Race Report January to March 2017

Stafford Half

19th March 2017

 

Race report by Ruth Edwards

 

Sunday morning dawned dry, cool and windy, in fact so windy that the Council had abandoned all attempts at pitching their tents in the Market Square so when queuing to collect our t-shirts and medals before the race (must be the only race in the world that does this!!) we were met with the sights of semi-naked people having their pre-race massages exposed to the world and his wife.

Made our way back to the County club and promptly missed the club photo due to being stuck in a long queue for the toilets (pre-race nerves kicking in again). Oh well, Kelly kindly obliged and took one of the stragglers left in the women’s changing room with the odour of Deep Heat hanging over us. I think the race started on time but we got stuck in Market Square trying to cross over to the other side – think the Council had forgotten how many people the race had been opened to this time. Eventually got going through the noisy town centre, great support from so many people, and wended our way up the Newport Road like a very long colourful snake. Played chase the Harrier for a while until we got into our stride, then it was slow down, we are going too fast and cant keep this up. Radford Bank proved a doddle this time (first time ever), the wind was behind us and up we flew. Loud support at the top and all down Baswich Lane with quite a few Harrier non-runners out supporting us, cant think why they weren’t interested in entering??

Through the lanes to Kingston Hill, looking forward to Craig’s wine, but alas it had either all gone by the time I got there or I missed seeing it (first time ever) – I am reliably informed he managed to get rid of 160 glasses of beer and wine but only one Harrier took him up on the offer ….. that will get you all guessing who it was, great support around the Morris man pub then the joys of Beaconside beckoned and I can honestly say it was the hardest run I have ever had along there, brief respite from thinking about the task ahead from the radio van and a bit of welcome music. The wind was really strong on the section past Sandon Road, runners Tourettes made an appearance and the plod continued. Great to see Holly and Rich supporting past the Common Road, very welcome at that point as some of us had almost slowed down to a walk. Turned the corner and onto Stone Road and a downhill section for quite a way and managed to pick up a bit of speed again. Onto the Isabel trail and entertained by a male runner (I’m sure he was from a Welsh male voice choir) singing the whole of A little respect by Erasure which again distracted me. Finally reached the last leg and the town park, again brilliant support and the very welcome only 800 metres to go sign!!! Braced ourselves for turning the corner after Superdrug to pass the County club and the fantastic Harriers posse, hard not to feel emotional at this point with the wall of noise and try to focus on a last minute spurt, but its hard with not much gas left in the legs, reach the 200 metres sign and a final push to get round the corner and onto the main street again and that’s it all over for another year. No PB for me this year but hey I pushed myself as much as I could so happy with my time.

Its on days like this that I feel proud to be a Harrier, amazing support from everyone and great post race celebrations, perhaps a little too much!

 

Race Results

 

