To see where individual Striders have finished click on the appropriate link. Many races log their results can on one of the two excellent websites dedicated to results namely race-results.co.uk and ukresults.net. If you are a member of Steel City Striders and have raced during April to June 2012 then your results should be on this page. If your result doesn't appear send your result through to the webmaster. See also The Long Distance Strider. Many photos used on this page are published courtsey of TAImages.com or xsfotoevents.com (from where the full sized photos can be purchased).

Saturday 30th June 2012

Saturday 30th June 2012

Saturday 30th June 2012

Wednesday 27th June 2012

Tuesday 26th June 2012

Sunday 24th June 2012

Sunday 24th June 2012

Saturday 23rd June 2012

Saturday 23rd June 2012

Friday 22nd June 2012

Thursday 21st June 2012

Sunday 17th June 2012

Saturday 16th June 2012

Saturday 16th June 2012

Saturday 16th June 2012

Thursday 14th June 2012

Wednesday 13th June 2012

Sunday 10th June 2012

Saturday 9th June 2012

Saturday 9th June 2012

Saturday 9th June 2012

Saturday 9th June 2012

Sat 9th / Sun 10th June 2012

Friday 7th June 2012

Wednesday 6th June 2012

Monday 4th June 2012

Sunday 3rd June 2012

Saturday 2nd June 2012

Saturday 2nd June 2012

Saturday 2nd June 2012

Thursday 31st May 2012

Sunday 27th May 2012

Saturday 26th May 2012

Saturday 26th May 2012

Saturday 26th May 2012

Tuesday 22nd May 2012

Sunday 20th May 2012

Saturday 19th May 2012

Saturday 19th May 2012

Wednesday 16th May 2012

Sunday 13th May 2012

Saturday 12th May 2012

Saturday 12th May 2012

Saturday 12th May 2012

Wednesday 9th May 2012

Tuesday 8th May 2012

Sunday 6th May 2012

Saturday 5th May 2012

Saturday 5th May 2012

Wednesday 2nd May 2012

Saturday 28th April 2012

Saturday 28th April 2012

Wednesday 25th April 2012

Sunday 22nd April 2012

Sunday 22nd April 2012

Sunday 22nd April 2012

Saturday 21st April 2012

Saturday 21st April 2012

Monday 16th April 2012

Sunday 15th April 2012

Saturday 14th April 2012

Saturday 14th April 2012

Wednesday 11th April 2012

Sunday 8th April 2012

Saturday 7th April 2012

The race was won by Tony Goddard (unattached) in a time of 19:57. There were 69 finishers.

The race was won by Daniel Claus (Steel City Striders) in a time of 16:45. There were 281 finishers.

79

Simon Wiles

Male Vet O/45

46:25

88

Dean Young

Senior Male

57:51

103

Simon Wild

Male Vet O/45

59:27

123

Helen Calder

Female Vet O/40

60:43

139

David Parry

Male Vet O/60

62:52

140

Paul Niven

Senior Male

63:03

170

Katie Rockliffe

Senior Female

65:29

185

Andy Rowland

Male Vet O/45

66:58

188

Adrian Moss

Male Vet O/50

67:00

190

Phillip Palmer

Male Vet O/40

67:24

223

Carol  Beattie

Female Vet O/55

70:50

228

Phil Howson

Male Vet O/40

71:50

235

Jon Rawlinson

Male Vet O/45

74:01

237

Antony Horstead

Senior Male

75:20

242

Hannah Milton

Senior Female

77:41

The relay is run over a 3.5 mile course around Damflask reservoir, starting and finishing in Low Bradfield. The women run over 3 legs and the men over 4 legs. Hallamshire Harriers won the men's competition in a time of 75:13 and Barnsley AC won the women's competition in a time of 66:17. There were 47 teams in each race.

