The Dronfield Way Relay has been held every year since 2004. It was designed to be a friendly, low key and mildly competitive event appealing to all club members fast and not so fast alike. Teams are chosen to be as equal as possible with the aim of creating a close finish. Each team comprises six runners with two on each stage, no one running more than one stage. Teams are responsible for finding their own way around the route; it is fairly well way marked all the way around. The course is 15 miles in total run clockwise from, and returning, to Holmsfield.  The first changeover in 5.25 miles is in the playing fields behind the community centre at Coal Aston. The second changeover in 4.65 miles is near Unstone on the B6057 Dronfield to Chesterfield Road, leaving 4.6 miles uphill to the finish. The results below are archives from year 2004 to present.

It was a glorious sunny day perhaps a bit too warm for racing. There were 9 teams competing, 2 more than last year. Congratulations to the winners, Adrian Moss and his team, who beat last year's winning time by 7 minutes. Theier team were closely followed by Pete Brown's Don Valley Diva's. It was good to see so many new faces running around some splendid countryside with it's mix of terrain and gradient. Well done to Ben Heller's Crookes Crocks team whose two 2 runners on the last leg got hopelessly lost in the Derbyshire wilderness, but eventually made it to the finish line. A great atmosphere, camaraderie, teamwork and sheer enjoyment amde the event very enjoyble for all. Thanks go to the organisers and all the volunteers and helpers on the day, without whom the event could not take place. The race was followed by a buffet & presentation in the George and Dragon.

1

Moss & Co

Jennifer Rich

Adrian Moss

Louis Wood

1:56:10

Matt Zawadzki

Alison Barret

Dave Palmer

41:32  (3rd)

37:52 (1:19:24, 2nd))

36:46 (1:56:10, 1st)

2

Don Valley Divas

Pete Brown

Nick Scott

James Fulcher

1:58:41

Richard Self

Glenn Hardy

Sam Brown

40:25  (2nd)

37:11 (1:17:36, 1st)

41:05 (1:58:41, 2nd)

3

All Elaines Ex's

Elaine Watson

Paul Stuart

Lee Gordon

2:05:54

Richard Garton

Tom Charlton

Bob Grocutt

45:20  (5th)

34:34 (1:19:54, 3rd)

46:00 (2:05:54, 3rd)

4

Fils Flyers

Rowena Sharman

Trevor Burton

Sean Farrow

2:09:58

Roger Watson

Andy Green

Phil Howson

45:20  (5th)

39:39 (1:24:59, 4th)

44:59 (2:09:58, 4th)

5

 Surgeons Crew

Matt Surgeon

Ian Kennen

Andy Buck

2:12:15

Phillipa Penman

Mir Jensen

Wayne Forster

48:04  (8th)

39:09 (1:27:13, 5th)

45:02 (2:12:15, 5th)

6

Simon's Super 6

Magda Boo

Dave Beech

Ryan Morton

2:19:37

Nancy Stuart

Simon Wiles

Stephen Atkinson

51:30  (9th)

38:57 (1:30:27, 6th)

49:10 (2:19:37, 6th)

7

Rains Rompers

Richard Clamp

Lance Gardner

John Ashforth

2:20:50

Sue Henderson Ward

Tony Rooms

Dean Young

45:48  (7th)

47:26 (1:33:14, 8th)

47:36 (2:20:50, 7th)

Neil & Friends

Tony Cooling

Neil Kitson

Mark Cheetham

2:31:23

Sean Bird

Toby Lerowe

Brett Daughtrey

44:58  (4th)

5:-03 (1:42:01, 9th)

49:22 (2:31:23, 8th)

9

Crookes Crocks

Ben Heller

Fuly Denissie

Kate Reece

2:59:50

Jill Freeman

Rinda  Haake

Chris Reece

38:16  (1st)

53:44 (1:32:00, 7th)

87:50 (2:59:50, 9th)

A day of very pleasant weather after suffering as we had with the heavy rain and cold conditions. The prolonged rain had, as was expected, made the course extremely muddy in parts, evidence of which could be seen on the shoes and legs of the runners as they finished their leg of the course. A good turnout of teams, thanks to everyone for their efforts in bringing the event together. Team 1 were a late entry, they made their veteran status and experience count in achieving victory after lying 3rd after the first 2 legs, then finishing with a time on leg 3 some 10 mins in front of teams two and five. Six minutes between the 1st and 3rd team was a reflection of the hard fought race. Again  we welcomed a team led by Neil Kitson, whose late father Roy had such an influence both with the construction of the Dronfield Way and with our club also! Well done to all the teams, especially to team 6, who although last showed great spirit in completing the race. Thanks go to the organisers and all the volunteers and helpers on the day, without whom the event could not take place. The race was followed by a buffet & presentation in the George and Dragon.

