23secs.

Herne Hill Harriers won the title in a time of 1:23.28 ahead of Sunderland Harriers (1:25.10) and third placed Tipton Harriers (1:25.37).

Kate Ramsey was the only other Leicestershire athlete in action in Mansfield as the vastly experienced British masters international ran solo for Barrow Runners finishing in 26th place overall in the Vet35 category race -producing the third fastest overall individual leg time of 15:13.

Fleckney & Kibworth Running Club members were in action at the tough Saddleworth ‘Autumn Leaves’ Fell Race held over an 8.5 miles course that included 1700 metres of elevation. The club added to their burgeoning reputation over the discipline securing three top 20 places in the event led by Karl Beardall, 10th in 1:09:51, Adam Taylor 11th in 1:10:57 and Ian Gladwell, 14th with 1:12:48. James Logue from Horwich was the overall race winner.

2008 BUPA Great North Run

South Shields, Tyneside

Sunday 5th October 2008

ETHIOPIA’s Tsegay Kebede produced a superb gun-to-tape solo performance to break the hour mark and claim victory at the 28th edition of the BUPA Great North Run - the world’s biggest half-marathon attracting an entry of over 52,000.

Kebede, the 21-year-old Beijing Olympic marathon bronze medallist crossed the finish line on the seafront at South Shields under bright blue skies and glorious Autumn sunshine in a time of 59mins 45secs.

Fellow Ethiopian Gebre Gebremariam claimed second in 1:01.29 as American Abdi Abdirahman finished third in 1:01.33.

"I thought I could have ran faster," said Kebede who only emerged into world-class stature when winning last year's Paris marathon.

Gete Wami, preparing to face Paula Radcliffe in the ING New York Marathon next month, claimed a double success for Ethiopia on Tyneside completing a thrilling victory in the Women’s race in a time of 68:51 ahead of Kenyan Magdalene Mukunzi (68:52) as Britain's Jo Pavey finished in third place in a new personal best of 68:53.

Pavey commented afterwards: “I was pleased to get a PB, it was fantastic to have a good race at the end but I am frustrated to come third after all that distance running together.

"I was surprised Mukunzi went out quickly, she ran really well, last time I ran the hill as fast as I could but people still got away from me, this time I took it a bit more cautiously. That helped on the final stretch.

"My legs were not as bad as two years ago. Then they were completely gone and my hands were blue. This year I finished a bit better!

"I enjoyed it. I am considering running the Great South Run and then I will look towards a marathon at some point. But that is a long way away."

Wami relected on her victory said: "This is a big race to win and I put in some special training to ensure I would be at my best, said the 33-year-old African, adamant she will be fit for the New York Marathon and another clash with Radcliffe in a month's time.

"She's a tough opponent but one I always enjoy racing against," said Wami, but a little surprised the world record holder is fit enough to race so soon after her injuries prior to and after the Olympic Games.

"In Beiijing she had a lot of problems and had to stop a few times," she said. "Coming to New York was a surprise to me."

Canadian Josh Cassidy won the Men's Wheelchair race by nearly a minute. Cassidy finished the half-marathon course in 44 minutes 11 seconds, with Germany's Ralf Brunner second in 45:04.

Shelly Woods lost her woman's title as she was edged out by a second by Canada's Diane Roy in a thrilling race.

"It was hard this year. I was a few seconds slower than last year but as I did it on my own without the pack I am happy," said Cassidy.

"It is tough when you do not have the pack to share the work, the people here are great, not just during the race but before as well. They have been wonderful, it is great to come here and I'll be back next year."

In the Women's race, Roy finished in 51:18 to beat defending champion Woods, who won a silver and bronze medal at the 2008 Paralympics in Beijing, by the narrowest of margins.

Woods, who won in both 2005 and 2007, was gracious in defeat. The Blackpool athlete said Roy, who claimed the 2006 edition, "was the better woman on the day".

Report by Mark Woolley.

Leading Results:
Men
1 T Kebede (Ethiopia) 59:45; 2 G Gebremariam (Ethiopian) 1:01.29; 3 A Abdirahman (USA) 1:1:33; 4 L Kibet (Kenya) 1:1:34; 5 J-L Barrios (Mexico) 1:1:48; 6 M Fagan (Ireland) 1:2:20; 7 F Limo (Kenya) 1:03:11; 8 J-M Martinez (Spain) 1:03:31; 9 R Silva (Portugal) 1:03:33; 10 R Ribas (Portugal) 1:03:35; 11 J Brown (Canada) 1:03:36; 12 A Chaica (Portugal) 1:03:39; 13 D Robinson (GB) 1:4:11; 14 M Aish (New Zealand) 1:4:20; 15 P Norwill (Australia) 1:4:29; 16 M O'Dowd (GB) 1:4:51; 17 I Hudspith (Morpeth) 1:4:55; 18 A Kuzin (Ukraine) 1:5:37; 19 C Birmingham (Australia) 1:5:46; 20 A Grice (GB) 1:5:46
Women
1 G Wami (Ethiopia) 1:08.51; 2 M Mukunzi (Kenya) 1:08:52; 3 J Pavey (GB) 1:08:53; 4 M Konovalova (Russia) 1:10:48; 5 M Komu (Kenya) 1:10:49; 6 H Haining (GB) 1:10:53; 7 A Kalovics (Hungary) 1:11:08; 8 A Rosa (Portugal) 1:11:25; 9 J Augusto (Portugal) 1:11:38; 10 W Kidane (Ethiopia) 1:12:07; 11 B Johnson (Australia) 1:14:31; 12 R Robinson (GBR) 1:14:53; 13 L Magnusson (Sweden) 1:16:12; 14 H Yelling (GB) 1:16:57; 15 C Bryson (GB) 1:19:22; 16 J Knass (GB) 1:20:23; 17 M Holt (GB) 1:20:51; 18 H Lawrence (GB) 1:20:56; 19 E Damant (GB) 1:23:50; 20 S Lomas (GB) 1:25:44
Wheelchair
Men
1 J Cassidy (Canada) 44:10
2 R Brunner (Germany) 45:03
3 R Botello Jimenez (Spain) 47:58
Women
1 D Roy (Canada) 51:18
2 S Woods (GB) 51:19
3 F Pocellato (Italy) 59:12

Full results are available on the following link: http://secure.greatrun.org/results/quickresults.php

2008 Realr Berlin Marathon

Berlin, Germany

Sunday 28th September 2008

HAILE GEBRSELASSIE has smashed his own marathon world-record in the German capital, becoming the first runner to finish under 2 hours 4 minutes.

