Gilberdyke 10

Catherine with 200m to go

Position	Time	Name		Category		Grading	Ranking
88	73:01	Catherine Payne		FV50		78.04%	30
117	76:47	Robert McArdle		MV55	SB	70.35%	275

Lee Valley Velopark 10km.

Suzanne Britz 53:18

LWAC August Race #4

Four members of Grantham Running Club took part in the final race of this year's Lincoln Wellington AC 5k series at Yarbrough Leisure Centre, Lincoln. The four race series which draws the county's best track and road running athletes was completed in near perfect running conditions. Medals were awarded to all the runners who completed the fourth and final race and as all four are run over the same course it gives those competing a chance to gauge their improvement. First home for GRC was Matt Williamson out sprinting Rob Howbrook over the last 800m to set a new PB. Having recently returned from holiday and short of speed training Rob had to settle for a time some 15 seconds short of the mark he set earlier in the season. Less than a minute behind came the fast finishing Andrew Pask setting a season's best. Another runner returning from holiday was Peter Bonner whose time of 20:30 was a full minute away from where he was when he was racing and training regularly earlier in the month.

Position	Time	Name		Category		Grading	Ranking
37	19:00	Matt Williamson		MSEN	PB	67.89%	4166
40	19:12	Rob Howbrook		MV55		82.10%	79
46	20:10	Andrew Pask		MV35	SB	65.75%	N/A
54	20:30	Peter Bonner		MV40		67.09%	705

Thorney 5

Grantham Running Club’s Matthew Kingston-Lee took an unexpected victory at the Thorney 5 Mile Road Race, held in the small village east of Peterborough on Sunday 20th August. There was further success for the club at the race with Catherine Payne winning her age group category again.

MKL with his trophy

The out and back course, utilising the old A47, is flat and potentially very fast, tempered somewhat by the winds that regularly blow across the open fens. The weather on race day was sunny with temperatures in the high teens with a moderate breeze making the going challenging in the second half of the race.
Returning from a two week summer holiday, Matthew Kingston-Lee was unsure of his form going into the race. He sat off the fast opening pace, lying in around tenth place for the opening minutes of the race. Feeling better than he feared he made the juncture from the second chasing pack to join a group of three who were chasing the lead runner around ten seconds further up the road. The group dropped a runner as they approached the halfway turning point, and began to reel in the ailing lead runner, passing him as they approached 5km.
Facing a headwind for the final two miles of the race, the battle for the lead between Matthew, Nene Valley Harriers’ Robert Brownlee, and Peterborough ACs’ John Pike became a tactical affair, with the pace surging and then slowing as the runners appeared to take turns to break the tow of the following runners. Entering the final mile, Pike slipped off the back of the group as Brownlee made a concerted bid to take victory. Matthew was able hold onto the heels of Robert and was able to pull alongside as the Nene Valley Harrier tired, Sensing his chance for victory, Matthew maintained the pace set and was able to pull clear, crossing the line first in 27:30 (a new PB by 23 seconds), ten seconds clear of second placed Robert Brownlee, with John Pike third in 27:46.

MKL turns the tables on Pike who shone at LWAC's 5k

“I certainly wasn’t expecting such a good result!” commented Matthew after the race. “I’d not run as often as I’d liked on my holidays and felt sure the late nights, good food and plenty to drink would have left me rather unfit. The race though went perfectly. I raced well tactically, sheltering myself as much as possible from the wind and not surging as hard as the others when I hit the front during the race, saving myself a little more energy for the final mile which I knew would be the hardest because of the headwind. "It’s only my third race victory and is definitely the most satisfying. Maybe I should holiday more often!”