Striders 'A' team.
12th position out of 47 teams

Leg 1

James Fulcher

21:42 (20th)

Leg 2

Louis Wood

21:18 (16th)

Leg 3

Alistair Lawson

21:10 (15th)

Leg 4

David Palmer

19:47 (12th)

Total time

83:57

Striders 'B' team.
21st position out of 47 teams

Leg 1

Pete Lusby

22:24 (27th)

Leg 2

Sean Farrow

23:17 (30th)

Leg 3

David Goodwin

21:11 (22nd)

Leg 4

Daniel Palmer

23:20 (21st)

Total time

90:12

Striders 'C' team.
33th position out of 47 teams

Leg 1

Mike Greer

23:03 (32nd)

Leg 2

Luigi Cazzatto

23:17 (34th)

Leg 3

Ian Stinson

22:19 (30th)

Leg 4

Richard Maxted

26:08 (33th)

Total time

94:47

Striders womens 'A' team.
28th position out of 47 teams

Leg 1

Amanda Cattell

29:41 (38th)

Leg 2

Alison Purvis

28:22 (29th)

Leg 3

Carol Beattie

27:32 (28th)

Total time

85:32

103

Andy Buck

Male Vet O/50

2:45:49

336

Carol Beattie

3rd Female Vet O/55

46:25

487

Alison Purvis-Gisborne

Female Vet O/35

48:48

The race was won by Matthew Battensby (unattached) in a time of 18:28. There were 90 finishers.

The race was won by Armand Bush (Sheffield University X-Country) in a time of 15:55. There were 281 finishers.

9

Simon Bennett

Male Vet O/40

31:23

90

Paul Niven

Senior Male

57:32

91

Simon Wiles

Male Vet O/40

57:34

99

Helen Calder

Female Vet O/40

58:03

145

Katie Rockliff

Senior Female

63:10

146

Adrian Moss

Male Vet O/50

63:16

165

Phil Howson

Male Vet O/40

65:32

183

Tony Horstead

Senior Male

69:10

118

Simon Wiles

Male Vet O/40

49:57

130

Andy Buck

Male Vet O/50

51:02

The race was won by unknown runner in a time of 17:52. There were 58 finishers.

The race was won by Carl Egdell (Hallamsire Harriers) in a time of 17:14. There were 288 finishers.

14

James Fulcher

Senior Male

01:53:11

30

Peter Brown

Male Vet (O/50)

02:02:05

87

Lance Gardner

Male Vet (O/50)

02:24:22

90

Matthew Zawadzki

Male Vet (O/40)

02:25:16

15

Steven Hargreaves

Senior Male

37:19

26

Louis Wood

Senior Male

38:23

45

David Goodwin

Senior Male

39:47

65

Kevin Sibley

Senior Male

41:13

91

Ian Stinson

Male Vet O/40

42:52

107

Simon Wiles

Male Vet O/40

43:59

116

Barry Day

Male Vet O/40

44:19

121

Andy Buck

Male Vet O/50

44:30

134

Helen Calder

Female Vet O/40

45:30

143

Philip Palmer

Male Vet O/40

46:15

147

David Parry

Male Vet O/60

46:38

184

Daniel Sloane

Senior Male

48:49

200

Matthew Zawadzki

Male Vet O/40

49:21

201

Katie Rockliff

Senior Female

49:23

202

Peter Heathershaw

Male Vet O/60

49:24

213

Phil Howson

Male Vet O/40

49:53

215

Aoman Moss

Male Vet O/40

50:12

248

Howard Pearson

Senior Male

53:58

249

Carol Beattie

Female Vet O/50

54:02

254

John Rawlinson

Male Vet O/40

54:22

27

Nick Scott

5th Male Vet O/45

65:07

92

Lance Gardner

Male Vet O/50

1:40:25

The race was won by Liam Rooney (Kimberworth Striders) in a time of 17:27. There were 31 finishers.

The race was won by Chris Adams (Rotherham Harriers) in a time of 17:57. There were 63 finishers.