The outstanding Ethiopian clocked 2:03:59 to win his third straight Berlin Marathon, beating the mark of 2:04:26 he set last year over the same flat course. He also became the first runner to win the race three times.

"Today, I'm so, so, so happy. Everything was perfect today," Gebrselassie said.

Running under clear, sunny skies in mild temperature, Gebrselassie paced himself well and controlled the race from the start.

The 35-year-old Gebrselassie was way out front as passed through the Brandenburg Gate and ran to the finish line to applause from the crowd lining the route.

Gebrselassie said his training in the build-up to the race was hindered by an injury.

"I had a small calf muscle problem and I stopped for a week, and then I started again a week ago," he said. "Then today I had, you know, some doubts, but it was really very good."

The Ethiopian praised Berlin and its spectators in helping him break his 26th world record.

"Before I came here, I knew I can do something here in Berlin, because since I started running Berlin is my lucky city," Gebrselassie said.

He improved last year's winning time by nearly half a minute.

Gebrselassie first ran in Berlin in 2006 and clocked 2:05:56, before breaking the world record last year. In three years, he has improved nearly two minutes on the course.

The Ethiopian chose to skip the Olympic marathon in Beijing because of the city's pollution. However, he finished sixth in the 10,000 metres, a race he won in Atlanta 1996 and Sydney 2000.

Irina Mikitenko of Germany won the women's race in 2:19:19, improving her best by over four minutes to clock the seventh fastest time in history for a woman.

She became the fourth fastest woman marathon runner of all time, with only Paula Radcliffe, Catherine Ndereba and Mizuki Noguchi ahead of her. Mikitenko broke the national record and became the first German woman to run under 2:20.

Askale Magarsa of Ethiopia was second in 2:21:31 and Helena Kirop of Kenya finished third in 2:25:01. Both ran personal bests.
World record progression in the men's marathon

2:08:05 Steve Jones (Great Britain) Chicago 21.10.1984

2:07:12 Carlos Lopes (Portugal) Rotterdam 20.04.1985

2:06:50 Belayneh Densimo (Ethiopia) Rotterdam 17.04.1988

2:06:05 Ronaldo da Costa (Brazil) Berlin 20.09.1998

2:05:42 Khalid Khannouchi (Morocco) Chicago 24.10.1999

2:05:38 Khalid Khannouchi (Morocco) London 14.04.2002

2:04:55 Paul Tergat (Kenya) Berlin 28.09.2003

2:04:26 Haile Gebrselassie (Ethiopia) Berlin 30.09.2007

2:03:59 Haile Gebrselassie (Ethiopia) Berlin 28.09.2008

Wednesday 1st October 2008

LEICESTERSHIRE female athletes were in winning form on the roads over the weekend, their performances and results are listed below:

Gemma Steel led the way as the 22-year-old Hermitage Harrier just seven days after lowering her personal best over the 10km distance at the Admiral Swansea Bay event smashed the mark again when claiming a comprehensive victory at the West Pinchbeck 10km in Spalding, Lincolnshire - clocking a time of 35mins 25secs, slicing over half-a-minute off her previous best (35:58).

www.ukresults.net/2008/pinchbeck.html

Kim Looms was once again in fine winning form, the 27-year-old having claimed victory at the recent Dorney Lake 5km and was part of the Charnwood ‘B’ squad that finished 6th at the Midland Territorial Relays was the runaway winner of the annual 10km race held in the beautiful surroundings of Clumber Park in Nottinghamshire. Looms crossed the line in a time of 39:12 to take a fine solo victory well ahead of the chasing field.

www.pacesetterevents.com/results/2008/clumber10k08results.pdf

2008 Chris Ingram Memorial 5 Mile Race

Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire

Sunday 21st September 2008

BRITISH international Felicity Milton continued her fine run of recent victories with another superb individual win at the Chris Ingram Memorial 5 Mile race in Melton.

The 21-year-old Durham University student, an IAAF World Cross Country Championship representative for Great Britain in Mombasa 2007, has been in scintillating form on the roads over the last few weeks with impressive victories at the Hermitage 10km and on her debut over the half marathon distance in Gruntley, Cambridgeshire, two weeks previous, and on the country roads surrounding Melton in the late warm summer conditions Milton was simply a class apart in the race storming to victory in a time of 29mins 12secs ahead of the host club’s Nicola Clay (30:25) and Kim Looms (32:00) securing third place - this after having represented Charnwood at the Midland territorial relays in Birmingham the previous day.

Such was the dominance of Milton’s performance she was only beaten by one athlete in the 109 strong-field over the line as Chris Southam representing Stilton Striders clocked 27:20 to take victory in the Men’s race. Tom Wardman finished second in 29:18 with Wreake’s Bruno Nikoloff third in 29:33.

