09/03/2014 - Ashby and Ivanhoe 20


Sunday 9th March was a very special day for Ivanhoe Runners who staged the 25th anniversary event of their annual ALDI Ashby 20 mile road race. Fittingly weather conditions were glorious with bright sunshine in contrast to the snow of last year, though unseasonable temperatures up to 18 degrees out on the course provided an unexpected challenge for competitors. The route starts out from Ashby, heading to Packington for two laps taking in Swepstone, Heather and Normanton returning to finish on the Ashby Bath Grounds. Last year’s race was voted the 5th best race in the country in its category by readers of “Runner’s World” magazine for its slick organisation and this years race was another outstanding success. Organised and run by teams of volunteers from the club and local communities, the race adjudicator congratulated the club with the words “other race organisers should note how it should be done!” The race itself was won by Ben Livesey from Birchfield Harriers who finished in 1:49:28 over 3 minutes ahead of second placed local runner Matt Adcock of Hermitage Harriers who had a great run to come home in 1:52:11. Kenilworth Runners’ Andrew Siggers was third in 1:52:53. First lady home was Sarah Rose of Coventry Godiva Harriers in 2:14:48 followed by Kirstie Meeten from Bedford Harriers in 2:15:35 and Carolyn Wilkinson of Spa Striders, third in 2:16:40. Most Ivanhoe Runners were heavily involved in the practical race day organisation so the Club organises it’s own version of the race held the day before the main event and known as the “Ivanhoe 20”. Nevertheless a small team of Ivanhoe Runners represented the club by completing Sunday’s race. First home in a very impressive time, particularly given recent illness, was Nick Teige, finishing in 2:12:30 in an excellent 51st place. Next came Andy Gillies running as part of the ALDI team, ALDI being the main sponsor for the race providing financial and logistical support. Andy finished in an impressive 2:42:15 (331st). Ruth Enion was the next runner home for Ivanhoe Runners and received some of the loudest cheers of the day as she finished in 546th in 2:55:52. Ruth’s late father Paul Enion was one of a small team of Ivanhoe Runners who initially inspired, planned and organised the first staging of the race over 25 years ago. As Paul sadly lost his life a few years later he did not live to see just how successful the event has become but would no doubt have been immensely proud to see Ruth cross the finish line, as was the whole club. Ruth’s sister Bec was also due to compete but unfortunately missed the race with injury, hopefully to return next year. Roger Beaven, who has been the race director for several years before Barry Alldread took up the reins last year, finished very strongly in the hot conditions, 587th in 2:59:46. Tim Sturla is one of the current key organisers of the event and every year runs the race dressed as a hairy gorilla. This year proved tough for him given the heat but Tim showed his class coming 662 in 3:04:26. Jason Green was running his debut 20 mile race for the club and had a great race coping well with the heat finishing 771st in 3:14:41 ahead of Andy Pole who finished very well in 4:10:29 despite finding the last few miles hard going. The Ivanhoe 20, held to allow members to run the course the day before the main event was won convincingly by Steve Baggott in 2:08:45, some way ahead of last year’s winner Ramzi Sidani who also had a great run to come home in 2:15:21. Ian Bolton set a new PB next, third in 2:19:11. Next was Kelly Alldread who won the ladies race and set a new Ladies club record of 2:26:42. Given that Kelly is not a regular runner and had only ever run 13 miles before, this is a particularly amazing achievement. Martin Yeomans was 4th with a very strong run all the way round the course finishing in 2:34:42. Martin was just ahead of the next three finishers who ran together for much of the course, Becca Hallam, Kev Wright and Andy Lindley all having great runs to cross the line in 2:34:50, new personal fastest times for Becca and Andy. Clare Fowell finished next with an excellent run breaking the club vet 35 record by finishing in 2:37:44, a personal best by some 8 minutes. Ladies’ captain Laura Graves also smashed her personal best with an impressive 2:43:58 finish. Richard Bebbington was very pleased with his great run finishing next in 2:46:52, close to his personal best and just ahead of Ian Kirk who ran the race on the back of a tough marathon only a week ago, still managing to complete in a time of 2:48, Victoria Smith was running her first ever 20 mile race, finishing really well alongside Lynda Revill, in 2:57:14 and 2:57:15 respectively, Lynda running despite a painful knee following a recent fall. Carolyn Osborne was running the event as part of marathon training and after returning from a prolonged period of injury last year did very well to be last runner under 3 hours in 2:58. Emma Kirtland was another personal best setter running strongly from the start, finishing in 3 hours dead. Amanda Bradbury was next with steady pacing coming home strongly in 3:16:27. Heather Swan and Ruth Green came home together next in 3:16:39 both suffering for setting off too quickly in the first lap and supporting each other during the tough final miles. Fiona McKean was next also finding it hard going but finishing well in 3:19. Next was Esther Barsby, looking comfortable in 4:10 with Laura Harvey and Ellen Charles completing their first ever 20 mile run next in 4:15, both looking very strong at the finish. Brian Gough completed yet another Ivanhoe 20 miler to round off the team. Several runners took on a single lap running between 10 and 13 miles including Rosie Dear, Phil Stevenson, Karl Savill and Allie Sturla, Teresa Talbott and Rebecca Wilkinson. After her great Ivanhoe 20 performance Becca Hallam even went on to compete in the Fradley 10k the next day finishing in 46:55. All in all an incredibly successful weekend for Ivanhoe Runners.

Written by Ruth Green - last updated on 29/04/2014