The race was won by Armand Bush (Sheffield University) in a time of 15:59. There were 230 finishers.

19

Adrian Moss

Male Vet O/50

5:34:00

David Parry and I joined 850 other fell runners for this two day mountain marathon in Scotland.
 
Thursday midday: LAMM announce the venue, just 36 hours before the event starts.  Ben Cruachan is just north of the road between Tyndrum and Oban, with mountains stretching north from here to Glencoe.  We'd not been there before, so some new terrain beckoned.
 
Friday midday: six hour drive to the event centre - huge marquee, camping field, car park.  First sign of the infamous Scottish midge.  Register, fitted with wrist bands with Sportident dibbers, food from Wilfs catering, sleep.
 
Saturday: 5.30am rise, final kit check (tent, sleeping bag, stove, food, waterproofs, bivvy bag, first aid kit etc - as little as possible within the rules!), arrive at "start" at 7am.  Issued with event map, 1km walk, get loaded onto a coach to be taken to the B course start.  8am: dibber into electronic control, get issued with checkpoints for day one, we're underway.  26km, 1,750 metres of ascent and descent, only about five km of recognisable paths and eight hours later we reach the midway camp, in a stunning spot miles from the nearest road.  Chill out, eat, sleep.
 
Sunday: 5.30am again.  Midges attack - zillions of them.  Eat, pack, queue for the toilet, then start.  Midges attack again.  And again.  20km, 1,150 metres, two or so hours of heavy rain and again virtually no paths and we finish, seven and a half hours later.  Wet through, exhausted, but we had completed the course.
 
Result:  Well, we were in the B class - middle choice of Elite, A, B, C and D.  We were among only eight veteran teams in this class, in fact the third oldest.  We made a couple of irritating navigation errors.  Of 72 teams that started our class, 60 finished and we came 58th!  So not last.  Full results at www.lamm.co.uk, where you can also link to event maps.
 
Lessons: Maybe the C class next time.  Improve navigation - focus and discipline.  Take midge head nets and be resilient when under attack.

21

Steve Hargreaves

Senior Male

52:03

79

Dean Young

Senior Male

58:50

104

Simon Wiles

Male Vet O/40

62:09

118

Alison Barrett

Senior Female

64:35

135

Katie Rockliff

Senior Female

66:32

56

Simon Wiles

Male Vet O/40

43:13

93

Carol Beattie

1st Female Vet O/50

49:55

69

Andy Buck

Male Vet O/50

42:01

80

Helen Calder

Female Vet O/40

43:13

62

David Hewitt

Male Vet O/55

1:48:22

The race was won by Kevin Doyle (Kimberworth Striders) in a time of 18:29. There were 35 finishers.

The race was won by Michael Sprot (Hallamshire Harriers) in a time of 17:51. There were 74 finishers.

The race was won by Dave Archer (Hallamsire Harriers) in a time of 16:11. There were 272 finishers.

281

Lance Gardner

Male Vet O/50

54:25

The race was won by John Franklin (Met Police) in 1:10:31. There were 60 Striders amongst the 5,700 finishers.

