Stilton Striders: Chris returns after 12-year break
In the Watermead Challenge, a flat five-mile race around Watermead Country Park, near Syston, Ross Jackson was first back for the Striders and 63rd in a field of almost 300, in 36min 41secs.
Greeba Heard was next back for the Melton club in 98th (39.23), followed by Ray Walker (104th – 39.42), Liz Goodbourn (138th – 42.08), Vanessa Walker (191st – 44.39), Kirsty Nicholls who was 200th in her first race for the club (45.12), and Ashley Jackson (292nd – 52.05).
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* The Holme Pierrepont Grand Prix featured four races in 10 days, starting with the Rushcliffe 4-mile.
First back for Striders, and completing all four races, was Chris Genes, returning to running after 12 years and finishing 201st in 32min 21secs.
Close behind were Ray Walker (204th – 32.24), Nick Pryke (201st – 32.28), and Vanessa Walker (301st – 36.43).
Chris was again quickest Strider at the Holme Pierrepont 10k, crossing the line 239th in 52.23, again just ahead of Ray Walker (240th – 52.25), and Vanessa Walker (288th – 56.03).
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Chris then finished 193rd at the Embankment 5k in 23.25 and then 200th at the Colwick 5-mile in 40min 50secs.
Also at Colwick, Ray Walker was 214th in 41.13, and Vanessa Walker was 281st in 45.13.
* A gruelling challenge awaited the Stilton Striders who headed to the Peak district for the fourth round of the Accelerate Gritstone series – the Hucklow Fell Race.
The race featured more than 1,100ft of ascent in the 10k route, but first back for Striders, in 26th place, was Michael Atton in 57min 44secs.
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He was followed by Paul Geeson (48th – 1hr 01min 13secs), Katie Hateley (55th – 1.02.14), Ian Drage (62nd – 1.05.01), John Houghton (69th – 1.06.58), Celia Bown (112th – 1.31.20), and Kaye Mead (113th – 1.42.11).
* A trio of striders took part in a sweltering Lincoln 10k among more than 3,700 finishers.
Luke Eggleston was a fine 60th in 38min 11secs, ahead of clubmates Matt Gayton, who was 264th in 44.41, and Julie Bass who finished second in her category, and 418th overall, in 46.39.
* Alan Thompson raced the Hoka Owston Ferry 10k, near Scunthorpe, and continued his good form to finish 22nd in 40.35.