Bib
first Name
surname
Gender
Gender Pos
Class Gender
Class Pos
Chip Time
Chip Pos
2503
Phillip
Hilsdon
Male
14
M
13
1:17:48
13
6
Matt
Woodman
Male
18
M
16
1:18:20
18
1776
Harry
Perkins
Male
68
M
48
1:25:01
68
PB
1423
Justin
Green
Male
118
M45
17
1:28:33
123
2001
Robert
Mottram-Jones
Male
121
M55
2
1:28:48
131
402
Kev
Darby
Male
129
M45
18
1:29:02
135
3387
Richard
Rea
Male
138
M
87
1:29:24
147
1372
Spencer
Holland
Male
148
M45
21
1:29:39
157
1014
Paul
Higginson
Male
171
M40
34
1:30:50
187
489
Simon
Cope
Male
203
M
119
1:32:13
215
PB
1229
Craig
Harris
Male
287
M
167
1:36:19
309
2722
Jason
Littlewood
Male
293
M
169
1:36:40
322
PB
2115
Ian
Heath
Male
309
M45
48
1:37:30
349
182
Simon
Bromley
Male
336
M40
64
1:38:12
383
2423
Liam
Duggan
Male
344
M
195
1:38:26
389
1431
Robert
Proctor
Male
366
M45
59
1:39:24
427
3392
Neil
Martin
Male
424
M50
28
1:40:12
458
1564
Simon
Groom
Male
499
M40
91
1:42:50
581
1375
Gareth
Hudson
Male
614
M
334
1:44:16
660
807
Richard
Quine
Male
601
M40
115
1:45:36
747
3174
David
Marsden
Male
728
M60
11
1:47:01
840
2280
Steve
Turner
Male
730
M55
28
1:47:01
843
326
Alan
Jones
Male
710
M50
54
1:47:22
863
1041
Chris
Elsley
Male
802
M45
129
1:48:09
896
2697
Chris
Skellern
Female
82
F50
6
1:48:23
902
1705
Mark
Burrows
Male
760
M45
119
1:48:26
903
148
William
Gray
Male
791
M
413
1:49:10
957
3711
Craig
Baxter
Male
907
M45
148
1:49:45
986
653
Ian
Hodkinson
Male
820
M45
134
1:49:55
997
377
Gill
Hodkinson
Female
92
F45
11
1:49:55
998
561
Darren
Mattocks
Male
912
M40
166
1:50:23
1021
253
Steven
McHugh
Male
843
M45
139
1:50:44
1035
PB
3012
Tracy
Ridings
Female
115
F45
16
1:50:50
1042
657
Tina
Darby
Female
135
F45
19
1:52:00
1109
PB
735
Debbie
McDermott
Female
138
F45
21
1:53:16
1167
461
Kerry
Robertson
Female
165
F50
10
1:53:27
1180
PB
972
John
Finney
Male
979
M70
1
1:53:50
1208
1444
Neil
Eisenhauer
Male
1055
M45
173
1:53:56
1211
2064
Paul
Morris
Male
983
M
510
1:53:57
1212
2086
Sarah
Whyte
Female
213
F45
26
1:54:25
1234
PB
2530
Stella
Denniss
Female
216
F40
37
1:54:35
1247
2435
Melonie
Deakin
Female
163
F45
22
1:54:59
1281
1750
Mark
Bentley
Male
1066
M50
84
1:55:07
1294
1168
Richard
Davies
Male
1143
1:56:49
1399
1432
Tim
Hough
Male
1051
M45
170
1:56:50
1400
784
Scott
Kelsall
Male
1245
M40
233
1:57:14
1421
1243
Jennifer
Beckett
Female
277
F35
68
1:57:39
1446
376
Joanne
Oliver
Female
278
F45
37
1:57:40
1448
2428
Alix
Jackson
Female
305
F
102
1:59:17
1554
3753
Ruth
Edwards
Female
348
F55
8
2:01:27
1682
602
Becki
Hollins
Female
347
F40
68
2:01:28
1685
458
Lindsey
Foster
Female
396
F50
26
2:03:34
1806
2767
Dave
Cook
Male
1500
M
761
2:07:18
1979
695
Wendy
Sears
Female
458
F50
33
2:08:42
2038
2019
Karen
Murray
Female
448
F50
30
2:09:38
2082
1526
Julie
Nokes
Female
501
F55
12
2:10:04
2110
1801
Gemma
Gray
Female
609
F
206
2:11:48
2194
886
Steven
Adams
Male
1600
M40
309
2:12:33
2229
1176
Lizzie
Walker
Female
627
F
214
2:13:13
2257
254
Kelly
McHugh
Female
643
F35
140
2:13:48
2281
852
Karen D
Murray
Female
659
F55
19
2:14:33
2306
1256
Cheryl
Metcalfe
Female
634
F
216
2:15:31
2333
PB
1021
Michael
Bamber
Male
1695
M50
144
2:15:40
2337
PB
919
Gael
Earp
Female
599
F50
44
2:15:41
2338
1553
Charlotte
Reeves
Female
641
F
220
2:15:48
2344
571
Amanda
Pearce
Female
5
2:15:53
2350
2727
Sam
Jackson
Female
676
F35
154
2:17:33
2414
1876
Shirley
Smith
Female
797
F50
58
2:20:27
2518
1939
Stephanie
Burrows
Female
798
F
265
2:20:38
2526
1255
Emma
Metcalfe
Female
818
F
268
2:21:15
2550
2116
Claire
Heath
Female
876
F40
166
2:25:29
2677
529
Lorraine
Flory
Female
880
F45
122
2:25:56
2691
2504
Karen
Hilsdon
Female
881
F45
123
2:25:57
2692
PB
1224
David
Kumar
Male
1846
M
892
2:27:29
2725
667
Charlotte
Ward
Female
887
F35
191
2:28:25
2742
2109
John
Hateley
Male
1855
M70
9
2:31:17
2811
341
Sarah
Gray
Female
999
F55
30
2:35:36
2868
PB
1833
Deborah
Garcia
Female
1060
F45
149
2:44:14
2959
1699
William
Whitworth
Male
1900
M70
10
2:46:48
2980
2726
Frank
Evans
Male
1937
M70
12
3:07:03
3046

 

Colin Mitchell’s Photos
Ben Deakin’s Photo
Dawn Gibbons’s Photos

Sunday 12 March

 

Press release from Chris Elsley

Knighton 20

The sun was shining as more than 300 runners embarked on the gruelling Knighton 20 last Sunday.

The race begins and ends at the Knighton Family Social Club and incorporates three 6.6 mile loops around the surrounding country lanes, heading back in Knighton via Shebdon and Adbaston.

The race was won by Tipton’s Ben Gamble in 1:47:33 who finished a minute ahead of Stockport’s Patrick Martin. These two were well ahead of the rest of the field with 3rd placed runner Oliver Harradence of Royal Sutton Coldfield a further seven minutes back.

The leading lady was Welsh International Hannah Jarvis of Dorking and Mole Valley AC who finished 10th in 2:08:40.

