Ivanhoe Runners were very busy last weekend with runners present at the Leicestershire Road Racing League John Fraser 10, the Great North Run and the Wolverhampton marathon and half marathon.

A 23 strong Ivanhoe team tackled the John Fraser 10 miler, and some impressive performances were exemplified by first home for the club Mike Trott, who in his early races for Ivanhoe has set the club alight with his brilliant runs. Sunday was no exception as he stormed round in 1.02.57 for 34th place overall. Stalwart and racing machine Alistair Chambers showed many younger members a clean pair of heels as he finished 49th in 1.05.22 and third in his age category, while Gerard Eivors was 66th in 1.08.03. The engine room was blazing as Nick Rowles finished 93rd in 1.10.53, just two places ahead of skipper Martin Yeomans, 95th and on a high from his 50th birthday celebrations, clocking 1.11.06, in turn just 2 seconds clear of Kev Wright 1.11.08 in 98th place.

Dave Morse continued his run of fine form, clocking 1.13.46 in 130th, while Damon Bland had a great run to clock 1.15.56 in 161st. Andy Pawley was 179th in 1.17.07. Next home was Ivanhoe’s ladies captain Laura Graves, having a record breaking run to set a new personal best time of 1.20.15 and leading the ladies team home from the front, as well as finishing 6th in her age category. Chris Finney clocked an impressive 1.20.20 (244th), ahead of two more ladies having great runs; Karen Bell 1.21.47 (260th overall) and Lynda Revill 1.21.59 (266th).

Will Wright has come on in leaps and bounds since he joined Ivanhoe Runners, proving that hard Wednesday sessions pay dividends come race day. He clocked 1.23.46 in 280th place. Karen Hartland ran her first ever ten mile race, and was delighted with a time of 1.24.22 on her debut. Barry Alldread surprised everyone by turning up, and ran 1.24.44. Another debutante was Rebecca Wilkinson, and she too was delighted with her time of 1.25.28, one second slower than Phil Slocombe 1.25.27. Gabby Smith was also running her first ten mile race, and did very well to clock 1.33.09. Heather Swan was simply pleased to achieve the Club Standard time she was chasing, clocking 1.35.02, while Seran Bradley set a personal best time of 1.37.16. Kelly Finney ran 1.38.54, while Julie Henfrey continues to impress as she ran her first ever ten miler and longest race, in 2.10.55.

So, a great set of times for the Club and some really promising performances particularly from the newer members of the Club.

Meanwhile, Nick Teige continued his ten marathons in ten weeks for charity quest, this week tackling the Wolverhampton marathon - Number 4 out of 10. Running with fellow club members and marathon devotees Tim Sturla and Ian Kirk, they stuck together to clock 3.44.53/54. Following them for the first half of the race was Fiona McKean running the half marathon, and she was pleased to clock 1.53.30, her fastest half this year.

Up in Newcastle, chasing Mo Farah and local lass Gemma Steele home in the Great North Run half marathon  were five Ivanhoe Runners. Nick Lee-Smith was first home for Ivanhoe, clocking an impressive 1.43.15, ahead of Iron-woman Teresa Talbott, finding the distance a bit short for her clocking 1.55.41 and Amanda Bradbury finding the distance a bit long clocking 1.56.13! Victoria Smith was next home in 2.01.17 while Angela Wheeler took the advice to enjoy the atmosphere and treat it as a training run, clocking 2.12.43.

Written by Kevin Sanders - last updated by Andy Lindley on 08/09/2014