A record number of people took part in the Matthew Walker Christmas Pudding 10k last weekend (18/11) as 816 finishers saw the Heanor Running Club-hosted event break previous bests and firmly establish itself as one of the best 10k road races in the region.

Now in its 26th year, the race has continued to grow and the perfect November morning also saw numerous personal bests achieved and records broken across the age-categories.

Chris Rainsford of host club Heanor RC took the spoils for the second-year running as Juliet Doyle of Charnwood AC romped home to take the female title and set a new course record in the process.

In ideal road-running conditions, Leicestershire-based athlete Mark Powell, now in the colours of Heanor RC, set the early pace, with Rainsford, Stephen Price, also of Heanor RC, and Team Derby Runner’s Phil Mitchell keeping a close order.

By the halfway point, the race was whittled down to three and then to two as club mates Powell and Rainsford were locked together entering the final three kilometres.

Rainsford stole a yard at 8k and this proved decisive as he went on to increase the gap and take the victory for the second successive year in a time of 32:21.

Powell crossed the line second in 32:44 with Price (33:24) taking third following a mostly solo effort to make it a Heanor RC 1-2-3.

Juliet Doyle managed to go one better than her previous best at the Matthew Walker 10k in 2010, when she finished second to GB international Gemma Steel.

Not only did Doyle win the event this time but she also set a new course record of 34:15, taking the previous record from that race in 2010 in the process.

Second female, and fifteenth overall, was Jenny McLean of Edinburgh AC, who crossed the line in 36:30. Louise Collins of Nottinghamshire-based club Formula One CC followed McLean home to finish third female and 34th overall in 38:28.

Special thanks go to all the marshals, volunteers and runners that helped to make the event a success once again. Thanks also go to Shipley Country Park, Rob Jeffries and Derby Runner and Helen Wright for the complimentary pre- and post-race massage.