Sunday 1st November saw the staging of the annual Shepshed 7 mile race, a challenging event which takes place over a largely off road two lap course through the Garendon park estate. Conditions started off foggy and soft underfoot but the sun soon came out to make it a beautiful day for running. The on-form men’s captain Nick Rowles lead the team home with a blisteringly fast run placing 37th overall in 45:18 a great new personal best time. Incredibly, given his three marathons in three days challenge last week, Martin Yeomans was next for the team with a great run finishing 74th in 48:19 ahead of super veteran Andrew Jeyes, 86th in 49:05. Ivanhoe Robin Ellie Armstrong was the fastest lady , 94th overall in 49:35. Next came Damon Bland who  smashed his previous fastest time for the distance finishing 125th in 51:13 after coaxing teammate Mark Eydman to a new personal best of 51:25 (133rd). Rosie Dear was next smiling all the way to finish as she made light work of the tough course crossing  the lady (165th) in 53:29. Jason Green continue,  his excellent season long improvement with a new personal best of 54:17 (174th) just ahead of Emily Wideman who had a great run in her debut 7 miler (54:34, 176th) just beating team mate Karen Bell (179th, 54:39), a new personal best for Karen by 1 second. Great teamwork saw the next four Ivanhoe Runners come in together lead by Victoria Smith (231st, 57:14), Lynda Revill (232nd, 57:19) then Karen Hartland with a new personal best (237th, 57:28) and Kev Wright (238th, 57:40). Chairman Kevins Sanders had a good run despite stopping to  help an injured runner finishing 244th (58:24) just ahead of Amanda Bradbury (256th, 59:10) and Carolyn Osborne (262nd, 59.28). Judy Edlin started very quickly to fade slightly towards in the end in her first seven miler (296th, 1:01:27) finishing just ahead of Anne Newbery who was quicker on the gun time (304th, 1:01:13) as she recorded a new personal best. Next came Sally Jeyes continuing her fine season (1:03:13, 347th) ahead of Trish McPherson (369th, 1:04:38). Angela Bebbington was paced to a new personal best by her husband Richard finishing 373rd (1:05:12) and 374th (1:05:13) just ahead of a strong run from Jackie Williams (375th, 1:05:17). Next came a trio of Ivanhoe ladies racing for the first time at this distance with Christine Ridley 403rd (1:07:17), Grania Towle 436th (1:10:26) and Katie Poole 439th (1:11:04)supported by Maureen Danvers 440th (1:11:05).  Helen Thurogood  also enjoyed her dubut 7 mile event finishing well in 452nd (1:15:05) ahead of a new personal best from Julie Henfrey  (480th, 1:23:55). Future Ivanhoe Runner Sam Green completed the muddy 1 mile fun run in only 7:25 to finish 14th at the age of 6.

Elsewhere Craig Hinds and Andy Lindley ran the Dovedale Dash, a popular cross-country race of 4.75 miles in Thorpe, Derbyshire. Craig ran with his dog Stella, who was the first Canine finisher, supporting Craig to 69th place overall in 34:09. Andy also ran well finishing 172nd in 38:06. Finally club member and Ashby 20 race director Barry Alldread took on his third and final charity challenge of the year, the White Rose Ultramarathon, a lonely and very hilly endurance run in the Colne Valley in Yorskhire. Barry originally planned to take on the 60 mile route but injury and a fall saw him complete the 30 mile distance in 6 hours 30 minutes. This completes a year of events for Barry including the London Marathon and the Bolton Ironman, raising over £1000 for the local charity Wishes for Kids.

Written by Ruth Green - last updated on 09/11/2015