Derrington Dash 5K

Wow, wow, WOW!!! What a day to remember!!! The inaugural Derrington Dash 5k was a runaway success, pun very much intended! From all ages and abilities to some seriously speedy finishes 🤪, we had it all. The smiles were so big, (they may well have been grimaces mind!!) I thought we might need to issue sunglasses for the glare. 😎 (we certainly didn’t need it for the sun!!! It was a beautifully grey, dull, English day but very humid!)🌥☁️

For years, the fete at Derrington has been a staple, and thanks to the amazing Harrier volunteers and the legend himself, Race Director Ian, we managed to spice things up with a cheeky little 5k thrown into the mix!

The course? Oh, just a casual run mainly down old railway tracks, with a quick detour around the Millennium Green pond (because who doesn’t love a scenic route, right?) 🏞️. It was fast, it was furious, and the runners delivered, no surprise there! Our very own Matthew Hilsdon went full throttle from the get go and crossed the finish line first in a blistering 17:19! That guy is practically running on jet fuel at this point. 🚀 Hot on his tail (well, more like nipping at his heels) was Matthew Craen from Stafford & Cannock AC, finishing just 14 seconds behind in 17:33. Coming in at 3rd place, Brad Roeton from Run & Ride also sprinted his way to an impressive 18:16 finish!

As for the ladies, 1st place and 4th overall went to the speedster Vicki Mackay from Wolves & Bilston AC, clocking in at 19:04. Not to be outdone, our very own Vanessa Parsonage took 2nd place in 21:38, and Charlotte Chapman snagged 3rd in 21:55. Talk about fast ladies! 💨💃

But wait, there’s more! The U16s came to play, too! 🏅 Thomas Willocks finished as the 1st U16 boy, and Sophia Spencer-Burns took the crown for 1st U16 girl. Meanwhile, Jamie Tilley (yes, related to our very own Anne Tilley, this is the real family business) claimed the title of 1st U11 boy, while Henrietta Bradford triumphed as 1st U11 girl! All the above left with a super cool prize; a bird or bat box. 🐦🦇 (Who knew wildlife could be so stylish?) 📦

And of course, every runner left with a sparkly medal to hang proudly on their wall (because let’s be honest, the more bling, the better), plus some exclusive flower seeds grown from the very same meadow they just ran around. 🌸🌼🌻 Talk about a full circle moment!

All this for just a tenner! Seriously, who says you can’t have it all? 🎉

And let’s not forget the cherry on top, the post-race fete fun! Cake? Oh yes. 🍰 (Perhaps a cheeky beer or two for some 🍺🍺). Big shoutout to everyone who made this day so special, whether you were running, or out there marshaling, handing out water, medals, flower seeds, or just cheering us on. Your support made all the difference, and we couldn’t do it without each and every one of you. It’s so heartwarming to be part of a running club that is this supportive and awesome. 🤗

A massive thank you to the Derrington Village Hall Fete Committee for letting us crash their party and be part of their fabulous day! And a huge shoutout to the Derrington Club for sponsoring the race bibs (hopefully our runners “paid them back” by drinking all the beer on offer! 🍺). Also, a big round of applause to JC Race Solutions, who kindly provided the timing for the event. Thanks to them, we didn’t have to resort to using stopwatches and guessing the finish times! 🙌 And last but definitely not least, a thank you to Derrington Millennium Green for their generosity, providing those beautiful bat and bird boxes at cost price, plus a batch of discounted flower seeds for our prize winners! 🌸 We know the runners were absolutely thrilled with these little treasures… and of course, their shiny, totally “not plastic” medals! 🏅

See you all next year, faster and even funnier! 👏🥳

Spots are limited to just 150 runners, and entries open —so stay sharp and don’t miss out!

 

🏃‍♂️ The Route: Scenic & Simple!!🏃‍♀️

Your adventure kicks off at the charming bridge beside Derrington’s playing fields. From there, you’ll cruise west along the historic old railway line—flat, fast, and perfect for setting your pace. At Crossing Lane, you’ll hit your first turnaround and head back with fresh energy.

Next up: a scenic detour! You’ll veer left onto a hidden track leading into the beautiful Millennium Green. Here, you’ll loop around the peaceful pond (watch for ducks cheering you on!) before rejoining the railway line and heading east toward Stafford.

Your second turnaround awaits where the trail meets the lane—loop around, dig deep, and power back along the railway line.

But don’t stop yet! Dash past the starting point, swing left into the playing fields, and sprint to the finish—where your well-earned memento is waiting to celebrate your run! 🎉