The race which this year was held over a new undulating course having previously staged over 10km and was returning to the race calendar following a two-year break due to the event having to be cancelled twelve months ago due to foot and mouth disease precautions at Stapleford Park.
Full Results (Mixed):
1-27.20-SOUTHAM-CHRIS-STILTON STRIDERS--M40;2-29.12-MILTON-FELICITY-DURHAM--F;3-29.18-WARDMAN-TOM-UNA—M;4-29.33-NIKOLOFF-BRUNO-WREAKE--M40;5-29.50-PEGG-JONNY-RUTLAND AC—M;6-29.51-BILLINGTON-RICHARD-DESFORD--M40;7-30.25-CLAY-NICOLA-STILTON STRIDERS--F35;8-30.30-STOCK-MARK-SHEPSHED--M40;9-30.34-BETTSWORTH-RICHARD-WREAKE--M40;10-30.57-GLOVER-DARREN-STILTON STRIDERS—M;11-31.11-VOISEY-CARL-BIRSTALL—M;12-31.22-CRESSWELL-JOHN-STILTON STRIDERS--M50;13-31.40-MALLOY-DUNCAN-LEICESTER TRI--M40;14-31.52-HICKS-TIM-STILTON STRIDERS--M40;15-32.00-LOOMS-KIMBERLEY-CHARNWOOD –F;16-32.58-HOSKINS-JAMES-BECKENHAM—M;17-32.59-JACKSON-STEVEN-STILTON STRIDERS—M;18-32.59-DAVIDSON-CHRISTIAN-STILTON STRIDERS—M;19-33.20-FEELY-ADAM-UNA—M;20-33.21-BRADFORD-MARK-HERMITAGE --M40;21-33.23-WARNE-BARRY-NENE VALLEY HARRIES--M40;22-33.43-BELL-DAVID-YAXLEY RUNNERS—M;23-33.55-ROBINSON-ANDY-STILTON STRIDERS--M40;24-34.14-McNEIGHT-PATRICK-STILTON STRIDERS—M;25-34.20-SNUTCH-JAMES-BIRSTALL—M;26-34.29-JOYCE-JASON-UNA—M;27-34.41-DEWICK-STEPHEN-STILTON STRIDERS--M40;28-34.58-DOUGLAS-PHILIP-STILTON STRIDERS--M50;29-35.03-MEARS-PAUL-UNA—M;30-35.09-HICKS-BILLY-RUTLAND AC—M;31-35.12-GOLDEN-PETER-RUTLAND RUNNERS--M40;32-35.14-MURPHY-PHIL -UNA--M40;33-35.19-SMITH-PAUL-SHEPSHED--M40;34-35.25-THOMAS-JOHN-CORBY AC--M60;35-35.33-ROBINSON-LAURENT-STILTON STRIDERS—M;36-35.34-OWEN-STEWART-STILTON STRIDERS--M50;37-35.51-WHITE-BECKY-UNA—F;38-35.53-VARDY-MARK-UNA—M;39-36.01-WIGLEY-CRAIG-BOURNE TOWN—M;40-36.01-WIGLEY-TIMOTHY-BOURNE TOWN--M40;41-36.03-GUESS-CARL-SHEPSHED--M40;42-36.04-NICOL-TAM-STILTON STRIDERS--M40;43-36.04-BROWN -MALCOLM-STILTON STRIDERS--M40;44-36.04-KEIGHTLEY-DANNY-STILTON STRIDERS--M50;45-36.11-ANDERSON-DANIEL-BEAUMONT RC—M;46-36.39-WRIGHT-CLIVE-STILTON STRIDERS--M50;47-36.46-GARNIER-ANNA-THAMES HARE & HOUND--F45;48-36.47-DRAYCOTT-RAY-OWLS--M50;49-37.12-BRIGHTY-MIKE-STILTON STRIDERS--M40;50-37.13-BASS-JULIE-UNA--F45;51-37.41-MOORE-MALCOLM-SOUTH DERBYSHIRE--M50;52-37.47-McGARRY-STEVE-STILTON STRIDERS--M40;53-38.08-LOVERIDGE-KEV-SHEPSHED--M40;54-38.16-PARTRIDGE-STEPHEN-UNA--M40;55-38.23-WOODWARD-DARRYL-STILTON STRIDERS--M50;56-38.25-SNUTCH-DAVID-BIRSTALL--M40;57-38.49-STONE-JONATHAN-FLECKNEY& KIBWORTH—M;58-39.03-DANVERS-JOHN-SHEPSHED--M40;59-39.09-VOYCE-CATHERINE-STILTON STRIDERS--F45;60-39.13-STONE-LISA-FLECKNEY& KIBWORTH--F35;61-39.14-EILE-ALAN-UNA--M40;62-40.18-HOUGHTON-JOHN-UNA--M40;63-40.27-SIM-JACK-UNA—M;64-40.28-READ-MICHELLE-DEAL TRI—F;65-40.45-WELBOURN-TERRY-UNA--M40;66-40.47-WESTON-DEAN-UNA--M40;67-40.49-BETTINSON-CHERYL-UNA--F45;68-40.51-HOPWOOD-HARVEY-STILTON STRIDERS--M50;69-40.53-HALLAM-LOUISE-STILTON STRIDERS—F;70-41.48-FLINT-MICHELLE-REDHILL--F35;71-42.04-FOLWELL-JOHN-UNA—M;72-42.17-POINTON-PHILIP-UNA--M60;73-42.27-WIDDOWSON-HELEN-UNA—F;75-43.04-AIRD-BOB-BARROW --M60;76-43.04-MOY-LUCY-UNA--F35;77-43.12-STUBBS-IAN-SHEPSHED--M60;78-43.44-GILES-ELIZABETH-UNA--F45;79-43.58-GALLAGER-BRYAN-BARROW --M60;80-44.18-TOMLINSON-MELANIE-NOTTS POLICE --F35;81-44.18-TOMLINSON-STEPHEN-NOTTS POLICE--M40;82-44.27-POLLIN-ROBERT-UNA--M60;83-45.07-INGRAM-ALISON-UNA--F45;84-45.21-LOTT-PETER-WEST END RUNNERS—M;85-45.25-BROOKS-PETER-SHEPSHED--M50;86-45.55-MOORE-INGE-SOUTH DERBYSHIRE--F45;87-46.32-SHEPPARD-JANE-UNA--F45;88-46.34-BROMWICH-BRENDA-UNA--F55;89-46.43-MIDDLETON-CHRISTINE-WEST END RUNNERS--F55;91-47.21-ALEXANDER-DAVID-UNA--M50;92-47.41-FOX-MAPLETOFT-CELIA-STILTON STRIDERS—F;93-48.38-WILSON-PHYLLY-WREAKE--F55;94-48.50-RABEY-HEATHER-UNA--F35;95-49.19-BROAD-WENDY-RUTLAND RUNNERS--F45;96-49.55-McNEIGHT-MICHELLE-STILTON STRIDERS—F;97-51.19-SPARKS-HAZEL-UNA--F35;98-52.06-PLUMTREE-NICOLA-UNA—F;99-52.25-BURTON-MICK-NOTTS POLICE--M40;100-53.05-ROBERTS-RACHEL-UNA--F35;101-53.05-ELLIOTT-SHIRLEY-UNA--F35;102-53.09-CURNICK-ARIELLE-UNA--F35;103-54.41-WILKS-CLAIRE-UNA—F;104-55.19-TALBOT-REGINALD-UNA--M60;105-56.18-SHAW-SUE-WHETSTONE HARRIERS--F45;106-56.30-SKERRITT-HELEN-UNA--F35;107-59.17-ALLSOP-CLARE-WHETSTONE HARRIERS—F;108-64.28-HOLMES -MIKE-WERRINGTON JOGGERS--M50;109-64.29-HOLMES -GILL-WERRINGTON JOGGERS--F45

Monday 22nd September 2008

GEMMA STEEL produced a superb performance to smash her lifetime best when representing the Midlands team at the Admiral Swansea Bay 10km on Sunday (21st September).

Steel, 22, from the Hermitage Harriers club is a rising star of Leicestershire athletics in 2008 having won the overall senior women’s title in the LRRL County Road League and earlier in the year captured the championship title in the Derby Runner Cross Country League campaign - this combined with a selection of fine individual successes in various races over multi-surfaces.