11

Daniel Claus

Senior Male

1:15:06

53

Steve Hargreaves

Senior Male

1:23:03

54

Simon Bennett

Male Vet O/40

1:23:04

60

James Fulcher

Senior Male

1:23:31

76

Nick Scott

Male Vet O/45

1:24:51

90

Pete Lusby

Senior Male

1:25:29

95

Alastair Lawson

Male Vet O/40

1:25:49

103

Barry Gyte

Male Vet O/55

1:26:38

106

Mike Greer

Senior Male

1:26:41

109

Louis Wood

Senior Male

1:26:49

207

Adam Whitworth

Senior Male

1:30:12

229

Ryan Morton

Senior Male

1:31:15

275

Ian Dale

Male Vet O/40

1:32:31

294

John Ashforth

Senior Male

1:33:02

369

Tristan Swain

Male Vet O/45

1:34:45

386

Andy Buck

Male Vet O/50

1:35:09

508

Chris Hansen

Male Vet O/40

1:37:32

594

Phillip Palmer

Male Vet O/40

1:38:57

651

James Chaffer

Male Vet O/40

1:39:52

657

James Fletcher

Senior Male

1:39:57

733

Tony Wilcock

Male Vet O/50

1:40:58

772

Ross Drayton

Senior Male

1:41:21

820

Gavin Pumford

Senior Male

1:42:02

846

Joanne Wright

Senior Female

1:42:30

854

Dave Parry

Male Vet O/60

1:42:39

936

Linda Haley

Female Vet O/40

1:43:42

953

David Hewitt

Male Vet O/55

1:43:48

1002

John Maples

Male Vet O/45

1:44:24

1034

Helen Calder

Female Vet O/40

1:44:52

1378

Wayne Forster

Senior Male

1:49:23

1398

Richard Binks

Male Vet O/55

1:49:34

1451

Mary Picksley

Female Vet O/60

1:50:04

1468

Stephanie Street

Female Vet O/55

1:50:20

1812

Paul Bland

Male Vet O/55

1:53:34

1831

Carol Beattie

Female Vet O/55

1:53:44

1950

Mir Jansen

Female Vet O/45

1:54:56

2083

Ian Kennen

Male Vet O/40

1:56:17

2127

Antony Billinghurst

Male Vet O/50

1:56:35

2221

Nicola Ross

Senior Female

1:57:32

2369

Tom Nuttgens

Male Vet O/45

1:59:05

2470

Liz Robinson

Female Vet O/50

2:00:14

2534

Harvey Middleton

Male Vet O/65

2:00:51

2689

Magdalena Boo

Female Vet O/35

2:01:33

2816

Hannah Milton

Senior Female

2:03:43

2907

Diana Ross

Female Vet O/40

2:04:48

2971

Luigi Cazzato

Male Vet O/65

2:05:27

3054

Mel Beever

Male Vet O/50

2:06:19

3282

Ian Blackburn

Male Vet O/55

2:09:00

3446

Nancy Stuart

Senior Female

2:10:49

3475

Ron Ward

Male Vet O/65

2:11:08

3521

Catherine Abou-Ragheb

Female Vet O/35

2:11:40

3636

Helen Cain

Senior Female

2:12:57

3708

Dawn Jackson

Female Vet O/45

2:13:47

3851

Gawain Davies

Male Vet O/45

2:15:33

4150

Louise Whitehurst

Female Vet O/50

2:18:52

4319

Scott Booth

Senior Male

2:20:51

4434

Jessica Brown

Senior Female

2:24:38

4468

Jeni Pitkin

Senior Female

2:22:52

4480

Chris Bottomley

Male Vet O/45

2:23:00

5226

Rachel Smith

Female Vet O/40

2:36:30

Starting at Edwinstow this race went through Sherwood Forest, taking in Welbeck, Cresswell Crags, Clumber Park - with a 5 miles out and back due to flooding on the original course to ensure we had the full 40 miles - returning back through Clumber to Edwinstow. The organisers did offer a shorter 30 mile option, which would be a good introduction to a longer event. This is the first year for the event and I did have some navigation issues but can recommend it as it has some good countryside/woodland and is flat, which is nice after running in the Peaks and the organisers seemed receptive to the feedback after the event. The race was won by Robin Carter in a time of 5:17:40. There were 72 finishers.

The race was won by Ian Alexander-Barnes (Sheffield Running Club) in a time of 19:05. There were 52 finishers.

The race was won by Phil Williams (Rochdale Harriers) in a time of 16:48. There were 271 finishers.

This race was held on a pleasant evening. The race was won by Rob Little (DPFR) in 35:19. There were 242 finishers.