To add to the successful morning for GRC, Catherine Payne on her way back from injury claimed first place in the V50 age category, clocking a fine 34:40, just over a minute slower than her 2016 time at the same race, held in arguably better conditions. Behind Catherine, Sinead McDonnell made an impressive five mile debut, clocking 41:42 to finish 36th female. She too lamented jet lag and that two weeks spent on holiday may have adversely affected her concentration and fitness.
Another five mile debutant was Richard Payne. Continuing his fine run of ever improving form, Richard finished a fine 35th overall in 31:45. Robert McArdle was the other Grantham Running Club to complete the race, coming home ninth in his age group, clocking 37:06.
The winner of the women’s race was Philippa Taylor of Nene Valley Harriers in 31:00.

Position	Time	Name		Category		Grading	Ranking
1	27:30	Matthew Kingston Lee		MV40	PB	82.70%	37
35	31:45	Richard Payne		MSEN		68.28%	2050
63	34:40	Catherine Payne		FV50		80.06%	20
90	37:06	Robert McArdle		MV55		70.26%	323
147	41:42	Sinead McDonnell		FV40		61.72%	N/A

Race the Train

Tony Johnson has run his 17th Race The Train, Tywyn, Wales. He completed the Rotary Challenge, a distance of approx. 14 miles of mostly off-road, hilly terrain and this year extremely wet and muddy in a time of 2:09.02.

Barney Memorial 5k

The final Peterborough 5k race of the season incorporates the prize giving for the recent Grand Prix series. With the positions from your three best races to count these races have been popular for over 25 years giving a high level of competition at the very reasonable price of £5 a race. The biggest problem facing the organisers is overcrowding and coping with 200+ finishers in 5 minutes. Grantham Running Club’s Catherine Payne once again collected the prize for FV50 whilst Rob Howbrook earned his prize as fastest MV55.

With regard to the stand alone Barney 5k  race Catherine picked up her second trophy of the evening when she came first in the FV45 category in a time of 21:01 round the now very familiar Ferry Meadows course.

Position	Time	Name		Category		Grading	Ranking
77	21:01	Catherine Payne		FV50		80.77%	31
104	22:21	Robert McArdle		MV55		70.53%	307

Newark Half Marathon

Ignore the direction arrow, that is for later in the race

GRC took a small contingent of  seven on the short trip to Newark. A beautiful day albeit very warm to be taking on a half marathon. Despite this there was some great performances on the day. Joe Clarke was first home and marked his debut run in the Green and Black with an impressive time of 1:28:56. Next back from GRC was the consistent Tony Johnson who came finished in 1:31:47. Richard Payne was third man in a very respectable time of 1.33.10 on his first run at this distance. He was closely followed by the marathon metronome Gav Meadows who put in a solid time of 1:33:26 as part of a longer run. Despite the soaring heat there was an impressive personal best from Stuart Reader who crossed the line in a time of 1:47:47 but felt there was even more to come. Also running from the club was another marathon expert,Neil Emerson, who finished in a time of 1:51:06 and finally making a return to the half marathon after a few years out was Warren Stark who despite limited training came home in a decent time of 1:53:04 only a few minutes short of his best.

Position	Time	Name		Category		Grading	Ranking
63	88:56	Joe Clarke		MS		66.59%	5269
89	91:47	Tony Johnson		MV50		73.57%	207
99	93:10	Richard Payne		MS		63.82%	N/A
103	93:26	Gav Meadows		MV35		64:16%	1070
293	1:47:47	Stuart Reader		MV45	PB	60.07%	N/A
372	1:51:06	Neil Emerson		MV55		64.09%	N/A
407	1:53:04	Warren Stark		MV40		55.43%	N/A

Blackpool Air Show 10K

Second 10k in 36 hours and his second fastest time ever!

Unusually warm weather greeted the runners at the start line which surprised many of the original forecast was for wet and windy weather

Catching some rays post race

The course is a 10k looped course taking in sea views along the promenade heading  North out of Blackpool and then back towards the north pier before heading north again out of the seaside resort with any funds raised going to the local fire service benevolent  fund.

