The Cross-Country season has kicked off for Grantham Running Club with two recent fixtures. In October, several members of the club headed to Markeaton Park in Derby for the first fixture of the North Midlands Cross Country League. The sunny weather conditions and favourable ground conditions made for good afternoon out.
The ladies were first up in a 3 lap, 6K race over a course that, although flat for the first half, had some testing hilly sections in the second half of each lap. Andrea Ward had a perfectly paced race and was first GRC lady home in a time of 32:05. Sarah High was second for GRC, fourth in her age category and pleased with her run which sets a benchmark for future fixtures. Agnes van Rheinberg in only her second cross country for the club, put in a strong performance to finish in 35:16. Michelle Parczuk, returning to cross country, put in a great effort to bring the team home.
As a result of their efforts the GRC Vet Ladies start the League in 9th place.
In the men’s 4 lap, 10K race, the quality of the field was fantastic to see. GRC’s Sam Jepson put in a very strong performance and was first back for GRC in an impressive 34.20. Andrew Goddard, in his first cross country outing for the club, also put in a strong performance to finish in 37:12. Matthew Williamson, also returning to cross country after a break away from it, was next to finish in 39:53, closely followed by Peter Jennings who acquitted himself well with an impressive run in 40:20. Also finishing strongly for the club was Rob Howbrook in 40:39. Chris Armstrong, returning to running after some time out, was pleased with his performance of 47:41 which is a boost to his return to fitness. Craig Drury, putting in a fine, consistent effort, managed to push on to finish in 50.59. Nev Chamberlain, pleased to be back running with the club during a break in his travels, put in a dogged performance to bring the team home.
The men’s Vet team lies in 9th place.
It was great to see so many taking part in XC and, overall, all who participated loved it – it is definitely a fixture to do again next year.
Cleethorpes
The second fixture saw a select few make the journey to Weelsby Woods in Cleethorpes for the first round of the Lincolnshire Cross Country League. Despite very foggy weather conditions on the drive up, on nearing the coast the cloud broke to provide blue skies and glorious sunshine.
There was a mass start of senior and vet men and women, junior men and women and U17 men and women, who all ran a three lap, 5.4K course. The race started on parkland, then climbed up to the woods which provided the technical challenge before a gradual decent down to the start and the next lap. The dry conditions underfoot made for a pleasant run.
Strong performances were put in by our teams with Flash (Joaquim Jeronimo), first back for the men, followed by Peter Jennings, in his second cross country in two days, and Jason Blair. For the ladies, Sarah High, also running her second cross country race of the weekend, was first back, closely followed Caroline Davis, who put in a consistent run only days after competing in Chester Marathon.