16

Steve Hargreaves

Senior Male

39:45

73

Ian Stinson

Male Vet O/40

44:47

75

Kate Wilkinson

Senior Female

44:53

83

Dean Young

Senior Male

45:47

110

Ben Heller

Male Vet O/40

47:24

111

Andy Buck

Male Vet O/50

47:28

117

James Fletcher

Senior Male

47:47

145

Alison Barrett

Senior Female

49:20

162

Dave Parry

Male Vet O/60

51:11

183

Pete Hethershaw

Male Vet O/60

52:34

184

Matt Zawadzki

Male Vet O/40

52:39

211

Mike Charlesworth

Senior Male

55:58

224

Dave Englert

Male Vet O/50

58:42

A hidden gem and the first time for me. A mile into the race and the first climb of 1.5 miles - ascending 150 metres - which then leads to glorious views around the Peak District. Then some some flat leading to a steady descent. Ready for the challenging climb from the 9 mile mark for 3 miles - a rise of 220 metres - and then final sprint down into Eyam. The finish was through village and into the finish by Water Lane, to the cheers of the locals. Not a course for a PB and felt very much like a fell race on the road. Well recommended. The race was won by John Morrissey (Wigan Phoenix) in 1:19:36. There were 599 finishers.

The race was won by Nick Goddard (unattached) in a time of 19:57. There were 68 finishers.

The race was won by Armand Bush (Sheffield University) in a time of 15:59. There were 288 finishers.

16

David Palmer

Male Vet O/40

34.45

40

Michael Greer

Senior Male

37.10

52

Louis Wood

Senior Male

37.55

65

David Whittaker

Senior Male

39.00

95

Ian Dale

Male Vet O/40

40.23

99

Peter Brown

Male Vet O/50

40.31

109

Daniel Palmer

Senior Male

40.47

116

Richard Maxted

Senior Male

41.14

128

Phillip Palmer

Male Vet O/40

42.06

163

David Hewitt

Male Vet O/60

43.24

193

James Chaffer

Male Vet O/40

44.28

195

David Parry

Male Vet O/60

44.36

235

Lee Montague

Senior Male

46.21

237

Ian Kennen

Male Vet O/40

46.23

239

Carol Beattie

Female Vet O/55

46.25

253

Peter Hethershaw

Male Vet O/65

47.10

255

James Warr

Senior Male

47.16

266

Ian Blackburn

Male Vet O/55

47.46

284

Stephanie Street

Female Vet O/55

48.38

315

Laura Glasel

Female Vet O/45

50.00

328

Dawn Jackson

Female Vet O/45

50.29

395

Chris Turton

Male Vet O/50

54.26

400

Nancy Stuart

Senior Female

55.00

The race was won by Paul Buchanan (Kimberworth Striders) in a time of 18:15. There were 31 finishers.

The race was won by Nick Wall (unattached) in a time of 19:32. There were 78 finishers.

The race was won by Daniel Claus (Steel City Striders) in a time of 16:44. There were 330 finishers.

The course was amended from last year to ensure runners covered the full five miles and like at the Silkstone and Bradfield races, we were again blessed with heavy rain. With the last mile and a half run on a sandy track this meant everybody finished with a liberal coating of fine red grit – lovely! At least the streams running down the road near the car park provided runners the opportunity to rinse off afterwards.  The race was won by John Heneghan (Sheffield RC) in a time of 25:43. First lady was Kaeti Mackenzie in a time of 30:38. There were 257 finishers including 17 Striders, nine of whom ran all four races (final series positions and total times in brackets).

