Belvoir Half Marathon and 7K Road Race

Peter, Tony, Sarah, Sam, Andy and Jack

Six members of Grantham Running Club made the short journey to Hose in the Vale of Belvoir on Sunday 14^th April for the Belvoir Half Marathon and 7K Road Race. Despite its reputation as a haven of hills in otherwise fairly flat lands, the half marathon course takes competitors on just a mildly undulating route through Harby, Langar, Colston Bassett and Long Clawson before returning to Hose for the finish. Arrangements for the race were a little different from normal due to a fire at the Village Hall, but the marquee used for registration and the pop-up refreshments stand appeared to work well. Conditions were cool for April, but conducive to quick times thanks to being largely sheltered from the brisk easterly breeze that afflicted the races at Boston on the same day.

The winner of the women’s race was Grantham Running Club’s very own Sarah Chynoweth who put in a superb performance in her first serious attempt at a half marathon to come home 39 seconds ahead of second placed Kristie Matthiae of Barrow Runners in 1:28:24. This is the second fastest ever time by a female member of GRC – only club record holder Abi Schofield, who ran 1:25:21 at Peterborough in 2014 has run quicker and Sarah joins an exclusive club of GRC women who have broken ninety minutes for the half - Anna O’Hare, who ran 1:29:54 at Sleaford in 2015 is currently the club’s only other member. 

Finishing ahead of Sarah for GRC was Tony Johnson who used the Belvoir Half Marathon as his final race before the London Marathon and ran an excellent 1:24:16, less than a minute outside his PB set back in 2010. Peter Bonner ran well in his opening half marathon of 2019 to break 90 minutes, finishing in 1:29:45. Andy Atter put in a good showing to clock 1:33:11, just under a minute ahead of the fast improving Sam Jepson-Rivers (1:34:10) who bettered his half marathon debut time set at Retford in March by over four minutes.

Taking part in the supporting 7K race, which was a rebadged Fun Run that has taken place in previous years, Jack Dodwell showed few ill effects from the previous week’s Manchester Marathon being spurred on by the potential of a podium finish, ultimately placing fourth in 29:47.

The winner of the half marathon was Michael Coltherd of Barrow Runners in 1:13:27. In memory of Terry Graveney, who initiated the Belvoir Half Marathon in 1982 and who died earlier this year, Sylvia Graveney presented a cup to second placed Chris Southam (1:17:00) who was  the first runner home from the local parish of Harby Hose & Long Clawson. There were 295 finishers for the Half Marathon. 

The Belvoir 7K Road Race was won by Martin James in a time of 27:11, with Abbie Hunt first female finisher in 34:24. There were 34 finishers.