Eye Community Runners hosted round one of the 2024 GP races from their clubhouse at Lindisfarne Road, Eye attracting almost 450 runners to the main race of the evening, the 5k.
As usual Grantham Running Club were well represented on this tricky course whose main obstacles are pinch points designed to force cyclists to dismount before they cross the pedestrian bridge over the A47.
Getting held up by other runners was never to going to be a problem for Jake Richardson in his first individual road race for a year he eased himself into the race with a controlled first half before accelerating through to the finish just a few seconds off the podium in 15:47. He was satisfied with his average pace of 5:02 a mile but is hoping to improve on that over the summer.
Next home was Grantham College student Alex Curtis with a blistering 20+ second PB after getting involved in a 3 way tussle with some friends that made him forget the pain as he kept with them to the line.
First mortal in for GRC was Peter Bonner with a satisfying 19:15, a little better than par for this course followed by the strong finishing Daniel Pearce clocking 20:50.
Rob Howbrook, 20:11, made a great start to the series with an age group win some 3 minutes 15 second clear of the second place man in his category, surely only injury can prevent him being there at presentation evening at the end of the summer!
First woman hope for the club was Catherine Payne in 21:28 taking 8 seconds off her time at last month’s LWAC meeting.
Paul Davis, in his first 5k of 2024, crossed the line in 23:02 getting his reward for the work he has been doing on the track recently.
Robert McArdle finished in 23:12.
Sarah High set a Season’s best by 36 seconds in a time of 24:54, with the final GRC runner Caroline Davis crossing the line in 26:56.
Report compiled by Robert McArdle
Photo c/o Alex Curtis