Phil Hilsdon was the first of 15 Stafford Harriers to complete the challenge, finishing 15th overall in a time of 2.11.23 with Mark Birkett less than a minute further back in 2.12.04 (17th)

 

Other Harrier times were:

 

Phil Hilsdon
2.11.23
15th
Mark Birkett
2.12.04
17th
Robert Mottram Jones
2.21.43
48th
Spencer Holland
2.31.48
72nd
PB
Ian Wood
2.38.44
99th
Ian Hodkinson
2.50.33
148th
Chris Elsley
2.58.01
182nd
Alan Jones
3.02.20
198th
Tracy Ridings
3.07.29
216th
Ed Smith
3.10.28
225th
Liz Simcox
3.10.58
229th
Gill Hodkinson
3.22.24
257th
Joanne Oliver
3.22.23
258th
Lindsey Foster
3.22.56
260th
Karen Murray
3.36.11
283rd

 

 




Fradley 10K

Elsewhere, seven Harriers took on the Fradley 10K near Lichfield and it was two of their younger members who took the club honours with 15 year old Ben Deakin the first Harrier home in 45:31 (144th) while another 15 year old, Lizzie Jasper was next home, finishing 244th) in 49:46.

Almost 900 runners finished the event with the remaining Harriers coming home as follows:

 

Melonie Deakin
50.08
266th
Sarah Whyte
52.15
319th
Austin Whyte
59.09
558th
Tessa Jasper
61.30
606th
Lizzie Pellowe
61.53
648th

 

The race was won by Ashley Hurdman of Hatton Darts in 33.40 with Derby AC’s Veleska Wills finishing as the leading lady in 36.15 (9th overall).

 

Ironbridge Half Marathon

Justin Green was the sole Harrier representative at the Ironbridge Half Marathon. He finished in an excellent 43rd position in a time of 1.30.59. Tipton’s Martin Williams was first across the line in 1:14:48 with Bridgnorth runner Lauren Draper the first lady in 1:28:34.

 

Fradley 10K

12/3/17

Report from Mel Deakin

Good weather, dare I say almost tropical compared to weather of late, met us at Fradley on Sunday for the 10k. This is a two lap race, flat and all on road. Great for spectators too as they see the start, then less than 20 minutes to wait before the lead runners pass by to start their second lap.

Juniors Ben and Lizzie both put in PB performances being first Harriers home. Evie Whyte had a fantastic start and was on track for a PB but unfortunately had to pull out around half way with an injury. That left the adults to bring the Harrier team home, well done everyone, great running.

 

Results:

1st Ashley Hurdman unattached 33:40

1st female Veleska Wills Derby AC 36:15

 

Stafford Harriers:

144th Ben Deakin 45:31 PB

244th Lizzie Jasper 49:46 PB

266th Mel Deakin 50:08

319th Sarah Whyte 52:15 PB

558th Austin Whyte 59:09

606th Tessa Jasper 61:30 PB

648th Lizzie Pellowe 61:53

 

883 finished

 

 

 

 

 

Cloud Nine

5 March 17

Report by Jason Littlewood

I wasn’t looking forward to this race at all, having found myself slightly fed up with running the past couple of weeks. But boy did that change once the race started. A fantastic 9 mile race in Congleton which includes a climb of over 1000 ft to the top of The Cloud – the hill which this race takes its name from. The day started with heavy rain further adding to my pre-race misery, which luckily subsided to just a drizzle when the race started. The race starts along some old railway tracks before crossing some fields and then hitting the intimidating climb to the top of The Cloud. From the top of the hill it’s a quick descent, followed by more field crossings and road running before finishing about a 100 metres away from the start. I started off at a nice slow pace, due to not being in the mood beforehand. This however worked to my benefit when I got to the hill climb as I was able to run all the way to the top without walking, which definitely surprised me. More surprise came from how easily I overtook one of our best runners Robert Mottram-Jones just after the start of the climb (try wearing the correct footwear next time Rob!). From the top of the hill it is roughly 6 miles to the finish and with my good pacing up the hill I was able to fly down to the finish. I must have overtaken about 30 people to finish in a great time. The Race was won by Simon Bailey of Mercia Fell Runners in 56.37 and first lady was Carla Brown of Cambridge & Coleridge AC in 1.10.35. First Harrier home was Spencer Holland in 1.15.19, second was myself in 1.18.11, with Dave Payling coming in as third Harrier in a time of 1.21.14. This is an incredible race that is tough, muddy and hilly, which I thoroughly enjoyed and reminded me why I love running. I recommend it to all for next year.

 

Complete list of Harrier times are:

Pos
Runner
Time
56
Spencer Holland
1.15.19
74
Jason Littlewood
1.18.11
100
Dave Payling
1.21.14
106
Simon Bromley
1.22.00
165
Jim Smith
1.28.15
182
Robert Mottram-Jones
1.32.43
197
Alan Jones
1.35.53
204
Steve Turner
1.37.19
213
Eddie Smith
1.38.33
222
Sandra Smith
1.40.26

 

Press release

5th March

Press release from Chris Elsley

It was a busy day on the race calendar last Sunday as members of Stafford Harriers ventured north, south and east and west in search of events to occupy their time.