1

Team One

Rob Booth 

Pete Brown  

Nick Scott

2:03:43

Nigel Kent

Alan Proudfoot 

Sam Brown

44:06 (44:06, 3rd)

39:09 (1:23:15, 3rd)

40:28 (2:03:43, 1st)

2

Team Two

Dan Palmer

Adrian Moss

Mike Charlesworth

2:06:12

Ryan Morton 

Simon Wiles

Antony Billinghurst

36:22 (2nd)

38:08 ( 1:14:30, 1st)

51:42 (2:06:12, 2nd)

3

Team Five

Sean Farrow

James Chaffer 

Anthony Horstead

2:09:22

David Palmer 

Ian Kennan

Alison Purvis Gisborne

35:40 (1st) 

42:40 ( 1:18:20, 2nd)

51:02 (2:09:22, 3rd)

4

Team Three

Nancy Stuart 

Mark Dickinson 

Louis Wood (ran solo)

2:19:01

Rowena Yates

Eric Olson

1:05:00 (5th)

35:15 (1:40:15, 4th)

38:46 (2:19:01, 4th)

5

Team Four

Amy Duck

Trevor Watson

Dean Young

2:27:00

Liz Robinson

Toby Ward 

John Ashforth

1:05:12 (6th)

43:29 (1:48:41, 6th)

38:19 (2:27:00, 5th)

6

Team Seven

John Walker

Neil Kitson

Mark Cheetham

2:42:53

Geoff Gorange

R.Sprout

Brett Daughtrey

50:22 (4th)

53:18 (1:43:40, 5th))

59:13 (2:42:53, 6th)

7

Team Six

Barry Gibson 

Kevin Rains 

Matt Surgeon

2:51:12

Marvlett Kennen

Nicola Ross

Andrew Drummond

1:05:16 (7th)

49:07 (1:54:23, 7th)

56:49 (2:51:12, 7th)

1

Steel City Striders B

James Chaffer

Adrian Moss

Louis Wood

1:55:28

Daniel Palmer

Richard Bardwell

Steve Hargreaves

37:45 (37:45, 6th)

40:25 (1:18:10, 7th)

37:18 (1:55:28, 1st)

2

Steel City Striders F

Richard Maxted

Barry Gibson

Dean Young

1:56:13

Ian Stinson

Magda Boo

Simon Wiles

33:37 (33:37, 2nd=)

42:38 (1:16:15, 5th)

39:58 (1:56:13, 2nd)

3

Steel City Striders D

David Beech

Matt Broadhead

Barry Gyte

1:58:09

Mark Dickinson

Liz Robinson

Colin West

36:13 (36:13, 5th)

39:51 (1:16:04, 4th)

42:05 (1:58:09, 3rd)

4

Crookes Crocks

Steve Haake

John Moloughney 

Ben Heller

1:59:00

Jill Freeman

Chris Reece

Kate Reece

35:12 (35:12, 4th)

39:24 (1:14:36, 3rd)

44:24 (1:59:00, 4th)

5

Steel City Striders E

Antony Billinghurst

Dave Parry

James Fletcher

1:59:36

Mike Charlesworth

Phil Howson

Trevor Watson

41:42 (41:42, 7th)

35:14 (1:16:56, 6th)

42:40 (1:59:36, 5th)

6

Steel City Striders A

Mike Savage

Chris Heggs

Paul Turner

2:03:57

Michael Greer

Pete Hethershaw 

Tanith James

33:18 (33:18, 1st)

39:27 (1:12:45, 2nd)

51:12 (2:03:57, 6th)

7

Steel City Striders C

Pete Brown

Andy Buck

Mike Smith

2:08:19

Paul Stuart

Dave Nicholls

Matt Surgeon

33:37 (33:37, 2nd=)

37:41 (1:11:18, 1st)

57:01 (2:08:19, 7th)

8

Totley AC

Helen Brown

Jan Hutton

Nick Marwood

2:12:00

Don Longley

Kathy Attwood

Louise Perrins

46:12 (46:12, 9th)

40:48 (1:27:00, 8th)

45:00 (2:12:00, 8th)

9

Worksop Wanderers

Tony Cooling

Mark Cheetham

Neil Kitson

DNF

Chris O'Grady

Mason Camm

Lee Chikovski

46:10 (46:10, 8th)

1:06:50 (1:53:00, 9th)

DNF

This year Striders were asked to register early and Matt Surgeon, Phil Howson and Simon Wiles then had the task of trying to pick teams that would be fairly equal with the aim of making the race more competitive. The result was the closest race to date with just 2 minutes seperating the teams with Pete Brown's team just winning through. Together with the three guest teams the event was enjoyed by all who competed. Thanks go to the organisers and all the volunteers and helpers on the day, without whom the event could not take place. The race was followed by a buffet & presentation in the George and Dragon.

