16/03/2014 - Bosworth Battlefield XC


Race number 5 of the Derby Runner Cross Country League saw a depleted field overall due to the Stamford 30k and half term week, but the runners who did turn up were not disappointed! The course was a cross country classic, with mud, mud and more mud over a 6 mile course, largely flat with a few uphill drags but very tough through muddy fields and a bit of woodland with 1 spring crossing, which for the smaller runners was pretty deep! Not the sort of course you want to race if you are a bit tired to start with! Ivanhoe Runners managed to field men and ladies teams with results as follows: Men: Ramzi Sidani didn’t disappoint and was first Ivanhoe man back in 45th overall in a time of 39:25. Ian Bolton then led another few in, coming 70th in 41:10, with Martin Yeomans just behind in 41:26 coming 74th, and Gerard Eivors 81st in 41:57. Gerard was rewarded with his appearance with a spot prize! Andy Lindley was our next counter coming 136th in 45:47, with Andy Pawley next, 167th in 48:42, then Alan Edwards, 179th in 50:17, and last counter Julian Rawlings, 202nd in 52:26. Keith Baron dug in to come 215th in 54:53, and Dave Morse reported having a gentle run in the country for his 50th birthday to round up the whole field in 232nd place – no time was recorded, and Dave looked suspiciously clean!!!! The men’s team today came 15th out of 17 teams with Shelton Striders coming top dogs. Women: Rosie Dear was loving the mud to come 26th in 48:11, with Julia Blewitt-Jenkins next in 51:24 for 39th place despite shoe problems. Victoria Smith enjoyed the course to come 3rd ladies counter in 43rd place with a time of 53:18, and Carolyn “one shoe” Osborne our final counter in 54:11 gaining 50th place. Sometimes it’s still not enough to do double knots in your laces!!! Tracey Smith was only half a minute back in 56th with a time of 54:46, then Teresa Talbott battled for 70th in 58:07 with Karen Edwards overcoming the mud to come 98th in 67:53. The women fared a little better today, coming 8th out of 18 teams, with Barrow 1st, and the combined Ivanhoe placing was 13th with Shelton at the top again. Well done all, as usual there was a great team atmosphere….thanks to Martin for the gazebo and Teresa for refreshments! Continuing the cross-country theme Tim Sturla competed in the Caythorpe Dash last week. This is an off-road half marathon distance race across the fields of Lincolnshire and Tim’s time of 1:53:36 brought him home in 36 place overall.

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