Cloud Nine

Heading north were 9 runners who took part in the Cloud 9 event in Congleton. This is a challenging but enjoyable race that takes runners to the top of the Cloud – a local hill before returning back to the town.
Spencer Holland lead the local contingent home with a 56th place finish in a time of 75:19. Next in was Jason Littlewood (74th – 78:11) while Simon Bromley finished in 82:00 to take 106th.
The rest of the Harriers team was:
Jim Smith 165th 88:15
Robert Mottram Jones 182nd 92:43
Alan Jones 197th 95:53
Steve Turner 204th 97:19
Eddie Smith 213th 98:33
Sandra Smith 222nd 100:26

Cambridge Half

Travelling South was Mel Deakin who ran the Cambridge Half Marathon in a time of 1:50:35 finishing 2,358th in a field of almost 7,000 finishers.
Also travelling south, though not as far, were Chris Elsley and Chris Skellern who ran the much shorter distance in the Action Heart 5 from Dudley’s Russell’s Hall Hospital. Elsley finished in 39:43 (91st) with Skellern 116th in 41:07. 350 runners took part.

Ashbourne 10

Michelle Fox headed out to Ashbourne for a new event – the Ashbourne 10 miler – and finished 1st lady (16th overall) in 72:52 – more than four minutes ahead of the next lady.

Millennium Way Ultra

But those performances are somewhat outdone by the efforts of nine Harriers who took on the Millennium Way Ultra – a 41 mile race running across the county from Newport to Burton in the worst conditions ever seen.
The hardy lot – with their times and finishing positions – were:

Nick Beckett 27th 7:56:21
Chris Ross 31st 8:07:32
Shelley Burns 79th 9:27:23
Georgina Coggins 80th 9:27:23
Alan Griffin 107th 10:39:14
Rachel Darbey 108th 10:39:14
Tina Darby 120th 10:51:44
Debbie McDermott 121st 10:51:44
Gina Brown 122nd 10:51:44

145 competitors finished

 

Cambridge Half Marathon

5th March 2017

Report from Mel Deakin

This was my second year running at this event. Same course, flat with PB potential. Entries increased to 9000 but this year for the first time a wave start. The weather was, to be polite, awful – cold, wet and windy. At the start I did question why I was there, all I wanted to do was get warm and dry. But once I started running I felt better, plenty to see and lots of hardy spectators out to support. The course took us through the city past the colleges and museums then headed out to Grantchester which is a bit more rural before heading back towards the city centre then the finish at Midsummer Common. I amazed myself and finished just under 1:50 although the last three miles were tough. The experience of running in the cross country events and other challenging runs in wet clothes and soggy shoes and bad conditions certainly helped get me to the finish. Amazing medal and packed goodie bag were very welcome. Great organisation too, the event ran like clockwork. I keep threatening to hang up my half marathon shoes and just do shorter events, but this is one half I love and who knows, I may be back again next year.

1st Aaron Scott Lincoln Wellington AC/Nene Vall 1:07:58

1st female Tracy Barlow Thames Valley 1:16:23

2358th Mel Deakin Stafford Harriers 1:49:52 PB

 

Stafford Half Practice

26th Feb

 

60 people took part on our practice Half run.









































National Cross Country Championships

25th February 1917

A coach load of Harriers went to the “Nationals” at Woolaton Park Nottingham and took part in what was one of the most sucsseful Chapionships ever.

Report by Ben Deakin

I was looking forward to going to this event – it was the Nationals! I went to the Nationals last year at Donnington and that was good but really hilly so I was expecting a difficult course again this year.

As we got there we saw a big hill and I thought oh no, we may have to run up it! We got off the bus, we walked into the park and there was a sea of club tents everywhere. Our coaches sorted out our numbers and we got ready. I didn’t have much time to get nervous or think too much because my age group was one of the first to go. I heard some people talking about running through a river but I wasn’t sure what it was going to be like and wondered if they were exaggerating.

At the start we were in pens and before we knew it we had the three minute warning, then we moved onto the line, then the starting gun went off. I was with three other boys from my club as we made up a team, but as soon as we started running I lost sight of them as there were so many other people running. We ran up a hill to start, which was wasn’t too difficult, then downhill then a flat section. It wasn’t that muddy and I thought this isn’t going to be too hard. And then, all of a sudden, as we went around a corner I saw a dip which was very muddy and wet. It wasn’t really a river, more like running through a ford but my feet and legs were covered in mud and got wet. Later in the course there was another hill that was steep but short, and also another bit which was very boggy! Soon after that I could see the final straight to the finish. It had been a hard run but I was glad I did it. All four of my team got around so we got a team result.

The good thing about being one of the first to go is after I could relax and enjoy watching everyone else. The bad thing for some of my team mates was they forgot to bring any spare socks so had wet feet for the rest of the day. Overall I had a really good day, I was really pleased with how I had run, and had a good day out with Stafford Harriers.

 

Read a report from one of the National Newspapers about the event and ‘proper running’.

