Rich Weir and Lisa Palmer were the race winners at the Matthew Walker 10k as they led home a record number of finishers in the event’s twenty-seventh year.

With the event completely selling out its 1000 entry limit before the day, the record always looked likely to fall and in cool and slightly breezy conditions 881 runners finished the race to better the previous record of 816 set just twelve months before.

The beat from the Heanor Gate Science College steel band added a festival atmosphere to the opening kilometres as the runners set off from Shipley Country Park ten minutes behind schedule due to the overwhelming numbers queuing to collect their numbers.

Pre-race favourite Rich Weir quickly stamped his authority on the race and moved away from the field within the first two kilometres.

The Derby AC man had the race wrapped up by halfway and, unchallenged, ran the fastest winning time on the course since 2008 to finish over two minutes clear in 31:36.

Heanor RC pair Chris Rainsford (33:45) and Dale Annable (33:46) ran the entire race together to finish second and third respectively and led home a host-club winning men’s team as Ben O’Connell (34:57) and Tim Holling (34:57) matched each other for time to complete the top-5.

Lisa Palmer – fresh from a 10k personal best of 36:11 seven days before at the Leeds Abbey Dash – posted her second-fastest time of the year on an undulating course to finish almost a minute ahead of her nearest challenger in 37:06.

Charnwood AC’s Clare McKittrick (38:04) and Natalie Shaw (38:12) of Derby AC – on her 10k debut – completed the top-3.

Repeating the Heanor RC men’s success, Palmer led home a winning women’s team trio that also included Midland Masters champion Louise Insley and Jill Burke.

Despite a last-minute hiccup with the Christmas pudding production, special thanks go to Matthew Walker for their continued support of the event.

Thanks also go to all the marshals, volunteers and runners that helped make the event a success once again and to Shipley Country Park, Rob Jefferies and Derby Runner, the Heanor Gate Science College steel band and East Midlands Physiotherapy Training College for the complimentary pre- and post-race massage.

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