In the Welsh city of Swansea, Steel, in the field of 3,500 athletes clocked a new personal best time of 35mins 58secs to finish in 8th place overall as the Midlands team claimed second place behind the South of England.

Race victory went to former Belfast Marathon champion, Kenyan Joyce Kandia, in 33:36, ahead of Britain’s Caroline Hoyte (33:46).

Full results are available on the following link: www.swanseabay10k.com/index.cfm?articleid=21876

Friday 19th September 2008

LEICESTERSHIRE based British internationals Felicity Milton and Neil Renault were in top form over the previous weekend as the duo claimed fine victories over the half marathon distance in Ely and Ashbourne respectively.

Durham University student Felicity Milton on her debut over the distance won the Gruntly Fen Half Marathon in Cambridgeshire as the 21-year-old, an IAAF World Cross Country Championship representive in Mombasa 2007, clocked a time of 1hr 16mins 29secs to take first place ahead of Jenny Roberts representing Ipswich Jaffa (1:20.38) and Colchester's Sarah Stradling (1:21.01).

In the Derbyshire town of Ashbourne, Neil Renault, in the colours of Long Eaton Running Club raced to a hard fought victory by a margin of just one-second over the line in a time of 1:17.11, this following a tight battle with club mate Andrew McNeill (1:17.12).

Shaun Cotter of Leeds was third in 1:17.22 as Mark Rose representing Shepshed Running Club clocked 1:20.05 to secure a top-ten finish in 7th place.

2008 Experian Robin Hood Full & Half Marathon

City of Nottingham

Sunday 14th September 2008

SOUTH AFRICA’S Pumlani Bangani completed a superb hat-trick of victories over the marathon distance at the Experian Robin Hood Festival of Running in the city of Nottingham that attracted over 12,000 runners as GB’s Debbie Mason prevailed in the Women’s race.

The 34-year-old Salford Harrier, winner of the inaugural England Athletics East Midlands Half Marathon Championship last month in Newark, completed his third win in Nottingham having previously won in 2005 and 2006 crossing the line at the Victoria Embankment in a time of 2hrs 25mins 27secs.

The Half Marathon event as with twelve months ago was dominated by African athletes as 23-year-old Ezekiel Cherop of Kenya, a world junior 5,000m bronze medallist, produced a fine solo performance to move clear of the chasing pack to take victory in a time of 1:05.28 to win the Men’s race, whilst, Banuelia Katesigwa, 27, of Tanzania who finished 9th in the 2003 IAAF World Championship Marathon final in Paris, won the Women’s event in 1:16.37.

Great Britain’s Debbie Mason was the only athlete to break the African domination in Nottingham as the 40-year-old Rotherham Harrier produced a fine performance to win the Women’s Marathon in 2:53.15.
England Athletics East Midlands teams shine in Nottingham

The England Athletics East Midlands teams produced superb performances in the Half Marathon as Leicestershire county champion Mark Powell (Owls) continued his rich vein of form to finish third overall in a stunning new personal best time of 1:08.14, he was followed by Bruce Raeside (Notts AC) who clocked 1:08.46 to finish in 6th place, whilst, the reigning Leicester Half Marathon champion James Douglas (Charnwood) secured 18th place in 1:11.42 for the Men’s squad.

In the Women’s race World Masters champion Nicki Nealon (Huncote) finished first Vet to take third place overall behind Australian Naomi Warner in a time of 1:20.30. Zoe Fleming (Birstall) in her first representative race clocked a new lifetime best of 1:21.42 to secure fourth position as Kirsty Wigham (Wootton Road Runners) finished 7th place in 1:22.40.

The Experian Robin Hood Marathon is the third biggest road race in the United Kingdom behind the Flora London Marathon and the BUPA Great North Run, but despite the events popularity and stature it always fails to attract the World elite runners, being held in the month of September the race is in direct competition with the big two European races taking place with the Rearl Berlin Marathon and the BUPA Great North Run, and the top athletes will look for the appearance and prize money that those big city races attract. Added to this the major TV exposure that will catch the eye of major sportswear manufacturers, who offer the big endorsement deals.

However, from a domestic point of view the race is extremely popular and in 2005 the event witnessed a record entry of 13,000 runners.

The Robin Hood Marathon was founded in 1981, the same year as the London Marathon and the Great North Run. Back then the race started and finished in the Old Market Square in Nottingham’s City Centre. As the race field increased alongside the events popularity, the start/finish area moved to the present day race site on the Victoria Embankment.

After a successful staging in 2000, the following year's event was threatened after the Nottingham City council pulled out of the organisation of the Robin Hood Marathon. With only 19 weeks until race day, Sweatshop Limited stepped in to save the 2001 event.

In 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007 the race was again organised by Sweatshop along a new improved course. The event retains its friendly atmosphere, providing excellent entertainment and facilities on the Victoria Embankment. Most importantly the race caters for every type of runner, from the first timer to the seasoned international, taking in some of Nottingham's most historical landmarks.

In the Fun Run support race Notts Athletics Club member Andrew Warburton, 18, won with a time of 13 minutes and four seconds. Siobhan Harrison was the first female fun runner across the line.

Report by Mark Woolley - Copyright Athletics-leics.com

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

Dorney Lake Windsor 5km

Windsor, Berkshire

Saturday 13th September 2008

KIM LOOMS representing Charnwood AC raced to an excellent individual victory at the Dorney Lake 5km event held at the Eton College Rowing Centre in Windsor - this following her fine performance when finishing fifth over the same distance at the Adidas Women's Challenge race in Birmingham the previous weekend.

Over the flat fast course surrounding Dorney Lake, Looms (27), clocked a time of 18mins 22secs to take victory in the Women's race and finish in second place overall in the event won by Reading’s Andy Blenkinsop (18:13).

Full results are available on the following link: www.f3events.co.uk/docs/5km%20Race%20Resultsx.pdf

Adidas Women's 5k Challenge

Hyde Park, London

Sunday 7th September 2008

OLYMPIC 5,000m bronze medallist Meseret Defar successfully defended her adidas Women’s 5k Challenge, but failed to break Paula Radcliffe’s course record at London’s Hyde Park.

Defar, 48 hours after clocking 14:25.43 to finish second in the IAAF ÅF Golden League Meeting in Brussels, showed her class to produce a gun-to-tape victory in a time of 15mins 01secs ahead of Kenya’s world junior 10,000m record holder Linet Masai (15:31) with Britain’s Jo Pavey (15:32). Defar’s fine performance was outside of Paula Radcliffe’s course record of 14:51.