1

Pete Brown

Richard Stevenson

Adrian Moss

Stuart Croydon

2:01:56

Kevin Rains

Richard Bardwell

Pete Brown

40:23 (40:23, 3rd)

39:37 (1:20:00, 3rd)

41:56 (2:01:56, 1st)

2

Anthony Billinghurst

Dave Ansell

Dean Young

Michael Charlesworth

2:03:02

Louis Wood

Trevor Burton

Anthony Billinghurst

32:30 (32:30, 1st)

36:14 (1:18:44, 2nd)

54:18 (2:03:02, 2nd)

3

Phil Howson

Russell Stevenson

Phil Howson

Paul Stuart

2:04:06

Dave Nichoills

Pete Hethershaw

Andy Buck

43:55 (43:55, 4th)

37:25 (1:21:20, 4th)

42:46 (2:04:06, 3rd)

4

Matt Surgeon

James Hunter

Kevin Dale

Colin West

2:04:08

Chris Kirby

Chris Heggs

Steve Hargreaves

45:50 (45:50, 5th)

36:08 (1:21:58, 5th)

42:10 (2:04:08, 4th)

5

Crookes Crocks

Simon Choppin

Marcus Dunn

Ben Heller 

2:04:10

John Moloughney

Chris Hudson  

Chris Reece

39:50 (39:50, 2nd)

38:22 (1:18:12, 1st)

45:58 (2:04:10, 5th)

6

Totley AC

Don Longley

John Hutton

Nick Marwood

2:14:47

Liz Gregory

Kathy Attwood

Phil Marwood

47:45 (47:45, 6th)

41:31 (1:28:16, 6th)

45:31 (2:14:47, 6th)

7

Neil Kitson

Neil Kitson

Mark Cheetham

Sean Bird

2:50:00

Kate Gladwin

Lee Tracykowski

Tony Cooling

47:46 (47:46, 7th)

41:54 (1:29:40, 7th)

1:20:20 (2:50:00, 7th)

Team Pothunters lived up to their name and duly won the Dronfield Way Relay for the third consecutive year. As with last year's race the real battle was for 2nd place with 4 teams seperated by less than 5 minutes at the end. Neil Kitson's team got seriously lost on the first leg and their third leg runners were started off before the second pair had finished to allow them all a chance to get to the pub before closing time! The weather was kind to the runners this year with temperatures ideal for racing. The race should have been followed by a buffet but on arrival at the Rutland Arms pub the hungry runners were met by a "I know nothing" response from the landlord who had taken the order for the said buffet just a couple of weeks earlier. Words need to be said on how to keep trade in the current economic climate.

1

Stuart Croydon

Stuart Croydon

Steve Hargreaves

Dave Ansell

1:55:36

Connor Johnstone

Colin West

Nina Wiggett

32:40 (32:40, 1st)

39:41 (1:12:21,1st)

43:15 (1:55:36, 1st)

2

Phil Howson

Kevin Rains

Dave Wadkin

Phil Howson

2:09:10

Phil Barrett

Adrian Moss

Trevor Watson

42:08 (42:08, 4th)

42:31 (1:24:39, 4th)

44:31 (2:09:10, 2nd)

3

Roger Steveson

Dave Beech

Roger Stevenson

Peter Brown

2:10:53

Simon Middleton

Richard Bardwell

Chris Kirby

36:04 (36:04, 2nd)

41:13 (1:17:17, 2nd)

53:36 (2:10:53, 3rd)

4

Kathy Attwood
Totley A.C.
(Guest team)

Pauline Straw

Carolin Marwood

Helen Brown

2:13:22

Pat Corrigan

Philip Marwod

Nick Marwood

40:07 (40:07, 3rd)

46:12 (1:26:19, 5th)

47:03 (2:13:22, 4th)

5

Dave Nicholls

Trevor Brown

Dave Nicholls

Trevor Burton

02:14:05

Dean Young

Ian Stinson

Paul Turner

42:55 (42:55, 5th)

41:25 (1:24:20, 3rd)

49:45 (2:14:05, 5th)

6

Neil Kitson
(Guest team)

