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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