Near perfect conditions saw a record turnout of 45 Ivanhoe Runners take on the first race of the 2015 Leicestershire Road Racing League, the Barrow 6 on Sunday. Run over an undulating course with a testing uphill finish the race saw some excellent performances from the team with many debuts and several personal best times.

First home for the club with a fine run that shaved 30 seconds off his previous best was Ramzi Sidani, 39th in 35:51. Next came Richard Martin, 82nd in 37:43 and Dave Hobbs who finished in the same time to beat his previous fastest time (84th). Simon Terry had a great debut 6 mile race next (132nd in 39:50) ahead of new member Steve Rundell running well to finish 153rd (40:19). Despite the previous day’s tough event Osian Flowers finished well (173rd, 41:14) ahead of Dave Morse 198th in 41:54). The ever consistent Andy Jeyes came 2nd fastest in his age group as he crossed in 42:12 (207th) closely followed by Martin Yeomans (225th in 42:47) and Andy Lindley (230th in 42:39) who both ran very well having raced the cross-country the previous day. Damon Bland was next setting a new PB of 43:31 (264th) ahead of ladies captain Laura Graves who smashed her personal best and set a new age-group club record of 43:43 (269th overall, 31st lady and 2nd vet 50). Next came Ian Kirk, 280th in 43:53 ahead of  Sarah Terry (288thm 37th lady in 44:28) and Mark Eydman (290th in 44:24) – both running a fine debut 6 miles. They were followed by Karen Bell (334th & 55th lady in 45:40), Jonathan Shaw  (349th in 46:06), Alan Edwards (350th in 46:14) and Barry Alldread (376th in 46:44). Jason Green also had a great first 6 mile race (376th in 46:44) ahead of Chris Finney (385th in 46:58) and Julia Blewitt-Jenkins (392nd and 74th lady in 47:19).

Victoria Smith beat her previous personal fastest time finishing in 47:48 (399th and  77th lady) followed by Becca Hallam ( 410th and 81st lady in 48:13) recovering from her excellent cross-country race and supporting Karen Hartland to a new personal best time of 48:15 (414th and 84th lady). Amanda Bradbury and Ruth Green battled well throughout with Amanda overtaking before the finish to come home 417th and 87th lady in 48:17, with Ruth 418th and 88th lady with a faster chip time of 48:15 after starting further back. Carolyn Osborne ran well returning from injury (452nd and 106th lady in 49:30) ahead of Ruth Shaw, also making a welcome return to road racing (467th and 115th lady in 49:50).

Next followed a flurry of Ivanhoe finishers lead by Emma Kirtland running a new personal best (513th and 141st lady in 51:49) followed by Heather Swan (515th and 141st lady in 52:01), Teresa Talbott (516th and 144th lady in the same time), Michael Swan in his 6 mile debut (517th in 52:03) and Helen Horn (518th and 145th lady with a chip time of 51:47). Allie Sturla, also returning strongly following injury, was next (530th and 151st lady in 52:37) ahead of Fran Sinclair (542nd and 159th lady in 53:01). Natasha Quick took a massive 6 minutes of her previous best (604th and 207th lady in 56:42) ahead of  Katie Poole and Lucy Allsop, bothrunning their first road race and finishing really well (615th and 215th lady in 57:23 and 616th and 216th lady in 57:14). Angela Wheeler was next finisher (619th and 219th lady in 57:16) ahead of  Kelly Finney, who finished well despite injury (634th and 229th in 58:27). The team was completed by strong perfomances from  Maureen Danvers (642nd and 234th lady in 59:25), John Lewis (650th in 61:13), Fiona Speirs (657th and 245th lady in 63:24) and Julie Henfrey (667th and 253rd lady in 71:55.

Elsewhere Grania Towle took on the Gayton 10k and had a great race to finish 89th in 58:18

Written by Ruth Green - last updated on 27/01/2015