August 12, 2013
Weekend Round-Up: 2-3 March
Heanor RC members were in action in a variety of races this weekend, with some running in events as close to home as Loughborough and others as far-flung as Paris.
Four Heanor RC runners made the trip to Loughborough University this weekend to take part in the inaugural Loughborough Sport Join the 5000. In what was the latest opportunity to add further club championship points to the board, it was a surprisingly low turnout, especially with the Midland 12 & 6 Stage Road Relays due to take place in three weeks’ time.
Mark Powell was Heanor RC’s leading performer. After having to miss last weekend’s National XC due to a foot injury, Powell returned to the roads to finish a close 3rd, running just inside 16:00 for 5k (still awaiting official results). Joe Rainsford closely followed Powell with a 5th place finish as Ashley Deeming (17:24) and Paul Mercer (20:10) completed the quartet’s efforts.
Later that same afternoon, at the same venue, the East Midlands trials for the Virgin Mini London Marathon took place.
The Virgin Mini London Marathon is the official UK road running championships for young athletes aged between 11 and 17 and is a 3 mile long event, stretching from London’s Old Billingsgate to The Mall. The race takes place alongside the main event on 21st April and has been won previously by double-Olympic champion Mo Farah, amongst others.
Joe Rainsford had been Heanor RC’s sole representative at this event, finishing 63rd in 2010, until last weekend when Milly Newton impressively booked her place in the final with a 3rd place finish in the U15G category. Lily Winfield placed 12th in the U13G age group to qualify as a reserve whilst sympathies went to Danielle Smith, who had to pull out mid-race due to a calf injury.
Elsewhere last weekend, Heanor RC runners were in action across the UK and France in various half marathon events. Heanor RC’s newest recruit, Dale Annable, returned from holiday to run his third fastest time ever for the distance at the Bath Half Marathon. Annable, who is looking forward to competing for the yellow and blue in this month’s relay events, clocked an impressive time of 70:38, finishing 23rd in a strong field.
Carl Hughes ran a new personal best in the Paris Half Marathon. Starting and finishing in the Bois de Vincennes public park before heading along the River Seine to Notre Dame in the eastern edge of the French capital, Hughes slashed almost two minutes off his previous best set at the Robin Hood Half Marathon in Nottingham last September, crossing the line in 1:26:55.
At the official warm-up race for the Virgin London Marathon next month, Tim Simpson and Neil Hopwell were in action at the adidas Silverstone Half Marathon. Held at the historic Silverstone motor racing circuit, Simpson finished 2527th in 1:56:14 as Hopwell ran 2:22:46 to place 4883rd out of a huge field of 6189.