Position Time Name Category Grading Ranking 104 48:28 Ady Walker MV40 59.96% N/A

Sleaford 10k

Grantham Running Club stormed to success at the annual Sleaford 10k open road race on Friday 11 August. The club was well represented with 29 of its members tackling the largely flat course through quiet Lincolnshire country roads, to complete the road race through Scredington and Burton Pedwardine. Participants started in good race day conditions, hampered only by light drizzle with runners turning into a brisk headwind at the 4 mile stretch of the race. 

GRC dominated the ladies race, led home by Holly Durham, fresh from her recent win at Notfast 10k, securing her second win in as many months in a time of 42:07. Holly was followed home by her sister Penny Hodges securing 4th lady and first prize in her age group with a time of 44:30.

Andy Atter led the GRC men home, maintaining current form and narrowly missing out on a top ten place, in a time of 40:01, closely followed by team mate Scott Jones who ran a solid race in a time of 41:29. The performance of the evening came from GRC newcomer Stefan Latter smashing his previous 10K time in a personal best of 44:22, with Stuart Baty also achieving a well-earned PB of 48:58. In his first outing for GRC Walter Cruz-Flores secured a time of 53:18 and commented, "I really enjoyed it. I'm very pleased with my time. I now can't wait to go and eat some cake".

Graduates from GRC's 2017 beginners programme also participated, many running their first race in GRC club colours, their achievement all the more impressive as six months ago they were all new to running. Graduate Edina Burns completed her first 10k race after participating in the Couch to 5k programme earlier this year. Showing great potential, Edina finished in a time of 1:04:46, with the hope of achieving a sub 60 minute 10k next season.

Full GRC results: Andy Atter 40:01, Scott Jones 41:29, Holly Durham 42:07, Stefan Latter 22:22, Penny Hodges 44:30, Russell Maksymiw 46:44, Adrian Walker 47:55, Kevin Kettle 48:43, Stuart Baty 48:58, Suzanne Britz 50:34, Martin Carter 50:36, Gavin Skinner51:47, Paul Durham 51:47, Walter Cruz-Flores 53:18, Nicola Cottam 54:34, Nicola Fahy 55:34, Jacqueline Jacobs 55:49, Julia Hallam 59:37, Brendon Buckley 1:02:22, Kathleen Gray 1:02:35, Yvonne Buckley 1:02:43, Belinda Baker, 1:03:54, Yvette Taylor 1:04:44, Edina Burns 1:04:46, Angela Carr 1:06:00, Claire Fritz 1:06:21, Lynn Fisher 1:11:11, Beverley Toon 1:12:09, CJ Walker 1:19:38.

Report: Penny Hodges 

Photo: Stefan Latter chases Andy Atter and most of team GRC

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Dovedale Dipper

Gav, Nev and Paul before the race

Grantham Running Club travelled to the beautiful Peak District to take part in the Dovedale Dipper Event. Participants could choose between two rural routes across remote Peak District trails. Paul Rushworth, Gav Meadows and Nev Chamberlain attempted the 27 mile course which called at Hartington, Longnor, Revidge, Wetton, Castern and Mill Dale before returning to the finish through the magnificent Wolfscote Dale adjacent to the River Dove. The course involved 3,395ft of elevation gain. On the 16 miles route Mark Hillson, Penny Hodges and Gordon Geach ran together in what were ideal conditions for running with intermittent sunshine and a fresh southerly breeze. Melanie Taylor was accompanied throughout the event by her husband Andrew.  
Results:  
26 mile Paul Rushworth 5 hours 6 minutes. Gav Meadows, 5 hours 22 minutes. Nev Chamberlain, 6 hours 34 minutes.  
16 miles: Mark Hillson, Penny Hodges and Gordon Geach, 3 hours 24 minutes,  Melanie Taylor 5 hours 52 minutes.       

Asda Foundation York 10K

Chloe improves on her Solstice time

Position	Time	Name		Category		Grading	Ranking
3598	64:57	Chloe Amos		FS	PB	46.70%	N/A