Mark Cheetham

Neil Kitson

John Walker

2:37:10

Tony Cooling

Lee Chikovski

Mike Walker

52:17 (52:17, 6th)

no time recorded (6th)

no time (2:37:10, 6th)

On a miserable day in the rain Team Pothunters captained by Pete Brown won the Dronfield Way Relay for the second consecutive year finishing over 18 minutes clear of the field. The real battle however took place further down the field with the next four teams constantly changing positions as the race developed; there was only 5 minurtes seperating the teams at the end. No time is recorded the Pothunters team for the second leg becaue the timekeeper was in the pub/out on the course looking for one of the runners still out on leg one/late because his car broke down (* Delete as appropriate). Conditions underfoot for the Relay - the 5th consecutive year that it has been held - were unusually muddy for this time of the year following the recent heavy rains and many of the paths were seriously overgrown making the times on each leg slower than those of previous years. The race was followed by an excellent buffet in the George and Dragon pub.

1

Pete Brown

Phil Warburton

Stuart Croydon

Jon Crook

1:52:28

Pete Brown

Colin West

Mike Savage

36:20 (36:20, 1st)

no time recorded (1st)

no time (1:52:28, 1st)

2

Phil Howson

Luigi Cazzatto

Dave Nicholls

Trevor Burton

2:11:07

Phil Howson

Adrian

Rob

43:30 (43:30, 5th)

40:45 (1:24:15, 4th)

46:52 (2:11:07, 2nd)

3

Jan Hutton

Kathy Attwood

Liz Gregory

2:11:28

Sarah Butler

Ian Elsmore

Nick Marwood

42:30 (42:30, 3rd)

40:00 (1:22:30, 2nd)

48:58 (2:11:28, 3rd)

4

Simon Wiles

Trevor Brown

Sarah Davis

Simon Wiles

2:15:40

Roger Stevenson

Pedro Leite

Les Morton

43:10 (43:10, 4th)

46:40 (1:29:50, 5th)

45:50 (2:15:40, 4th)

5

Matt Sugeon

Alison Barrett

Barry Gyte

Matt Surgeon

2:16:05

Angela Cooper

Kevin Rains

Phil Barrett

42:10 (42:10, 2nd)

40:25 (1:22:35, 3rd)

53:40 (2:16:05, 5th)

6

Neil Kitson
(Guest team)

Mark Whiting

Neil Kitson

Lee Chikovski

2:35:10

Adrian Rains

Lee Jones

Mark Cheetham

1 finisher only (see report)

no time (1:32:05, 6th)

1:03:05 (2:35:10, 6th)

The self styled Team Pothunters captained by Pete Brown duly won the 4th annual Dronfield Way Relay finishing 12 minutes clear of the field. The next team, captained by Dave Beech, decided that a scenic route to the finish on leg three was in order, when with 400 yards to go they took a detour across a field and out onto the road beyond Holmesfield thus reaching the finish line via the main road and through the car park rather than by the shorter, more conventional route. The first all ladies team, led by Marie Miller, was a creditable 5th place overall, closely followed by the Totley Ladies team in 6th place. The runners on leg three for Neil Kitson's team also tried to go when none have ventured before only to be rescued by the runners in the following team who luckily set them on the correct route again. Conditions underfoot were unusually muddy for this time of the year following the recent heavy rains and many of the paths were seriously overgrown making the times on each leg well down on those of previous years. The race was followed by an excellent buffet in the George and Dragon pub.

1

Pete Brown

Mike Savage

Barry Gyte

Pete Brown

1:54:04

Stuart Croydon

Colin West

Nick Scott

34:44

35:18

44:02

2

Dave Beech

Nigel Kent

Dave Birch

Dave Beech

2:06:16

Mike Greer

John Birch

Dave Smith

37:52

37:52

50:42

3

Dave Nicholls

Trevor Burton

Phil Howson

Simon Wiles

2:10:19

Trevor Watson

Alison Bent

Dave Nicholls

36:40

42:09

51:30

4

James Hunter

Bethan Hope

Matt Surgeon

James Hunter

2:31:44

Dean Young

Kieran Surgeon

Luigi Cazzatto

48:23

46:37

56:44

5

Marie Miller

Marie Miller

Jane Spence

Julie Birch

2:34:46

Catia Sciamanna

Judy ?

Jane Evans

49:23

46:21

59:02

6

Totley A.C.
(Guest team)

Jan Hotten

Norma Betts

Liz Gregory

2:37:32

Pauline Straw

Pat Corrigan

Caroline Marwood

42:37

56:47

58:08

7

Neil Kitson
(Guest team)

Neil Kitson

Tony Cooling

?

