Thorney 5

Rob's MV60 Prize

Catherine FV50 winner

As part of the GRC Grand Prix series the Thorney 5 mile Road Race was always going to attract some of the club’s top runners not only to score points but to test themselves against the best Cambridgeshire had to offer as this race always attracts a quality field. Leading Grantham home was Ian Williams making his debut over the distance and finishing 9^th in a time of 28:09, not far behindwas Joaquim (Flash) Jeronimo with another massive PB. Third man back for GRC was Rob Howbrook, also with a PB in a time of 31:53 to comfortably secure the prize for first MV60 and place the men third in the team event.

Catherine Payne was first GRC lady to finish, her time of 34:33 won her the prize for FV50, the next lady for GRC was Naomi Jepson-Rivers making her debut at the distance in 40:40 and another debutant at the distance Katie Bland was third placed for the club in an impressive 41:37.

Full GRC times below;

Pos		Name	Chip Time	Category
9		Ian Williams	00:28:09	M Sen
16		Joaquim Jeronimo	00:29:54	M Sen
34		Robert Howbrook	00:31:53	MV60
48		Samuel Jepson-Rivers	00:33:03	M Sen
56		Stefan Latter	00:33:57	MV45
57		Jack Dodwell	00:34:11	M Sen
60		Catherine Payne	00:34:33	FV50
78		Sam Dodwell	00:35:42	M Sen
88		Paul Kelly	00:36:14	MV45
93		Kevin Kettle	00:36:44	MV55
104		Robert McArdle	00:37:05	MV60
151		Paul Jepson	00:40:15	MV65
159		Naomi Jepson-Rivers	00:40:40	F Sen
170		Katie Bland	00:41:37	FV40
174		Nicola Cottam	00:41:41	FV50
175		Julie Gilbert	00:41:43	FV45
176		Rosalind Sadler	00:41:44	FV45
186		Claire Williams	00:42:15	FV35
214		Nichola Webster	00:44:27	FV40
220		Sylv Hull	00:44:53	FV40
235		Tracy Webb	00:47:05	FV50
236		Kate Marshall	00:47:06	FV40
243		Nicola Fahy	00:47:53	FV45
266		Yvonne Buckley	00:50:55	FV55
272		Louise Kennedy	00:52:36	FV40

Leek Half Marathon

63

2:08:35

2:08:17

Neil Emerson

V55

M

Grantham RC

2:08:17

1:45:33

21.4

Market Bosworth 10K

The Market Bosworth 10km is a race that has had a number of different routes over the years and saw a low key re-launch courtesy of race hosts 1485 Tri Club on Sunday 18^th August. The 2019 edition had a quick descent as it headed away from the start before a flatter section which passed the 1485 Battlefield Centre before a few punchy climbs back up into Bosworth ahead of a quick final couple of kilometres to the finish.

A small field of 78 runners started at 10am and Grantham Running Club’s Chris Limmer quickly established a surprise lead ahead of former rivals from his days running in the Leicestershire Road Race League. Despite slowing slightly during the middle couple of miles Chris maintained a small gap on the rest of the runners which he extended slightly during the fast mile or so back to the finish.

Chris crossed the line in 37:06 to win his first ever race, just 24 seconds ahead of former Hinckley Running Club teammate Richard Whitelegg. 1485 Tri Club’s Marc Stait was third in 38:43. Hannah Costello was the winning woman in 43:43.

Race the Train

L-R: Tony Johnson, Andrew Pask, Peter Bonner

Three members of Grantham Running Club made the trip to the Mid-Wales town of Tywyn for the world-famous Race the Train event. The event which is a pilgrimage for runners across the UK and even further afield was ran in blistery conditions. After heavy rain the day before the 14-mile Cross Country course was a greater challenge than usual, with mud knee high in parts.

Andrew Pask and Peter Bonner set a good early pace, trying to capitalise on the tail wind for the first half of the out and back course. But with the train charging off ahead, the Grantham runners struggled to keep pace. The brutal headwind on the trickier 2nd half of the race and limited opportunities to overtake slower runners meant the pace dropped considerably. The steam train, having stopped at half way to take on water was still behind the two front GRC runners until around 10 miles when the ‘Choo-choo’ sound could be heard approaching. Spurred-on, Bonner kicked ahead with all that he had, narrowly failing to beat the train by around 2 mins with a time of 1:49:53. A tired Andrew Pask was behind with 1:51:35, followed by Tony Johnson in his one and only trail race of the year with 2:05:45. Tony had the honour of completing his 19th consecutive Race the Train event and returns next year for his 20th.

Local bragging rights were also at stake with our neighbours at Sleaford Striders sending a team of around 30 runners to this event. Their only runner to beat the train was Iain Bailey who finished 11th overall.

The event hosts numerous race distances, where the morning 10km had the honour of international athlete Gemma Steel taking the 1st lady prize.

After the race the party started in the race marquee where the marshals return from a day on the hills to join the runners for a well-earned drink.  

BARNEY MEMORIAL 5K

The Barney Memorial 5k is the season’s final 5k race dedicated to the late Mike Barney and run at Ferry Meadows. The trio of runner from Grantham Running Club were delighted that the heavy rain abated just before the start but the underfoot conditions particularly in the wooded sections were decidedly slippy  and the exposed sections saw the runners buffeted by the wind. First home for GRC was Peter Bonner is 19:42 for whom the race came just too soon after his efforts at the Newark Half Marathon run in similar conditions. Catherine Payne was also well down on her normal time clocking 21:16 but fast enough to pick up the award for the first in her age group. The third member was Robert McArdle finishing in 23 minutes

Burnham Beeches 10k

Pos				Time		GenPos		CatPos
486	1402	Dona Hall	10k	1:10:23	Female	249	50-59	69	Grantham Running Club
487	1401	Richard Hall	10k	1:10:23	Male	238	50-59	64	Grantham Running Club

Newark Half Marathon

Full report to follow.