10 members of Grantham running club took the short trip down the A1 to take part in the Stamford Striders’ Valentine’s 30k,held on Sunday, February 12th. The race is run each year on the Sunday closest to St Valentine’s Day. It is recognised nationally as a tough event, with lots of hills, providing a good training race for those planning a spring marathon, and with GRC members busy training for marathons in Edinburgh, London and Manchester, the race gave them an ideal opportunity to test the marathon legs in a 30k race.
The race starts outside Stamford Welland Academy in Green Lane, The on-road route then heads up to Little Casterton and to Ryhall and Careby, before heading west to Holywell and Pickworth. It then returns through Great Casterton, Tolethorpe to Stamford. Runners received great support while out on the route from people who came out of their homes to cheer, as well as marshals from Stamford Striders running club.
The well-loved athletics event saw nearly 500 runners race 18-miles around the Stamford and Rutland countryside.
First home for GRC is an impressive time was Joaquim Jeronimo 2:00:18 and a PB. Next back was Peter Bonner 2:08:20, also a PB. Following was Robin Atter in 2:18:29 who had been paced by the experienced Chris Limmer, gaining himself a new PB. Chris crossed the line in 2:18:51. Dean Riggall was next back for the club at 2:29:57. Peter Jennings, first time running a race of this distance finished in 2:41:24. Caroline Davis completed in 2:42:21.
Warren Stark was next in 2:47:46, closely followed by Craig Drury in 2:48:48 and Sarah High in 2:50:42.
The was won by Robert Byers, from Sheffield’s Steel City Striders in 1:47:33. Ladies winner was Kanina O’Neil 2:03:28 of March AC.
Picture c/o David Babbs
Report by Robin Atter