“The conditions weren’t great but I’m happy,” Defar commented: “Friday’s race was tough in Brussels and I’m still disappointed with my 5,000m in Beijing, so it’s been hard to focus, but I’m pleased. Next year I will try for the world record.”

The trio of Defar, Masai and Pavey, plus Kenya’s Lucy Wangui Kabuu, had broken clear before the 1km mark with a split of 2:59 - with only Australian steeplechaser Victoria Mitchell in pursuit, but four soon became two with Defar breaking away.

At the 2km point, Defar, who holds the unofficial world record for 5km on the road and clocked a 14:12.88 track best six weeks ago in Stockholm – the second fastest time ever – started to pull away as Masai began to drift away, Jo Pavey and Lucy Wangui Kabuu closing her down.

Pavey, having recovered from flu which interrupted her training on return from the Olympics, pulled away from Wangui Kabuu, the reigning Commonwealth Games 10,000m champion, in the closing stages and started to close in on Linet Masai, the pair eventually battling it out in a sprint finish for second and third behind champion Defar.

“I was quite pleased with that,” said Pavey, who in spite of breaking her 10,000m personal best in Beijing was disappointed to finish 12th. “Since I got back from the Olympics I’ve had flu and missed a bit of training but I’m fine now and I really wanted to get out here today and race.”

“I was worried because I wanted to put in a good performance but I wasn’t sure how I’d feel, but I felt I was competitive. It was always going to be tough with those girls – they go out hard and finish fast.”

Katrina Wootton, currently ranked fourth in the UK over 5,000m, was the second British athlete over the line in fifth place clocking a 16:11 in her first ever 5km road race, with Loughborough University graduate Alexa Joel in sixth (16.17), followed by the Aldershot Farnham and District AC duo of Charlotte Purdue (16:22) and Katherine Sparke (16:26).

Leicestershire’s reigning Midland cross-country champion Hannah Whitmore (Charnwood) finished 12th in a time of 16:51.
Birmingham - Race

This race marked a busy weekend for Kim Looms as the 27-year-old representing Charnwood - having ran in Mansfield over 5km on Friday (5th September) - was also in action at the Adidas Women's 5k Challenge race in Birmingham finishing in a superb 5th place with a time of 18:12 as Camberley’s Fiona Clarke claimed victory (16:18) - with Leicestershire 5,000m county champion Helen Rollins third in 17:58.

Owls John Fraser 10 Mile

(Incorp. 2008 LRRL Summer League)

Countesthorpe, Leicestershire

Sunday 7th September 2008

MARK POWELL and Gemma Steel completed fine individual victories at the John Fraser Owls 10 mile race - the final round of the 2008 Leicestershire Road Running Summer League.

Powell, the reigning Birmingham Cross Country league champion produced a stellar performance as the 29-year-old representing the host club Leicester Owls smashed the six-year old course record on his way to a commanding victory following a superb solo effort - crossing the line in Countesthorpe in a time of 51mins 53secs to break clubmate Nick Mapp's previous mark from 2001 (52:33).

With this impressive victory Powell now hold three Leicestershire county titles for 2008 following his wins on the track over 10,000 metres and the half marathon - secured when winning the opening race of the series in Hinckley back in May.

Phil Chritchlow representing Beaumont clocked 54:45 to finish second with Steve Platts (Owls) third in 55:03.

In the Women's race, 22-year-old Hermitage Harrier Gemma Steel claimed victory with a lifetime best of 60mins 41secs to secure the Leicestershire Road Running League title for the first time in her blossoming career – adding to the 2008 Derby Runner Cross Country League title secured in the winter.

Steel finished 53 seconds ahead of British international Nicki Nealon, the reigning World Masters Half Marathon champion and European Masters Marathon gold medallist and reigning East Midlands Road Running Series champion.

Coventry Godiva Harrier Myshola Kirkham was third in 63:17 as British Masters international Kate Ramsey representing Barrow claimed fourth in 64:28.

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

Mansfield 5km Open Race

Berry Hill Park, Mansfield

Friday 5th September 2008

CHARNWOOD’S Clare Mensley and Leicestershire based Neil Renault raced to fine victories at the Mansfield 5km Open event held in challenging wet conditions at Berry Hill Park.

In the Women’s race Birmingham University student Clare Mensley led a quartet of athletes in the green and gold of Charnwood AC over the line as the Loughborough club dominated over the 5km course surrounding the venue of the Saucony National Cross Country Relays.

Mensley, 20, the reigning Leicestershire 1500m champion, came home in a time of 17mins 54secs to edge out team mate Claire Wilson by a margin of 10 seconds over the line with Lincoln’s Blue Haywood taking third in 18:09.

Debbie Marsden and Kim Looms completed the Charnwood team as they finished in fourth and fifth places with times of 18:30 and 19:04 respectively.

British marathon international Neil Renault representing Long Eaton Running Club returned to winning ways with a fine performance in the Men’s race, the 25-year-old winner of the Ashby 20 back in March, clocked a time of 15:18 to finish six seconds clear of Notts Bruce Raeside as James Mee from the host club Mansfield Harriers secured third place in 15:32.

This race marked a busy weekend for Kim Looms as the 27-year-old was also in a action at the Adidas Women's 5k Challenge race in Birmingham on Sunday (7th September) finishing in a superb 5th place with a time of 18:12 as Camberley’s Fiona Clarke claimed victory (16:18) - with Leicestershire 5,000m county champion Helen Rollins third in 17:58.

Report by Mark Woolley - Copyright athletics-leics.com

Leading Results:
Men
1 Neil Renault (Long Eaton) 15:18; 2 Bruce Raeside (Notts) 15:24; 3 James Mee (Mans) 15:32; 39 Steven Jeffers (Charn) 19:51
Women
1 Clare Mensley (Charn/Birm Uni) 17:54; 2 Claire Wilson (Charn) 18:04; 3 Blue Haywood (Linc) 18:09; 4 Debbie Marsden (Charn) 18:30; 5 Kim Looms (Charn) 19:04

Full results are available on the following link: www.mansfield-harriers.org/results/mansfield_open_5K_050908.pdf

Saturday 13th September 2008

THE final individual and team standings for the 2008 (LRRL) Leicestershire Road Running League campaign are listed below.

