Buxton runners rub shoulders with nation's best

Strong performances were recorded, with three of the senior ladies packing well to finish within 30 seconds of each other, led home by Kate Ledin, followed by Elizabeth Nocton and Sheila Bradley.

Completing the team were Heather Fryer-Winder and Wendy Bainbridge.

Sol Clark, meanwhile, powered through a field of almost 2,000 runners to lead the Buxton team home, some four minutes ahead of the next finisher for the Club, Rob White.

Richard Bouglas, Pete Bailey, Stefan Ledin and Richard Goff made up the rest of the Senior Men’s team.

Not to be outdone, the Juniors fielded three runners who put their all into the event, with Helen Thornhill taking part in the U17 Women, David Fryer-Winder in the Junior Men and Abbie Fryer-Winder in the Under 13 Girls.

The club’s athletes were well represented on the roads too, with Andrew Wearden returning to the coast to take part in the Blackpool Stanley Park 10K, recording a time of 47.50 for the distance.

Amy Clark ran in the Oulton Park 10K, finishing in 53.39, while fellow club member Elizabeth Nocton completed her weekend’s racing programme to run in the Half Marathon at the same venue, with a time of 1.48.58.

Sarah Sewell, returning to racing, ran in the Manchester Winter Run 10K, and finished in 52.01.

Congleton and Marple Parkruns saw representation from the club last Saturday.

Shannon Booth recorded a personal best time of 23.42 and Alfie Bailey 21.43 on the Congleton course, while Ben Light finished in third position at Marple in 18.50. Dad Paul, returning from injury, came home in 21.50.

The fell season is getting into it’s stride as the year progresses, and Hope was the venue of the 10.5K winter fell race on Sunday.

Helen Thornhill, fresh from her cross country outing the day before, was second U23 Female home in 57.57.

At the other end of the age spectrum, SuperVet Bill Allsop was second Over 70 Male back in 83.35.

Also competing for the Club were Pete Bailey (66.41) and Don O’Brien (67.54).

Buxton-based Lauren McNeill was first U23 Female in a time of 52.47

The popular Pavilion Gardens 5K will take place on Saturday 12 March, starting at 9am on Broad Walk.

The Target 5K Beginners’ Group, in training for the past two months for the event, will see the fruit of their hard work when they take part.

The 5K will also be host to Burbage Primary School PTA’s fundraising with a home produce stall.

Children from the school, along with parents, will complete one or two sponsored laps of the course. See buxtonac.org.uk for more details.