On Friday a handful of Ivanhoe Runners swapped their race vests for spooky costumes and took on the Hope Skeleton Run through scary woods and up the horror of Beacon Hill in the dead of night. First home were Simon and Sarah Terry, 9th overall in 37:08 with Sarah winning the first female prize, very well done to her! Sean Wileman, Amanda Bradbury and Teresa Talbott always love dressing up for this race and came home together in 49:45 in joint 70th place. New member Fiona Speirs picked an unusual event for her first race as an Ivanhoe Runner and ran well to finish 186th in 1:01:50. There was a large Ivanhoe turn out at the Shepshed Seven mile race on Sunday, which was also the latest event in the club Grand Prix series. This testing two lap course mainly on tracks over Garendon Park is always a favourite event for the club. First home and continuing his impressive first season for the club was birthday boy Mike Trott, 18th overall in 43 minutes exactly a great run for his first attempt at the distance. Next with another personal best run was Ian Bolton, 27th in 44:23 followed by Dave Hobbs, 48th in 46:13 in his first 7 mile event. Next came a trio of strong running Ivanhoe men with Martin Yeomans 62nd in 47:48, Simon Terry in his first ever 7 mile race, 66th in 48:11 and Nick Rowles who ran a great new personal best, 68th in 48:22. Fastest Ivanhoe lady was Rebecca Hallam, 80th overall and 8th lady in a fine new personal fastest time of 48:59. Next came Andy Jeyes who won yet another first vet 60 prize as he crossed in 87th place in 49:13. Sarah Terry was next in her first race in Ivanhoe colours and a debut over 7 miles, finishing an excellent 109th and 11th lady in 50:47. Next was Tim Caukwell in a welcome return to racing, 140th in 52:46. Chris Finney was next again running well in his debut 7 miler as he finished 155th in 53:37 just ahead of Laura Graves with a personal best of 53:46 (159th) winning the first lady vet50 prize. Jason Green was next with an excellent 7 mile debut of 54:42 (182nd). Karen Bell finished just behind in 184th but in the slightly faster chip time of 54:40 as she started further back, also running for the first time over this distance. Ian Kirk and Tim Sturla ran together recovering from their recent multiple marathons, crossing in 203rd and 204th places (55:04). Victoria Smith and Kev Wright also ran together and finished in 56:39 in 229th and 230th places ahead of Emily Starkie, 244th in 57:20 and Karen Hartland, returning from injury with a pleasing 57:45 (249th) in her first 7 miler and supported by Damon Bland, 251st in 57:40. Amanda Bradbury was next, 258th in 58:34, with Duncan Ross just behind, 261st in 58:33. Kevin Sanders was the last member to beat the hour, 291st in 59:51 finishing ahead of Sally Jeyes who once again had an excellent run, 304th in 1:01:33. Teresa Talbott was next, 325th in 1:02:53, followed by Keith Baron, 350th in 1:04:12 and Allie Sturla, running her first race for eight months due to injury and finishing really well in 1:05:29 (360th). Kelly Finney was next, smashing her personal best by 8 minutes as she finished in 1:06:43 (374th). Next came a trio of ladies – Maureen Danvers running her debut 7 mile race (401st in 1:09:16), Heather Swan (402nd in 1:09:19) and Sarah Sanganee on her return to the club (403rd in 1:09:19). Elaine Bolton and Brian Gough were the next Ivanhoe finishers, 439th and 440th in 1:17:02 and 1:17:06 with Julie Henfrey completing the Ivanhoe finishers, 454th in 1:26:37. Elsewhere Andy Lindley ran the cross-country Dovedale Dash and finished 535th in 46 minutes.

Written by Ruth Green - last updated on 04/11/2014