Phil Chritchlow representing Beaumont Running Club and Gemma Steel of Hermitage Harriers are the overall individual champions.
Men
Senior
1-WATSON ALASTAIR-HERMITAGE-M-498-499-496-492-493-496-1989-1st M
2-WILLIAMS JASON-OWLS-M-451-498-495-493-485-0-1971-2nd M
3-WHITELEGG RICHARD-HINCKLEY-M-0-495-491-490-489-495-1971-3rd M
4-GREGORY PAUL-HERMITAGE-M-491-494-485-488-484-493-1966-4th M
5-STOUT BRIAN-IVANHOE-M-484-493-489-0-482-489-1955-5th M
6-TERRY JOHN-HERMITAGE-M-492-484-472-477-447-479-1932-6th M
7-BATTERSBY DAVID-BARROW-M-459-0-492-467-490-0-1908
8-BEARDALL KARL-FLECKNEY & KIBWORTH-M-434-477-471-482-469-477-1907
9-TOMLINSON LEE-HERMITAGE-M-489-469-455-462-465-480-1903
10-TALBOT CHRIS-NUNEATON-M-0-489-463-0-470-475-1897
Vet 40
1-CHRITCHLOW PHILIP-BEAUMONT-M4-499-0-498-496-496-499-1992-Overall Male Award
2-SOUTHAM CHRISTOPHER-STILTON-M4-493-500-0-494-495-497-1986-2nd M40
3-PLATTS STEVE-OWLS-M4-0-0-497-495-494-498-1984-3rd M40
4-BURCH JONATHAN-OWLS-M4-496-497-0-489-0-494-1976
5-BROWN NICK-STILTON-M4-475-491-0-485-480-487-1943
6-MASSER DAVE-HINCKLEY-M4-0-492-482-0-474-490-1938
7-CHAMBERLAIN MARK-ROADHOGGS-M4-482-490-480-483-463-0-1935
8-COULTON SHAUN-HERMITAGE-M4-441-488-476-478-466-481-1923
9-BILLINGTON RICHARD-DESFORD-M4-487-481-481-470-467-0-1919
10-NIKOLOFF BRUNO-WREAKE-M4-472-472-0-0-472-486-1902
Vet 45
1-CHAMBERS ALISTAIR-IVANHOE-M45-486-486-483-481-475-484-1939-1st M45
2-PARAMORE IAN-BARROW-M45-490-480-478-480-473-485-1935-2nd M45
3-SLONECZNY PETER-ROADHOGGS-M45-483-473-474-479-433-471-1909-3rd M45
4-STIFF MIKE-OWLS-M45-465-464-442-450-441-451-1830
5-BANDA FREDERICK-WEST END-M45-463-440-444-439-415-0-1786
6-SLIGHT GRAEME-HUNCOTE-M45-0-446-453-428-0-449-1776
7-RUTHERFORD DAVE-WEST END-M45-447-438-436-436-378-420-1757
8-HOBBS GRAHAM-DESFORD-M45-343-434-437-0-410-445-1726
9-CUSACK TONY-WEST END-M45-372-0-404-430-407-418-1659
10-STOCK NIGEL-HERMITAGE-M45-366-436-428-381-361-414-1659
Vet 50
1-COX DAVID-DESFORD-M5-470-463-452-466-451-453-1852-1st M50
2-O'FLYNN JOE-HUNCOTE-M5-460-468-454-460-255-0-1842-2nd M50
3-SHELDON MIKE-BARROW-M5-398-430-387-435-0-444-1707-3rd M50
4-WHEELER DAVID-FLECKNEY & KIBWORTH-M5-367-426-403-425-392-419-1673
5-MILSTEAD ROBERT-ROADHOGGS-M5-407-410-397-412-401-0-1630
6-DOUGLAS PHIL-STILTON-M5-352-399-392-399-356-323-1546
7-SIDDON TONY-HUNCOTE-M5-373-386-365-376-341-382-1517
8-HARRIS MALCOLM-BARROW-M5-315-367-410-361-360-0-1498
9-RITCHIE MARK-BEAUMONT-M5-433-359-0-340-327-0-1459
10-HILLIER NIGEL-BARROW-M5-360-378-338-352-328-369-1459
Vet 55
1-CRESSWELL JOHN-STILTON-M55-448-454-449-458-445-452-1813-1st M55
2-MENSLEY PETER-CHARNWOOD-M55-0-451-435-445-418-446-1777-2nd M55
3-MASON JOHN-OWLS-M55-371-435-421-427-412-433-1716
4-CHESTERTON LES-OWLS-M55-401-409-395-397-386-396-1603
5-THOMPSON DENNIS-WEST END-M55-389-392-379-390-359-389-1560
6-SEAL CHRISTOPHER-WEST END-M55-0-396-393-346-398-0-1533
7-COE TREVOR-BEAUMONT-M55-0-345-350-359-340-0-1394
8-DRAYCOTT RAY-OWLS-M55-0-358-334-330-339-0-1361
9-MARTIN STEVE-ROADHOGGS-M55-0-0-312-304-279-320-1215
Vet 60
1-NORMAN ANTHONY-NUNEATON-M6-471-461-461-461-449-457-1854-1st M60
2-WATTS PHIL-HUNCOTE-M6-308-362-0-0-324-359-1353
3-GOODMAN ANDREW-BIRSTALL-M6-273-337-318-0-307-335-1297
4-GALLAGHER BRYAN-BARROW-M65-242-277-266-267-231-271-1081
Vet 70
1-OLIVER GEOFFREY-HINCKLEY-M7-361-333-337-0-0-345-1376
Teams:
Senior
Div 1
1 Hermitage-203; 2 OWLS-198; 3 Barrow-159; 4 Stilton-149; 5 Wreake-140; 6 Huncote-139; 7 Hinckley-134
Div 2
1 Ivanhoe-201; 2 Birstall-170; 3 Beaumont-168; 4 Roadhoggs-168; 5 Desford-145; 6 West End-138; 7 Nuneaton-132
Div 3
1 Fleckney-217; 2 Shepshed-162; 3 Whetstone-144; 4 Leics Tri-141; 5 Leics Coritanian-132; 6 Charnwood-125; 7 S. Derbys-125; 8 Harborough-124
Vets
Div 1
1 Huncote-181; 2 Barrow-179; 3 Stilton-179; 4 Wreake-171.5; 5 Roadhoggs-151.5; 6 West End-132; 7 Hinckley-127;
Div 2