National Cross Country Championships

Awards Night

Friday 17th Feb

Challenge Group Winners

Group 3rd 2nd 1st

6 Amanda Pearce Bill Whitworth Mick Jones

5 Amy Oliver Steve Turner Julie Nokes

4 Debbie McDermott Jane Bisiker Mel Deakin

3 Nia Nokes Craig Baxter Tracy Ridings

2 Mark Oliver Chris Skellern Chris Elsley

1 Ian Hodkinson Spencer Holland Robert Mottram-Jones

 

Newcomer – Male – Nick Beckett

Newcomer – Female – Jenni Beckett

Most Improved – Nia Nokes

Team Managers Award – Ian Hodkinson

Club Person of the Year – Colin Mitchell

Champagne Moment – Craig Baxter

Runner of the Year – Male – Phil Hilsdon & Ian Hodkinson

Runner of the Year – Female – Mel Deakin

Runner of the Year – Veteran – Robert Mottram-Jones

 















Additional photos of the night

Rugeley 10

19th February 2017

Report Chris Elsley

Last Sunday morning saw more than 25 runners taking part in the Rugeley 10, a gruelling 10 mile race run around the country lanes of Brereton and Longdon before heading into Cannock Chase and back down to race HQ at Redbrook Hayes School.

The course incorporated a number of steep climbs and welcome downhills which gave runners a severe test.

24 members of Stafford Harriers were among the field with Robert Mottram Jones – named as the club’s Veteran Runner of the Year at the annual awards on Friday night –maintaining his good form with a 16th place finish (1st male over 55) in 67:13.

Adam Lightfoot – a newcomer to the club – also performed well, finishing as the second Harrier (22nd overall) in a time of 69:28 while another relative newcomer, Justin Green, was a further two places back in 69:56.

Other Harrier (gun) times were:

The race was won by Matthew Missen of Birchfield Harriers in 56:46 with Kristina Deffries of Trentham finishing as the leading lady in 64:35 (8th overall)

 

Robert Mottram-Jones
16th
67-13
Adam Lightfoot
22nd
69-28
Justin Green
24th
69-56
Spencer Holland
28th
71.30
Ian Wood
29th
71.37
Simon Bromley
53rd
76.78
Gareth Hudson
57th
76.56
Alan Jones
83rd
81.16
PB
Chris Skellern
94th
83.19 (1st lady over 50)
Steve McHugh
99th
83.46
Craig Baxter
110th
85.24
Ian Hodkinson
114th
85.56
Chris Elsley
116th
86.01
Tracy Ridings
124th
86.55
John Finney
126th
87.20
Ed Smith
135th
88.51
Gill Hodkinson
141st
89.42
Joanne Oliver
142nd
89.42
PB
Alison Conaghan
151st
91.09
Debbie McDermott
153rd
91.27
Georgina Coggins
158th
92.58
Melonie Deakin
162nd
93.20
Mark Bentley
169th
94.01
Julie Nokes
225th
105.13

 

Walton Wobble

12th February 2017

A field of 261 runners completed the first ever Walton Wobble on Sunday.

The 10k race began in the village at Walton on the Hill and took runners out along the Brocton Road then up over Chase Road and Camp Road before meeting up with the A34 for the return back to the grounds of Walton High School for the finish.

There was a cold icy wind to great runners at the start and it never relented to made conditions just that bit tougher.

More than 50 members of Stafford Harriers took part with Matt Woodman taking 3rd place overall (37:18) ahead of Harry Perkins (4th – 37:56). Kev Darby (40:42) and Robert Mottram-Jones (41:00) also finished inside the top 10 finishing in 9th and 10th respectively. There was also an impressive performance from junior member Matt Bonney who finished 16th in a time of 43:17.

The race was won by Paul Richards from Telford in 36:32, just ahead of local runner Craig Spilsbury. There was a close finish among the leading ladies as Laura Sandy beat fellow Staffordian Charlotte Beddow by just 5 seconds with Uttoxeter’s Chloe Hawkins a further seven seconds back. The leading lady from Staffdord Harriers was Michelle Fox who finished in 29th in 45:15

The full list of Harriers finishers was:

 

Matt Woodman
37.02
3rd
Harry Perkins
37.40
4th
PB
Kev Darby
40.26
9th
Robert Mottram Jones
40.44
10th
Simon Cope
40.58
11th
Matt Bonney
43.01
16th
Spencer Holland
43.12
18th
Jason Littlewood
43.27
20th
PB
Ian Hodkinson
43.51
22nd
Michelle Fox
44.59
29th
Simon Bromley
45.51
34th
Gareth Hudson
46.56
39th
Jim Smith
47.17
40th
Rob Proctor
47.28
42nd
Neil Eissenhauer
47.47
45th
Liam Duggan
48.05
46th
Alan Jones
48.21
48th
Stella Denniss
48.45
53rd
Paul Reece
49.05
56th
Mark Burrows
49.55
63rd
Steve McHugh
49.57
64th
PB
Chris Elsley
50.17
66th
Dave Marsden
50.31
70th
Chris Skellern
50.46
75th
Nicol Hudson
51.07
80th
Mel Deakin
52.22
89th
Sandra Smith
52.37
92nd
Kerry Robertson
53.20
99th
Alison Conaghan
53.25
102nd
Ed Smith
53.28
103rd
Richard Davies
56.07
120th
Joanne Oliver
56.19
123rd
Natalie Boswell
58.44
143rd
Karen Murray
59.12
153rd
Lindsey Foster
60.03
163rd
Sally Liggins
60.13
167th
Alix Jackson
60.13
168th
Becki Hollins
60.22
170th
Ruth Edwards
60.22
171st
Wendy Sears
62.20
188th
Julie Nokes
62.51
191st
Cheryl Metcalfe
63.24
198th
Heather Bennett
63.26
200th
Sam Jackson
64.01
204th
Charlotte Ward
64.04
206th
Liz Shillito
66.40
223rd
John Hateley
67.43
231st
David Kumar
68.20
233rd
Penny Patrick
78.14
258th
Val Stuart
79.04
261st

 

Alsager 5

5th February 2017

Report Chris Elsley

The big race on the local running scene last weekend was the Alsager 5 – a fast race with pb’s on offer and one that attracts a high class field.