2:50:40

Michelle ?

?

?

47:54

46:28

76:18

8

Norma Parkes

Norma Parkes

Eileen Ludlow

Jane Simm

2:55:44

Sarah Smith

Eve Lewin

Katrin Thomson

55:34

52:26

67:44

A minute silence was held at the start of the race in memory of long time club member Roy Kitson who put such a lot of work into designing the Dronfield Way and who organised the first two relay races. Roy's son, Neil was invited to enter a team. The race itself was won by Dave Beech's team for the second consecutive year in a time of 1:48:00.

1

Dave Beech

Dave Beech

Mike Gallivan (G)

Dave Ansell

1:48:00

Dennis Crossland

Dave Hughes (G)

Jon Crook

34:00

36:07

37:53

2

Simon Wiles

Simon Wiles

Phil Barrett

Alison Bent

2:03:54

Scott Cooper

Matt Surgeon

Lee Jones

34:30

41:42

47:42

3

Dave Nicholls

Phil Howson

Dave Nicholls

Roger Stevenson

2:05:40

Dave Hurst

Trevor Burton

Colin West

37:58

37:48

49:54

4

Neil Kitson
(Guest team)

Neil Kitson

Tony Cooling

Tony Savage

2:14:35

Simon Brunt

Lee Traczykowski

Sean Bird

46:30

41;49

48:14

5

Pat Goodall

Cath Outwood

Nick Marwood

2:14:39

Caroline Marwood

Carol Parsons

Richard Smith

44:40

45:58

48:17

6

Marie Miller

Julie Birch

Marie Miller

Jane Spence

2:29:55

Catia Sciamanna

Chris Hall

Jane Evans

45:30

54:06

52:19

Relay races where teams have to recce the course beforehand tend to be rather like General Elections in that they are lost not won. A case in point in this race was the City of Sheffield team who were leading at several points on the first leg but had to keep waiting for Dave Beech's team to catch up to show them the way, and also on the last leg when they took the picturesque route to the finish allowing Mike Hobson's team to overtake them without passing them on the course! Simon Wiles' team also seemed to enjoy the countryside a little too much on the last leg.

1

Dave Beech

Dave Beech

Mike Gallivan (G)

Dave Ansell

1:45:38

Mike Theobald (G)

Dave Hughes (G)

Pete Brown

36:25

36:09

33:04

2

Mike Hobson

Mike Hobson

Barry Williams

Stephen Wornes

2:01:38

Kevin Rains

Mike Greer

Mark Hall

37:19

38:26

44:59

3

City of Sheffield (Guest team)

?

Dennis Crossland

James Lee

2:03:42

?

?

Steve Tanner

36:28

35:46

51:31

4

Totley A.C. (Guest team)

Kathy Atwood

Don Longley

Nick Marwood

2:12:56

Jackie Simpson

Sarah Jarvis

Richard Smith

43:30

41:23

42:13

5

Phil Barrett

James Hunter

Simon Wiles

2:14:39

Alison Bent

Phil Howson

Kate Morrell

39:30

40:12

54:57

Picture from the 2005 Dronfield Way Relay

Mick Hobson, Stephen Wornes, Barry Williams (top row)
Mike Greer, Kevin Rains, Mark Hall (bottom row)
relaxing after the 2005 race

The 2004 race started from Coal Aston rather than Homlesfield. So leg one below was the same as leg two in 2005 and so on.

1

Barry Williams

Barry Williams

Graeme Siddall

Chris Ward

1:52:20

Dave Parry

Pete Wakefield

Nigel Kent

33:30

42:00

36:50

2

Dave Beech

Mike Gallivan (G)

Dave Beech

Mike Theobald (G)

1:54:15

Dave Hughes (G)

Dave Ansell

Pete Brown

36:20

41:05

36:50

3

Dennis Crossland

Mike Greer

Dennis Crossland

John Crossland

2:08:30

Steve Wornes

Dave Smith

Mick Derrick

38:40

47:40

42:10

4

Dave Nicholls

Steve Ludlow

Roger Stevenson

Simon Wiles

2:15:15

James Hunter

Dave Denton

Dave Nicholls

5

Totley A.C.
(Guest team)

Ian Cole

Ian Cole

William Alves

2:15:15

Chris Bradshaw

Mark Wilson

Mark Wilson

6

Norma Parkes

Eileen Ludlow

Chris Hall

Norma Parkes

2:43:10

Eve Ludlow

Pam Shepherd (G)

Jean Locking