Author: Andy

Sophia Leads Us Home

The fourth fixture of our league cross-country season saw Sophia Watt as the first person to finish from Leighton on the day. Her race was over before 11:40am after completing her Under 11 two kilometre race in just under 9 minutes and 17th place. There were another 55 fantastic runners from the club who followed her home but none finished in a higher position.

Sophia was excellently supported by four others in the shape of Thalia Mason, Charlotte Williamson, Harriet Butlin and Emily Axten-Blackwell and their team finished 8th out of 18. If you can possibly get to Campbell Park a little earlier in February then all of our juniors would appreciate the extra support. read more

The Leaders Keep Leading

The January Stag trophy race was exactly what it should be about, with 31 runners all coming home in very close succession. 31 is one of the highest attendances ever, so was great to see after just 14 in December.

The first four finishers all got PB’s and gave a great example of the diversity that the event brings with Alison Bell continuing her improvement from the Tuesday beginners group; Chris Large getting a PB for the first time since he won it in 2013; Jordan Clay going into 4th place in the all-time list with a fantastic 12:42 and Joe Bidlake-Hull representing the juniors with his third PB of the year. PB’s were also earned Huw Morgan-Jones and Matthew Brooks, while we welcomed Caitrina Oakes for a baptism of fire on her first run with the club. read more

British & Irish Masters Cross Country International

To gain selection to represent England is truly an honour. I was especially happy this year to receive my selection letter as I wasn’t confident that I had posted enough good races. Having run well in the Counties in January I thought 2017 might be a good year however injuries and timing of races meant things didn’t quite go to plan.

I travelled to Derry on the Friday before the race taking a lot of waterproof kit, which as it turned out was not needed. On race day the weather was good, dry and not too cold. However, walking the course before you could see it was very boggy in places from the previous week’s rainfall. read more

The Vets Leading the Way

Mahamed Mahamed walked in to the tent to collect his number and was met by Pete Mackrell, full of excitement following his brief chat with race favourite Andy Vernon. “Here’s your number, good luck. Andy Vernon’s over there, reckon you can beat him?” was Pete’s short jokey conversation with the shy Southampton AC athlete who just smiled and walked away. A couple of hours later and that same quiet runner stormed around the six mile course at Teardrop Lakes in 29:18 to take victory and push Vernon down to third. When you consider that Elliot – who has broken most of our club records recently – was nearly three minutes behind, this is a whole different level of running! read more

46th is Not Too Shabby

Despite spending three years at university in Leeds I’d never entered the Abbey Dash until this year.  The Dash has been going 32 years and has a big reputation for being one of the fastest 10k races in the country.  It starts and finishes in Leeds city centre and is an out and back course along Kirkstall Road, turning at Kirkstall Abbey (a ruined monastery built in 1152).

If you’ve been a regular reader of my reports you’ll know that 2017 has been my real breakthrough year.  I’ve set PBs at every distance I’ve entered, with only the 10k (31.55 from 2016) missing.  I ran two great 10ks in May (but it was too soon after London Marathon for my legs) and then the Bedford 10k in June (when it was very hot); all three were between 32.11 and 32.21. read more

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