Southwell Running ClubBramley Article December 2024
Finishing off the running year.
Southwell Running Club members brought their Grand Prix series to a close with their annual 10 Mile race in Norwell. The undulating, two lap route around the village and countryside is always a club favourite and nicely rounds off the running year. Members are waiting with bated breath to see who will win this year’s club Grand Prix trophies, which will be awarded at the club’s Christmas meal and presentation evening.
Several club members took on Seagrave Wolds Challenge in Corby. In celebration of the 20th birthday of this 16-mile race, there was an optional four-mile extension to 20 miles. Recent dry weather meant the cross country route was a pleasure to run despite the multiple ploughed fields. This community event, had many volunteer marshals manning refreshment stations which meant that runners were able to take a break from the serious business of running to enjoy sandwiches, pastries and cakes while on route.
Penny Durance, Izzy Pass and Steven Tomlinson all completed the 16 mile route, with Penny once again claiming 1st place in her age category, while Ben Parker and Nigel Whitmore completed 20 miles.
Gusty winds and heavy rain were forecast for the Clowne Half Marathon on 24th November. However this did not deter the brave trio of Ben Parker, Nigel Whitmore and Stephen Holt from SRC who laughed in the face of storm Bert as they splashed through the copious standing water and romped up the hills battling 45mph gusts of wind.
Finally for this year a group from SRC took part in the Edwinstowe Trail 10K. Ben Parker, Stephen Holt Jane Matthews, Anna Elias and Loraine Fozzard all enjoyed the off road race through gently undulating trail paths in the beautiful Sherwood Forest. Credit goes to Ben and Jane for coming first in their respective age categories.
Southwell Running Club continues to go from strength to strength and we warmly welcome our recent new members. We wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and hope many more will join us in the New Year at our regular club sessions on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday.
Ruby Runner
www.southwellrunningclub.org
Bramley Article November 2024
Halloween Half for Southwell Running Club
Several club members took part in a Halloween favourite event - the Worksop Half Marathon. Steven Rice finished in 1:27:41, Nigel Whitmore in 1:39:50, Mel Duffy in 1:41:15, Alan Davidson in 1:46:21, Stephen Holt 1:46:30 and Sarah Mckie 2:07:05.
Meanwhile father and son Ben and Guy Parker enjoyed a day of family, fitness and fun when they took on the Bruges marathon.Starting in the shadow of Bruges Concert Hall, the course meanders through the beautiful Bruges city centre. It then carries on into the charming medieval splendour of Damme with its canals, polders and windmills before finally finishing in the Market Square with a view of the Belfry. Ben achieved a time of 3:26:47 coming second in his age category and Guy was hot on his father’s heels in a time of 3:38:12.
The Dukeries 10-mile race (which was in reality 11.4 miles!) was held on a very wet Saturday morning. Pam Dutton, Neil Merritt and Carol Hayward joined others to plough through mud, knee‑deep water, fields and woodlands for this fun but challenging event.
Finally, Carol Hayward and Neil Merritt finished this year’s collection of events by running the New York City Marathon. The challenging course, which begins on Staten Island, takes runners over the Verrazzano Bridge and through all five boroughs of the city before finishing in Central Park. Carol said “The crowds were electric, so much support all the way along the route”.
If you spot our club members running in the dark at this time of year, you’ll probably be blinded by the lights and hi-vis as we see this as an essential requirement for safety. If you’re thinking of joining us, we have hi-vis you can borrow. See you on a Tuesday, Thursday evening or Saturday morning.
Ruby Runner
Southwell Running Club.
Bramley Article October 2024
Never a dull moment!
Southwell Running Club never seems to have a quiet month and this September has been no exception. Beginning with The Vitruvian Triathlon which Michael Cook completed in 6 hrs 11 minutes and Megan Mulraney in 6hrs 3 mins. The Relay team of Lee Mulraney (swim), Ian Haigh (bike), and Kat Hall (run) came 4th in their category in 5hrs and 1 min. At the Mansfield 10K on the same day, Steven Rice braved the rain and came 3rd in his age category in a time of 40:13, while Ben and Guy Parker, Nigel Whitmore, Stephen Tomlinson, Alan Davidson, Stephen Holt and Nicola Blatherwick took on the 17 mile undulating trail run known as the Ponton Plod.
Carol Hayward’s 3rd marathon this year took her overseas to Sydney to compete in the Age Group World Championships in Sydney. In its bid to become an Abbott World Major, the Sydney Marathon pulled out all the stops and produced an amazing event, although they did fail to flatten the very hilly course and turn off the 40mph winds which arrived for race day! The event which takes runners over the famous Sydney Harbour Bridge has an iconic finish in front of the Sydney Opera House. Carol managed to beat over one third of the competitors in her 65-69 category finishing in a time of 4:49:07 and new club member Neil Merritt, who ran with a pulled hamstring, finished in 5:08:17.
More amazing results came from Kat Hall who finished the Hardmoors 60, a tough trail running event which takes in the best parts of the North York Moors. Kat completed the challenging event in 17hrs 34mins.