11

David Palmer

Male Vet O/40

28:11:00

30

Simon Bennett

Male Vet O/40 (5th in series)

30:12 (2:03:32)

36

Louis Wood

Senior Male (10th in series)

30:49 (2:04:41)

56

John Ashforth

Senior Male (13th in series)

31:53 (2:09:00)

74

Ian Stinson

Male Vet O/40 (7th in series)

32:33 (2:12:28)

81

Daniel Palmer

Senior Male

32:50:00

83

Philip Palmer

Male Vet O/40 (8th in series)

32:58 (2:14:14)

106

Andy Buck

Male Vet O/50 (8th in series)

34:36 (2:16:58)

125

Wayne Forster

Senior Male

35:33:00

137

Adrian Moss

Male Vet O/50 (10th in series)

36:29 (2:29:06)

157

James Chaffer

Male Vet O/40

37:45:00

164

Amy Duck

Senior Female (12th in series)

38:12 (2:33:14)

176

Peter Hethershaw

Male Vet O/65 (6th in series)

38:49 (2:37:37)

181

Carol Beattie

Female Vet O/55

39:2:00

209

Ashleigh Barron

Senior Female

41:20:00

211

Anthony Horstead

Senior Male

41:43:00

233

Hannah Milton

Senior Female

44:00:00

This race was held on a pleasant evening. The race was won by Rob Little (DPFR) in 38:44. There were 378 finishers.

The race was won by Michael Sprot (Hallamsire Harriers) in a time of 18:33. There were 85 finishers.

The race was won by Paul Falkner (Hallamsire Harriers) in a time of 16:38. There were 345 finishers.

The race was won by Mark Tuckett (DPFR) in 34:09. There were 238 finishers.

The race was won by Oliver Hart (unattached) in a time of 19:20. There were 78 finishers.

The race was won by Armand Bush (Sheffield University) in a time of 16:10. There were 375 finishers.

For the second league race in a row runners had to fight their way through horrendous conditions, having faced similar torrential rain at Silkstone at fortnight earlier. The race was won by John Heneghan (Sheffield RC) in a time of 26:22. There were 273 finishers, including 32 Striders. This was slightly down on the first two races, but hardly surprising given the appalling weather.

29

Mike Greer

Senior Male

30:17

33

Pete Lusby

Senior Male

30:28

35

Simon Bennett

Male Vet O/40

30:48

51

Louis Wood

Senior Male

31:40

52

John Ashforth

Senior Male

31:43

57

David Whittaker

Senior Male

31:55

81

Richard Maxted

Senior Male

33:19

82

Ian Stinson

Male Vet O/40

33:25

90

Philip Palmer

Male Vet O/40

33:44

94

Andy Buck

Male Vet O/50

34:01

97

John Kerr

Male Vet O/60

34:10

100

Tristan Swain

Male Vet O/45

34:18

121

David Beech

Male Vet O/55

35:23

125

Dean Young

Senior Male

35:29

130

Helen Calder

Female Vet O/40

35:38

151

Adrian Moss

Male Vet O/50

36:47

155

Phil Howson

Male Vet O/40

37:09

162

Ian Kennan

Male Vet O/40

37:49

167

Amy Duck

Senior Female

38:00

187

Chris Bottomley

Male Vet O/45

38:54

190

Carol Beattie

Female Vet O/55

38:57

193

Chris Heggs

Senior Male

39:13

200

Ian Blackburn

Male Vet O/55

39:35

202

Peter Hethershaw

Male Vet O/65

39:44

206

Stephanie Street

Female Vet O/55

40:17

217

Laura Glasel

Senior Female

41:31

218

Mir Jansen

Female Vet O/45

41:40

229

Dawn Jackson

Female Vet O/45

42:18

245

Luigi Cazzato

Male Vet O/60

44:27

257

Samantha Parkin

Senior Female

47:29

271

Rachel Smith

Female Vet O/40

56:49

272

Maggie Holdsworth

Female Vet O/45

56:50

The race was won by Kipsang Wilson (Kenya) in 2:04:44.  There were 36,747 finishers.

173

20th Male Vet O/40

2:39:55

1955

Senior Male

3:08:58

4510

Senior Male

3:29:33

5049

Senior Male

3:32:42

12440

Female Vet O/45

4:05:49

12868

31st Female Vet O/60

4:07:40

20376

Senior Female

4:36:42

The race was won by James Kraft (Scarborough) in 33:57.  There were 311 finishers.