Robert Mottram Jones was the first of 17 Stafford Harriers to finish, coming home in 31:20 to take 121st place, ahead of Spencer Holland who finished 165th in a time of 33:06.

Richard Quine (178th – 33:10) just pipped club mate Ian Wood (179th – 33:11 PB) to the line while Jason Littlewood scraped inside the top 200 with 33:46 to finish 197th. PB

The Harriers in the field of 954 finishers were:

 

Robert Mottram Jones
121st
31:20
Spencer Holland
165th
33:06
Richard Quine
178th
33:10
Ian Wood
179th
33:11 PB
Jason Littlewood
197th
33:46 PB
Ian Hodkinson
201st
33:40
Craig Harris
242nd
34:48
Alan Jones
302nd
36:22
Chris Skellern
374th
38:08
Tracy Ridings
420th
38:54
Jack Hodkinson
445th
39:22
Mel Deakin
466th
40:05
Debbie McDermott
530th
41:47
Wayne Vaughan
576th
42:42
Karen Murray
645th
45:10
Gael Earp
765th
48.38
John Hateley
793rd
49:22
Mike Jones
866th
52:50

 

The race was won by Jack Martin of Stockport Harriers in 23:44 with Lauren Howarth (Leigh Harriers) the leading lady in 27:23.

Stourbridge Stagger

5th February 2017

Report Chris Elsley

Elsewhere, Michelle Fox and Chris Elsley tackled the Stourbridge Stagger – a notoriously muddy race run over approximately 10 miles.

It was ladies first over a slightly shortened course with Michelle finishing 82nd in a time of 76:13 while Chris finished 161st in 84:51. The overall winner was Chris Ashford of Birmingham Running& Tri in 58:59 with club mate Daisy Wilson the first lady to finish in 73:30.

Trig Race

22/1/17

A cold wind and temperatures touching zero welcomed around 120 runners who tackled Mercia Fell Runners’ 2017 Trig Race on Cannock Chase on Sunday.

Starting from near to Sister Dora’s, runners have to go to four trig points in order before returning to the start venue, but the course they take is entirely up to them, so from the off you find participants heading in different directions before their paths merge again later in the event.

The first target is the Trig at the Rifle Range, followed by a check in and check out at Morse Gorse, near to the Marquis Drive Visitors Centre. Runners take the steep climb to the Castle Ring trig followed by Stile Cop, before returning to Morse Gorse and the dreaded climb back up Kitbag Hill to Marquis Drive. With much of the climbing behind them, runners head for the Glacial Boulder before a welcome downhill stretch back to the finish.

Twenty-one members of Stafford Harriers were among the field of competitors. Spencer Holland was the first of the local club to complete the challenge, finishing 24th overall in a time of 2 hr 10m 55 secs. He finished just ahead of team mate Robert Mottram Jones (2:11:28). Ian Hodkinson completed the Harriers top three in a time of 2:18:56 (40th).

 

Harriers time were:

Spencer Holland
2:10:55
24th
Robert Mottram-Jones
2:11:28
Ian Hodkinson
2:18:56
40th
Jason Littlewood
2:22:38
48th
Ian Wood
2:23:11
52nd
Chris Ross
2:23:42
54th =
Alan Jones
2:35:10
72nd
Chris Elsley
2:39:34
80th
Chris Skellern
2:41:54
83rd
Ed Smith
2:48:31
90th
Alison Conaghan
2:51:11
92nd
Kerry Robertson
2:51:34
94th
Tracy Ridings
2:54:06
95th
Nick Beckett
2:56:05
100th
Sandra Smith
2:58:11
104th
Gill Hodkinson
2:58:13
105th
Joanne Oliver
2:58:14
106th
Debbie McDermott
3:08:27
116th
Steve McHugh
3:08:33
117th
Gina Brown
3:09:29
118th
Karen Murray
3:11:05
119th

 

The Race Winner was Kim Collison of Borrowdale in 1:09:59 with Cannock & Stafford’s Nina Skilton taking the ladies prize in 2:07:54 (16th overall)

 

Gnosall – Open to the Elements

22/1/17

Sunday also saw the first running of a new 5 & 10k events in Gnosall. The Open to the Elements 10k attracted 134 runners and incorporated the Stafford to Newport Greenway, beginning at the Royal Oak pub.

Michelle Fox was the first Harrier home (16th overall & 2nd lady) finishing in 43:22 with Kerry Hall next in a time of 45:19 (23rd).

