In addition to the club’s 27th-place finish at the ERRA English National 12-Stage Road Relays on Saturday, there were a huge number of Heanor RC runners in action at the county’s biggest 10k on Sunday.

Adam Biggs was Heanor RC’s highest finisher at the Derby 10k on Sunday as he raced to a huge new personal best in blustery conditions. Adam, who has had his fair share of injuries over the past twelve months, proved the slow and steady (i.e. sensible) approach to full fitness is paying off as he clocked 34:32 to finish 10th.

Lisa Palmer grabbed herself a spot on the podium. Lisa has been in great form all year and ran within eighteen seconds of her best as she posted 36:29 for runner-up behind England international Juliet Potter (34:52).

In a race won for the second successive year by Derby AC athlete – and Matthew Walker 10k winner – Richard Weir in an unchallenged 31:17, a fantastic showing of twenty-one HRC runners were in amongst the 5000 finishers and there were eight more personal bests alongside Adam’s 34:42.

Lousie Insley continued her rich vein of form to finish fourth female and dip inside 38 minutes for the first time. After a string of 38-minute clockings in 2013, Louise ran 37:54 to fly under the barrier in her first race over the distance this year.

The hard graft on Tuesday and Thursday evenings looks to be paying dividends and the seven other personal bests came from Garry Cooper (39:51), Ed Godber (40:15), Paul Mercer (40:27 – after racing at the ERRA National Road Relays the day before), Ned Needham (42:28), Richard Charlesworth (42:50), Rita Fisher (49:05 – and over twenty minutes quicker than last year!) and Gary Fletcher (49:34).

Rounding-off the HRC efforts on the county’s biggest 10k race were Ben O’Connell (35:14), debutante Stephen Jennings (37:48), Robin Clegg (37:59), Paul Harpham (38:42), Jill Burke (41:55 – 1st V50), Paul Winfield (43:08), Steve Wardle (48:31), Jo Potter (49:02), Sarah Lewis (56:48), Laura Bowley (56:48) and not forgetting Dawn Morland (57:27).

HRC second-claim runner Stephen Price, in the colours of UKnetrunner, finished an impressive fourth in 33:35 – his fastest time since 2009.

Full results HERE

Numerous Heanor RC juniors were in action over the weekend as sisters Kara and Elisabeth Hughes tackled the 3k Easter Bunny Run at Beacon Hill and Dylan George and sisters, Phoebe and Lily Winfield, raced in the Derby 3k Fun Run.

Phoebe competed well just a a day after running at the Notts AC Open track races as Dylan – a week on from finishing a fantastic third at the Belvoir 4.5 mile fun run in 28:12 – placed second. Phoebe’s older sister, Lily, who will be racing at the London Mini Marathon next weekend, took the honours in the girls’ race and finished fifth overall.

Over at the flat Lincoln 10k on Sunday, Matt Bickerstaff ran the second-fastest 10k of his life to finish 7th (and first U20) in 33:13.

Full results HERE

Seven days before at the Belvoir Half Marathon in Leicestershire, Lizzie Poole was happy with 1:43:06 in conditions described as “ideal with cool air, light winds and not much sunshine until after the finish”.

Full results HERE

Photo: Matt Cartwright (Facebook)