34

Ian Dale

Male Vet O/40

41:11

35

Richard Maxted

Senior Male

41:27

51

Melvin Beever

Male Vet O/50

42:55

132

Ashleigh Barron

Senior Female

49:01

133

Peter Hethershaw

Male Vet O/65

49:02

134

Anthony Horstead

Senior Male

49:11

189

Toby Ward

Senior Male

53:59

194

Dawn Jackson

Female Vet O/45

54:09

242

Stella Ward

Female Vet O/50

58:20

What a contrast to the brilliant sunshine for the Edale Skyline three weeks earlier! The 2012 Kinder Downfall Fell Race was marked by rain and visibility down to a hundred metres or so on the Kinder plateau.  Eight striders were among the 272 finishers, posting some pretty good times if previous years' performances are anything to go by.  The winners were Tom Brunt (Holmfirth) in 1:11:04 and Sarah Colbert (Springfield) in 1:29:01.

The race was won by Roger Walters (Sheffield Tri Club) in a time of 20:09. There were 78 finishers.

The race was won by Robert Parker (Hallamshire Harriers) in a time of 15:49. There were 315 finishers.

It had always been an ambition to do this one day, and that day finally arrived. Unfortunately I had hardly run during February and March prior to the race due to a bad knee injury. If it had been any UK marathon there would have been no question of starting, but hotels/flight had been booked so there was no option. My injury had recovered enough for me to think I could get round in a p.w. time, but another factor came into play - the forecast for race day was 80F. As it turned out this was a significant underestimate…..
 
So a few impressionsof race day:  
Yellow school buses to the start at Hopkinton (driving all the way out to the start on a point-to-point reinforces just how far you have to run)!  Temperature on arrival at 7:50am was already 78F. Walking to the start in one of the great marathons down past the timber framed houses in this rural town, with all the residents out to wish you well - surreal. I was in corral 1, wave 2, so it was like being on the front line (the 1st wave had gone 20 minutes earlier). Started circumspectly, but still went through miles 1 to 3 at 8 minute pace (downhill, though). Mile 4 took 9 minutes, and I was starting to work!!  By mile 6, I was slowing right down, and having really bad negative voices, started to walk. Thought of a "run/walk" strategy, decided to try it. Started running after about 5 minutes walking - rallied a bit and felt better mentally. All the while the crowds are a-whoopin' and a-hollerin'!  Got through 10 miles in 90 minutes and started thinking about baling out, thinking about stuff that's happened to me this year at this point and was very low. Rallied again as the landmark Wellesley Ladies college came in sight. This lifted me - kissed a few of the girls (well, they did have signs requesting such action)! Ran (relatively) well then to beyond halfway, but this feeling (physical and mental) quickly dissipated, and I then decided, quite logically and unemotionally, to pack it in. I didn't want to walk all the way for 6 hours or suchlike, so I stepped off when I saw the medical tent at 14 miles.  An official informed me that the temperature was 90.7F.  The bus of shame back to the finish was fun, though. I'll just choose one snapshot: when the helpers in the bus asked if anyone wanted water, or gatorade, or gels, one guy (Texan, possibly, with his accent) - bandana on head, no shirt, nipple rings, usually a 2:40 guy bellowed -   "Hell no - been takin' that sheee-it all mornin' an' look where it's landed me - get me a goddamn hotdawwg"!!  

Although a DNF is never good, it's ironic that in an unprecedented move, (no deferring here normally) the organisers actually offered deferrals to those who didn't fancy it because of the heat. At least I experienced the start, and 14 miles of the course with the wonderful support, and I've had a pretty good holiday.  The conclusion is that the double whammy of 2 months missed training and the terrible conditions were just too much.  Normal conditions and I could have ambled round slowly, fully trained and I could have coped with the heat, albeit probably 20 minutes slower than usual.