Clare Mantle (40th – 49:17), Wendy Sears (89th – 58:03) and Dawn Gibbons (131st – 69:26) were the other Harriers taking part in a race won by James Jennings (Stafford Tri) in 35:29 with Birchfield’s Frances Vickers the leading lady (42:17)

A smaller field of 35 runners was attracted to the 5k event, which saw Harriers junior runner Ben Deakin finished two places in front of his mother Melonie to take the family honours. Ben’s time of 22:17 gave him 6th place while Melonie claimed a time of 24:24. The race was won by Zach Parton (Stafford Tri) in 18:39.

 

XC at Aldersley

7.1.17

Photo of the Ladies XC at Aldersley by Mel Deakin

 






































Vernon’s Limp Wrist race

First run of the New year is the Traditional “Limp Wrist” race. Run in memory of Vernon Olivant. The race is a 5 mile time trial where the runners predict their times and the winner is the runner that gets the clostest to their predictions.

It was a pretty miserable day for running and the state of some of the runners at the start did lead to some concerns. However 93 hardy souls started and 91 finished.

First over the line was Ben Gamble in 26:08 but that only secured him 8th place as he was 22 seconds quicker than he predicted.

The winner was Alan Jeavons who was only 2 seconds outside his prediction.

Here are the results in prediction order.

The real winners were Katherine House Hospice who will receive over £400 from the entries.

 

Check out Bryan Dales photos. Race Photos

 