To finish the month, the following all completed the Robin Hood Half: Steven Rice (1.29:12), Adam Smith(1:32:14), Katy Simpson 1:35:06), Rhodri Price(1:33:55), Nigel Whitmore (1:37:08), Lourens du Toit (1:38:54), Kayne Rukas (1:38:54), Mel Duffy (1:40:58) Nicola Blatherwick (1:41:11), Stephen Holt (1:47:15) Sune du Toit (1:49:04) Simon Hughes(1:53:48), Josh Barratt (1:57:32), Katie Botham (2:11:56), Rachael Cook(2:13:09) and Bill Lee(2:47:39). Special congratulations go to Rachael for her first ever half marathon and Katy Simpson for coming 2nd in her age group!
Well done all for a successful September – come and join us for a run on Tuesday, Thursday or Saturday.
Ruby Runner
Southwell Running Club.org.
Bramley Article September 2024
Summer Running Happened so Fast
Southwell Running Club members have had a busy summer including organising the penultimate Notts Amateur Athletics Association Summer League Race in which 18 members of the club battled their way alongside numerous Nottinghamshire clubs around the course, set predominantly in the beautiful grounds of Hexgreave Hall. Pam Dutton and Lorraine Fozzard came first and third, respectively, in their age groups following the final race in the Summer League series.
The club’s Annual Relay Race took place in the grounds of the Rugby Club with club members, their family and friends participating in the event; running in teams of three to complete 18 laps of the rugby field. The fine weather added to the enjoyment of the evening and it was wonderful to see younger runners really doing their best and joining in the occasion.
Kat Hall and Megan Mulraney took on the challenging 26 mile Dovedale Dipper trail event in the Peak District National Parkwhile Ben Parker, Nigel Whitmore, Steven Rice, Nicola Blatherwick, Jane Matthews and Michelle Hall sprinted their way round The Castle Rock 10k.
Penny Durance, Carol Hayward, Nicola Blatherwick, Neil Merritt, Nigel Whitmore and Stephen Holt all participated in the challenging 30K Belper Rover with its 1,800ft of ascent. Penny came first in her age group, Carol and Nicola both placed second in theirs and Nigel placed sixth in his. Finally Kat Hall took on the 20 mile challenge of Hope Valley Round. The undulating circular route, with a total ascent of 1360mt, allows runners and walkers to explore the best landscapes the Peak District National Park.
Our training and social runs have continued through the summer and we of course welcome new members to join us on a Tuesday or Thursday evening or Saturday morning. Please visit our website www.southwellrunningclub.org for more information.
Ruby Runner
Southwell Running Club.
Bramley Article July 2024
Summer Running Fun
As Spring rolls into Summer, Southwell Running Club members have continued their pursuit of running activities up and down the country.
Always looking for an endurance challenge, Kat Hall and Lee Mulraney took on the Lakesman Half Ironman set in the breathtaking natural beauty of Cumbria. Beginning at 6.30am with a cold 1.2 mile swim in the crystal clear waters of Derwent lake,followed by a 56 mile cycle around the beautiful countryside of Cumbria and finishing with a half marathon run through an equally stunning area. Lee completed the event 5:17:33 and Kat 6:00:05.
Further afield, Julia Sotakova completed a half marathon in Banska Bystrica Slovakia in a time of 2:13, beating her previous time by 9 minutes.
Penny Durance took part in the Nottingham 10 Mile race held at Holme Pierrepont and came first in her age category in a time of 1:28:00.
Peter Gault and Rhod Price took part in Whelbourne Running Week; which consists of 5 x 5k races over the course of the week. Rhod achieved 6th place out of 65 runners.
Steven Rice, Ben Parker, Nicola Blatherwick, Jane Matthews, Loraine Fozzard took on the Summer Solstice 10k which takes place on Midsummer’s Eve and follows a fairly flat route around the quiet roads of Long Bennington. Steven crossed the finish line in 39:07, Ben in 44:17 Nicola in 45:11, Jane in 51:38 and Loraine in 57:41.
Elsewhere, a favourite event for many club members is the Round Sheffield Run, which has both a Winter and a Summer version. The race circumnavigates the southeast side of the city in 11 stages totalling 20km. The running stages are interspersed with 10 walking stages adding up to 4k. This unusual event has numerous steep climbs totalling an ascent of over 2,000 feet which are followed by equally steep downhill sections taking runners through beautiful woodlands and parks and onto the final sprint back through to the finish. The six club members who completed this Summer’s event finished in the following times
Carol Hayward 2:15:37, Pam Dutton/Izzy Pass 2:04:45, Steve Tomlinson/Nigel Whitmore 1:53:56 Ben Parker 4th in his VM60 age category in 1:31:33.
Our sessions continue throughout the summer and, as always, new members are always welcome to come along and try a few sessions on Tuesday and Thursday evenings or Saturday mornings.
Ruby Runner for Southwell Running Club