1 OWLS-197; 2 Ivanhoe-191.5; 3 Hermitage-167; 4 Desford-157.5; 5 Nuneaton-139; 6 Beaumont-135;7 Birstall-135
Div 3
1 Fleckney-177; 2 Leics Coritanian-167; 3 Shepshed-159; 4 Whetstone-154; 5 S. Derbys-142; 6 Leics Tri-118; 7 Harborough-117; 8 Charnwood-115
Women
Senior
1-STEEL GEMMA-HERMITAGE-F-496-0-499-500-500-500-1999-Overall Female Award
2-MUSTON JENNY-SHEPSHED-F-492-0-495-494-494-0-1975-2nd F
3-WINTERS SAM-OWLS-F-0-0-490-493-497-494-1974-3rd F
4-JOHNSON LAURA-CHARNWOOD-F-0-491-491-492-496-0-1970-4th F
5-DORMER KATE-FLECKNEY & KIBWORTH-F-484-0-481-488-0-489-1942
6-CAVE LIZ-DESFORD-F-481-484-482-485-484-0-1935
7-BECKWITH YVONNE-WEST END-F-480-493-480-479-0-481-1934
8-NEWCOMBE LOUISE-WREAKE-F-472-481-479-481-480-484-1926
9-CAVEN ALEX-OWLS-F-476-476-477-484-0-486-1923
10-HAY JO-WEST END-F-0-464-469-475-446-475-1883
Vet 40
1-NEALON NICKI-HUNCOTE-F4-498-500-500-498-499-499-1998-!st F40
2-RAMSEY KATE-BARROW-F4-0-498-497-497-0-498-1990-2nd F40
3-RAAIJMAKERS MONIQUE-BARROW-F4-487-489-0-490-486-487-1953-3rd F40
4-BILLINGTON MHAIRI-DESFORD-F4-0-486-484-486-476-0-1932
5-CHILTON JANE-HINCKLEY-F4-0-483-476-480-473-477-1916
6-BOSCH SARAH-BARROW-F4-479-474-473-473-462-476-1902
7-McGARRY GILL-HINCKLEY-F4-473-463-456-468-472-479-1892
8-SHAW RUTH-IVANHOE-F4-410-469-464-472-467-462-1872
9-WYNN-WILLIAMS MAEVE-BIRSTALL-F4-462-455-470-0-0-468-1855
10-BRANDON TANIA-OWLS-F4-0-471-446-465-469-0-1851
Vet 45
1-NEWMAN SALLY-WREAKE-F45-495-499-0-496-493-497-1987-1st F45
2-JOY WENDY-BEAUMONT-F45-494-497-496-495-495-496-1984-2nd F45
3-BLACK SUE-BIRSTALL-F45-0-492-485-491-492-493-1968-
4-HILLIER ANN-BARROW-F45-475-478-471-482-477-480-1917-
5-PEARSON DAWN-IVANHOE-F45-0-494-414-492-481-0-1881-
6-GARDNER SUSAN-HUNCOTE-F45-458-456-0-459-459-467-1843-
7-PARRY BEV-HUNCOTE-F45-455-454-447-458-468-0-1835-
8-MOON SUSANNE-HERMITAGE-F45-439-441-435-436-427-448-1764-
9-LONG SANDRA-OWLS-F45-428-424-430-443-435-455-1763-
10-AMOR TRACY-WREAKE-F45-0-430-429-446-428-444-1749-
11-LORD PAM-DESFORD-F45-426-429-422-0-424-443-1722-
12-FERGUSON WENDY-BIRSTALL-F45-0-0-404-425-414-422-1665-
13-LODWICK ALISON-ROADHOGGS-F45-397-399-399-420-401-420-1640-
Vet 50
1-DAVISWORTH JACKIE-BEAUMONT-F5-486-485-487-0-485-490-1948-1st F50
2-OWEN BERNADETTE-FLECKNEY & KIBWORTH-F5-471-472-462-0-447-471-1876-2nd F50
3-ASHTON ANNE-HINCKLEY-F5-416-438-453-464-426-0-1781
4-ROWLANDS ALISON-BIRSTALL-F5-393-422-423-439-417-417-1701
5-LITTLE NICKI-BEAUMONT-F5-407-413-409-0-410-433-1665
6-PRAEKELT UTA-WEST END-F5-403-403-397-419-0-0-1622
7-WISCHHUSEN ELAINE-HINCKLEY-F5-0-394-0-409-396-416-1615
8-HOLMES VALDA-DESFORD-F5-0-390-385-0-388-408-1571
9-MOSS LINDA-FLECKNEY & KIBWORTH-F5-0-436-438-440-0-0-1314
10-COBLEY CHRIS-BIRSTALL-F5-0-0-0-423-413-425-1261
Vet 55
1-GRIFFIN LESLEY-BIRSTALL-F55-490-0-483-487-0-483-1943-1st F55
2-PRIESTLEY CAROLE-OWLS-F55-412-421-417-428-423-442-1714
3-BRAND JUDITH-HERMITAGE-F55-400-412-0-418-416-430-1676
4-DAVIES JANE-DESFORD-F55-0-488-486-0-491-0-1465
5-WILSON PHYLLY-WREAKE-F65-0-0-387-0-394-414-1195
Teams:
Senior
Div 1
1 Barrow 203; 2 Beaumont 169; 3 Birstall 157; 4 Hinckley 144; 5 OWLS 143; 6 Huncote 127; 7 Wreake 124; 8 Barrow B 123; 9 Ivanhoe 116; 10 Stilton 114
Div 2
1 Fleckney 231; 2 Desford 221; 3 West End 215; 4 Roadhoggs 213; 5 Hermitage 209; 6 Birstall B 139; 7 Hermitage B 128; 8 Hinckley B 122; 9 Wreake B 116; 10 Harborough 111; 11 OWLS B 106; 12 Fleckney B 104; 13 Shepshed 87; 14 Huncote B 76; 15 Beaumont B 74; 16 Nuneaton 71; 17 West End B 66; 18 Leics Tri 62; 19 Desford B 59; 20 S. Derbys 57; 21 Charnwood 48; 22 Ivanhoe B 46; 23 Whetstone 42; 24 Harborough B 29; 25 Roadhoggs B 13
Vets
1 Barrow-244; 2 Beaumont-227; 3 Birstall-215.5; 4 Hinckley-207; 5 Desford-189.5; 6 Ivanhoe-180; 7 OWLS-177; 8 Huncote-167; 9 Wreake-158; 10 Fleckney-142; 11 Hermitage-131; 12 West End-121; 13 Roadhoggs-99; 14 Harborough-83; 15 Nuneaton-75; 16 S. Derbys-53; 17 Stilton-46; 18 Shepshed-28

