Holme Pierrepont Races

 

With the majority of the club entering the Stamford 30k, on Sunday 13th February, three members of Grantham Running Club decided to make the trip along the A52 to the National Watersports Centre - Holme Pierrepont to take on both the Half Marathon and 10K races.First off at the earlier race time of 09:00, Aaron Smith and Ben Mason. The race strategy; try to make some time on the calm leg and hang on for dear life braving the 26mph gusts heading down the South West flank – and hope to not lose too much time over the 4.5 laps.

First across the line for GRC was Aaron, comfortably under his target time of 1.30.00 in 1.29.06, finishing in 19th place in a field of 191. Off his Great North Run time by some margin but where he expected to be half way through his marathon training block. Following shortly after was Ben, who, smashing his last half marathon time in 2019 by some circa 4 minutes, came across the line in 1.49.39, in a very respectable 86th place - results both runners were happy with.

 The half marathon race was won by Richard Gibbs of Skegness and District Running Club in a fantastic 1.14.09

At the slightly later start of 10:00, GRC’s only 10k representative was Emma Hopkinson who, having recently transferred from Lonely Goat Running Club made her 10k debut for the Green Army. Braving the conditions she delivered a strong 2 laps of the famous rowing lake, crossing the line in 1.00.34, 143rd place in a strong group of 210 runners so a huge well done to her.

 The 10k race was won by Patric Clark of Notts AC in an eye watering 00.34.56.