Pos
No
Club
Pre time
Act Time
Diff
1
413
Alan
Jeavans
Unattached
0:39:32
0:39:34
00:02
2
299
Jenni
Gibbs
Unattached
0:41:26
0:41:21
00:05
3
105
Richard
Shaw
Stone Master Marthoners
0:43:25
0:43:32
00:07
4
378
Charlotte
Ward
Stafford Harriers
0:48:29
0:48:43
00:14
5
381
Jo
Waldron
Unattached
0:48:27
0:48:43
00:16
6
156
Ian
Wood
Stafford Harriers
0:35:00
0:34:41
00:19
7
396
Sally
Kenny
Cheadle
0:43:20
0:42:59
00:21
8
368
Ben
Gamble
Tipton Harriers
0:26:30
0:26:08
00:22
9
406
Mark
Burrows
Stafford Harriers
0:41:32
0:41:09
00:23
10
395
Eddie
Smith
Stafford Harriers
0:42:30
0:42:57
00:27
11
260
Julie
Boulton
Stone Master Marthoners
0:45:03
0:44:35
00:28
11
410
Matthew
Burley
Trentham Running
0:47:56
0:48:24
00:28
13
397
Adrain
Reeve-Jones
Cheadle
0:36:10
0:35:39
00:31
14
230
Neil
Eisenhauer
Stafford Harriers
0:37:44
0:38:17
00:33
15
157
Bill
Mac
Stone Master Marthoners
0:37:30
0:38:06
00:36
16
414
Helen
Parkin
Unattached
0:37:50
0:37:13
00:37
17
383
Tracy
Riding
Stafford Harriers
0:41:20
0:40:38
00:42
18
333
Amanda
Pearce
Stafford Harriers
0:50:14
0:49:31
00:43
18
415
Mandy
Swain
Unattached
0:37:57
0:37:14
00:43
20
138
Craig
Baxter
Stafford Harriers
0:40:29
0:41:15
00:46
20
409
Tasmin
Burley
Trentham Running
0:47:37
0:48:23
00:46
20
380
Bill
Stevenson
Michelin A C
0:41:41
0:42:27
00:46
23
189
Chris
Elsley
Stafford Harriers
0:38:20
0:37:32
00:48
24
386
Robert
Mottram-Jones
Stafford Harriers
0:35:20
0:34:30
00:50
24
420
Steve
Weaver
Unattached
0:42:48
0:41:58
00:50
26
281
Frank
Lain
Unattached
0:38:43
0:37:51
00:52
27
276
Tim
Hulse
Stone Master Marthoners
0:31:10
0:32:04
00:54
28
408
Jo
Yendole
Stone Master Marthoners
0:54:02
0:53:07
00:55
29
125
Arif
Merali
Kent A C
0:31:40
0:32:36
00:56
30
376
Ryan
Downes
Staffs Tri
0:34:00
0:34:57
00:57
31
399
Lindsey
Foster
Stafford Harriers
0:48:32
0:47:33
00:59
32
19
Kevin
Uzzell
Stone Master Marthoners
0:38:10
0:37:10
01:00
32
317
Jayne
Ford
Stone Master Marthoners
0:38:46
0:39:46
01:00
34
371
Spencer
Holland
Stafford Harriers
0:32:49
0:33:50
01:01
34
419
Ian
Hodkinson
Stafford Harriers
0:33:45
0:34:46
01:01
36
331
Bill
Clarke
Stone Master Marthoners
0:46:20
0:47:22
01:02
37
312
Roy
Gibbs
Unattached
0:36:48
0:35:44
01:04
38
346
Victoria
Hughes
Stone Master Marthoners
0:37:37
0:36:32
01:05
39
405
Chloe
Burrows
Stafford Harriers
0:46:00
0:47:06
01:06
40
332
Amy
Gamble
Stone Master Marthoners
0:38:00
0:36:53
01:07
40
372
Luanda
Stone
Staffs Morlands
0:41:23
0:40:16
01:07
40
400
Joanne
Oliver
Stafford Harriers
0:44:36
0:43:29
01:07
43
417
Ruth
Edwards
Stafford Harriers
0:48:43
0:47:33
01:10
44
379
Liz
Stevenson
Potters Trotters
0:53:11
0:51:59
01:12
45
398
Stella
Denniss
Stafford Harriers
0:39:00
0:37:47
01:13
46
390
Alan
Jones
Stafford Harriers
0:37:42
0:36:27
01:15
47
402
Jake
Oliver
Stafford Harriers
0:38:52
0:37:36
01:16
48
94
Austin
Whyte
Stafford Harriers
0:48:52
0:47:32
01:20
48
193
Will
Gray
Stafford Harriers
0:38:45
0:37:25
01:20
48
404
Melonie
Deakin
Stafford Harriers
0:40:08
0:41:28
01:20
51
412
Jason
Littlewood
Stafford Harriers
0:40:17
0:38:54
01:23
52
162
Alfred
Slater
NSRRA
0:50:35
0:51:59
01:24
53
283
Chris
Barlow
Stone Master Marthoners
0:51:00
0:49:34
01:26
53
369
John
Guest
Trentham Running
0:36:52
0:35:26
01:26
55
316
Stuart
Turner
StaffsTri
0:36:15
0:37:42
01:27
56
108
Maragret
Shaw
Stone Master Marthoners
0:51:40
0:50:05
01:35
57
39
Ann-Marie
Mountford
Stone Master Marthoners
0:41:26
0:43:08
01:42
58
314
Chris
Skellern
Stafford Harriers
0:39:57
0:41:40
01:43
59
315
Debbie
McDermott
Stafford Harriers
0:44:55
0:43:04
01:51
60
126
Ruth
Smith
Unattached
0:46:11
0:48:04
01:53
60
393
Andy
Cowden
Bere Alston Trekkers
0:41:15
0:39:22
01:53
62
38
Matthew
Bonney
Stafford Harriers
0:37:30
0:35:22
02:08
62
374
John
Scott
Unattached
0:43:15
0:41:07
02:08
62
385
Liz
Shillito
Stafford Harriers
0:52:30
0:50:22
02:08
65
375
Sally
Haycock
Unattached
0:43:20
0:41:06
02:14
66
347
Grahame
Cope
Uttoxeter rod runners
0:40:08
0:37:45
02:23
67
221
Gemma
Gray
Stafford Harriers
0:53:45
0:51:15
02:30
68
267
Claire
Valentine-Gibson
Stone Master Marthoners
0:50:00
0:47:22
02:38
69
191
Steve
Turner
Stafford Harriers
0:42:45
0:40:04
02:41
70
382
Daz
Aird
Unattached
0:48:28
0:45:45
02:43
71
403
Ben
Deakin
Stafford Harriers
0:37:01
0:39:49
02:48
72
280
Michael
Bamber
Stafford Harriers
0:55:06
0:52:07
02:59
73
391
Angelo
Apa
Bere Alston Trekkers
0:48:01
0:44:56
03:05
74
3
Colin
Pheasant
Chase Harriers
0:47:48
0:50:55
03:07
75
407
Lisa
Ashton
Stone Master Marthoners
0:42:52
0:39:44
03:08
76
370
Anthony
Pickering
Unattached
0:39:42
0:36:28
03:14
76
387
Katherin
Winders
Sanbach Striders
0:42:28
0:45:42
03:14
78
394
Leon
Stringer
Stafford Harriers
0:46:10
0:42:47
03:23
79
1
Richard
Ellis
StaffsTri
0:45:19
0:41:54
03:25
80
392
Sara
Apa
Bere Alston Trekkers
0:54:37
0:50:48
03:49
81
99
Sarah
Whyte
Stafford Harriers
0:47:50
0:43:56
03:54
82
418
Jim
Smith
Stafford Harriers
0:38:40
0:34:40
04:00
83
234
Nick
Boulton
Stone Master Marthoners
0:42:24
0:38:21
04:03
84
421
Claire
McHugh
Unattached
0:47:19
0:51:30
04:11
85
373
Mark
Bentley
Stafford Harriers
0:40:00
0:44:30
04:30
86
377
Sally
Griddings
Wolves and Bilstom
0:41:50
0:36:03
05:47
87
384
Bret
Bassett
Unattached
0:28:00
0:34:25
06:25
88
313
Simon
Bromley
Stafford Harriers
0:44:15
0:36:43
07:32
89
388
Linzi
Jones
Stafford Harriers
1:02:00
0:54:10
07:50
90
389
Sharon
Ashmore
Stafford Harriers
1:01:00
0:51:59
09:01
91
411
Chris
Raoley
Unattached
0:48:10
0:35:35
12:35
92
416
Steph
Holbeck
Unattached
1:02:14
0:47:55
14:19

 

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