Special thanks to Mick Yeoman Physiotherapy for their sponsorship of the LRRL this season.

2008 BUPA Great Yorkshire Run

City of Sheffield

Sunday 7th September 2008

MUSTAFA MOHAMED and Grace Momanyi secured fine individual victories at the 2008 BUPA Great Yorkshire Run in the city of Sheffield.

Sweden's Somalian-born Olympic and world championship 3,000m steeplechase finalist Mustafa Mohamed, just 48 hours after competing at the IAAF ÅF Golden League meeting in Brussels when finishing 7th over the steeplechase, held off the challenge of Spain's former European 10,000m champion Chema Martinez who competed in the marathon at the recent Olympics to take victory by a margin of just six-seconds in the steel city crossing the line in a time of 29mins 10secs.

Loughborough University based athletes were also in action in the race as British internationals Chris Thompson clocked 29:30 to finish in a fine 6th place, and Morpeth Harrier Nick McCormick, part of John Nuttall’s squad, recorded 29:46 to take a top ten finish in 9th.

Ryan Mcleod returned to action after battling through a series of injuries after twisting his pelvis in a cross-country race in Belfast to finish in 15th place as the 23-year-old Elswick Harrier clocked a new personal best of 30:47.

In the Women’s race Grace Momanyi fresh from setting a personal best over 5,000m in Brussels on Friday night eased to an impressive victory with a time of 32mins 44secs.

The Kenyan, who lost out on selection for the Beijing Olympics finished ahead of Kareema Jasim of Bahrain (33:04) and the USA’s Pan-American 10,000m champion Sarah Slattery (33:12).

Rutland’s Felicity Milton - following her recent two fine road victories over 10km at Grimsthorpe and Hermitage finished the highest placed British athlete clocking 33:52 - as the 21-year-old Durham University student finished in a solid 6th place.

www.greatrun.org/

Hermitage Open 10km

Whitwick, Leicestershire

Sunday 31st August 2008

BRITISH international Triathlete Adam Hickey and fellow Team GB member Felicity Milton produced superb individual course record-breaking performances to take commanding victories at the second edition of the Hermitage 10km Open race.

Adam Hickey came into the race partly due to a last minute change in his schedule - having planned to compete in a triathlon that was cancelled, the 20-year-old based at Loughborough University, part of the British Triathlon World Performance squad, switched to the Hermitage event having read about this in Runners World magazine - much to the race organisers delight.

Hickey, representing Southend AC has only returned to action over recent months having spent 2007 suffering from injuries, and here over a tough undulating course that wound its way through the beautiful countryside of the National Forest in North West Leicestershire, that including sections along the disused railway and took in the sights of Mount St. Bernard Abbey - Hickey found himself leading a breakaway pack of three athletes containing Lincoln’s Matt Bowser and Durham University student Matt Gundy representing Woodford Green with Essex Ladies.

From that trio the destination of the race winner was to be decided as Hickey pulled clear over the final kilometres to take a fine and comprehensive victory crossing the line in a new course record time of 32mins 04secs finishing virtually out on his own 38 seconds ahead of Gundy (32:42) - the winner of the Ocean Spray Grimsthorpe 10km on Bank Holiday Monday, and third place Bowser (33:15).

Hickey reflecting on his performance commented afterwards: “I was very pleased with the run today – I felt good and this was a good course and a nice event, I felt very comfortable with my running.”

Looking ahead Hickey underlined his plans over the next four years when he aims to represent Team GB at the 2012 London Olympics where he will still be only 24.

“That’s my long term aim – before the injury problems I was training with Alistair Brownlee who represented Great Britain in Beijing, so that’s my main aim over the next four-years leading up to 2012.”

In the Women’s race as with last year Felicity Milton was simply in a class of her own, the 21-year-old Durham University Engineering student from Exton in Rutland - a Team GB representative at the 2007 Mombasa IAAF World Cross Country Championships and the reigning BUSA 5,000m track champion, has spent the summer months racing in Germany as part of her work with sponsors adidas and having recently returned to the UK to smash the course record at the Grimsthorpe 10km she continued that rich vein of form here in Hermitage with a dominant display winning in a time of 34mins 56secs.

The time narrowly broke her own course record by a margin of just two seconds, this following a determined sprint finish for the line.

Over the winter months Milton's aim is to qualify for the 2008 European Cross Country Championships that take place in Brussels on December 14th – and will look further ahead to the Autumn of 2009 where she is planning to attend university in America on a scholarship, ether at UCLA or Stanford in California.

Milton commented: “ I was pleased with my performance today – I felt good and training has been going well over recent weeks since I returned from Germany.

She continued: “My main aim is to qualify for the Europeans – however, I’m planning to travel over to America later this year to visit various universities and check out the locations for 2009."

A trio of Charnwood’s top athletes combined with Gemma Steel representing the host club Hermitage Harriers, followed over the line as British international Juliet Potter - winner of the recent Mallory Park 5km clocked 35:29 to finish second ahead of Steel (38:07) as the 2007 BUSA 10,000m champion Sarah Maude secured fourth in 38:47.

Leicestershire’s reigning track champion over the distance Debbie Marsden finished 5th in 39:43.

Report by Mark Woolley - Copyright athletics-leics.com

Leading Results:
Men
1 Adam Hickey (Southend) 32:04; 2 Matt Gunby (Woodford/Durham Uni) 32:42; 3 Matt Bowser (Lincoln) 33:15; 4 Phil Chritchlow (Beau, M40) 33:41; 5 James Douglas (Charn) 33:46
Women
1 Felicity Milton (Durham) 34:56; 2 Juliet Potter (Charn) 35:29; 3 Gemma Steel (Hermitage) 38:07; 4 Sarah Maude (Charn) 38:47; 5 Debbie Marsden (Charn) 39:43

Full results are available on the following link: www.hermitage-harriers.co.uk/

Sunday 31st August 2008

BRITAIN'S world marathon record-holder Paula Radcliffe led the way as more than 20,000 people set off from Wembley Stadium to pound the thoroughfares of north London - one of 25 cities taking part in the Nike+ Human Race.

Thousands of runners buoyed by Britain's recent sporting success in Beijing took to the streets to participate in the global 10k charity race.

A pre-race concert saw the likes of Moby, Australian drum and bass band Pendulum and Detroit born DJ Carl Craig help get the blood pumping ahead of the starting pistol. The global charity fun run kicked off in Taipei and moved west, ending in Los Angeles.