The winning times were 2:12:40 (male) and 2:31:50 (female) – very sedate for elites, and the slowest winning times here for over 20 years. Which leads me to the big success story – left until last so it can be given due prominence. Barry Gyte, my travelling (and post-race) boozing companion recorded a brilliant 3:16. Those of you who know Barry will be aware that he’s an even older git than me; but despite this he’s been in great form recently and has trained really well, with no injury or illness. His 2:15 at East Hull predicted a time around 3 hours, and he surely would have achieved this, but for the brutal heat. Remember what training runs are like when its around 80F – well think 10 degrees higher, and humid as well, then imagine trying to race a marathon. Well, Barry did, and superbly – he went thru’ halfway in 1:32, so his 2nd half was 1:44, which on a normal day would be a bad fade, but here it was actually keeping things together superbly. I think his secret was the factor 50 on his bald bonce !!!

The race was won by Wesley Korir (Kenya) in 2:12:40 and Sharron Cherop (Kenya) 2:31:50.  There were 21,610 finishers.

The race was won by Matthew Pierson (Holmfirth Harriers) in 31:23.  There were 1,130 finishers.

The race was won by Dave Schorah (Sheffield Hallam University) in a time of 17:58. There were 140 finishers.

The race was won by Phil Williams (Rochdale Harriers) in a time of 17:04. There were 263 finishers.

The race was won by Richard Harris (Rotherham Harriers) in a time of 27:19. There were 330 finishers.

6

David Palmer

Male Vet O/40

27:58

41

Louis Wood

Senior Male

31:30

44

Simon Bennett

Male Vet O/40

31:37

55

Mark Benneham

Male Vet O/45

32:18

59

John Ashforth

Senior Male

32:30

61

Nicholas Scott

Male Vet O/45

32:34

77

Paul Stuart

Male Vet O/45

33:19

96

Richard Maxted

Senior Male

33:56

97

Ian Stinson

Male Vet O/40

33:57

108

Philip Palmer

Male Vet O/40

34:37

112

Tristan Swain

Male Vet O/45

34:53

113

Andy Buck

Male Vet O/50

34:55

125

Wayne Forster

Senior Male

35:31

137

Melvin Beever

Male Vet O/55

35:47

148

David Beech

Male Vet O/55

36:20

153

Robert Booth

Male Vet O/55

36:39

160

Dave Parry

Male Vet O/60

37:00

193

Adrian Moss

Male Vet O/50

38:28

201

Amy Duck

Senior Female

38:58

216

David Norris

Male Vet O/50

39:33

224

James Chaffer

Male Vet O/40

40:00

226

Peter Hethershaw

Male Vet O/65

40:04

230

Paul Bland

Male Vet O/55

40:17

234

Ashleigh Barron

Senior Female

40:27

237

Nicola Ross

Senior Female

40:39

240

Katie Rockliff

Senior Female

40:51

245

Chris Heggs

Senior Male

41:09

248

Anthony Horstead

Senior Male

41:23

251

Ian Blackburn

Male Vet O/55

41:29

252

Stephanie Street

Female Vet O/55

41:31

269

Diana Ross

Female Vet O/40

42:41

279

Luigi Cazzato

Male Vet O/60

43:21

281

Mir Jansen

Female Vet O/45

43:32

284

Dawn Jackson

Female Vet O/45

44:02

297

Andrew Drummond

Senior Male

45:00

304

Richard Bardwell

Male Vet O/50

46:24

316

Stacey Almond

Female Vet O/45

48:37

Two Striders completed this 10km fell race through Shining Cliff woods, which are a few miles south of Matlock.  The winners were Joshua Bell (Derby AC) in 42:52 and Emma Gould (Serpentine RC) in 55:36.  There were 107 finishers.

The race was won by Armand Bush (Sheffield University) in a time of 16:22. There were 315 finishers.