After the cancellation of the Markfield 10k due to icy conditions last week, the Ivanhoe Runners team were chomping at the bit for the opening round of the Leicestershire Road Running League, the Barrow 6. A strong squad turned out, led him on fine style by Mike Trott,who finished a brilliant 8th in 34.12. Stalwart Ramzi Sidani was 66th in 37.36 hotly pursued by Craig Hinds in 71st with a fine 37.58 clocking. Club captain Nick Rowles flew round for 130th in 39.47, a new personal best by a minute and a half, just ahead of Osian Flowers in 138th with 40.14. Making a rare but welcome appearance was Steve Baggott in 161st (40.49), followed by new member Alastair Burgin 182nd in 41.33. Simon Terry clocked 41.44 in 184th place, ahead of another new member Louis Barnes, making his debut for the Club with a time of 41.44 in 187th place.

Ivanhoe men’s cross-country skipper Martin Yeomans relished the tarmac and finished in 198th place in 42.11, before Ivanhoe’s first lady home, Clare Fowell, finishing 17th lady overall and 2nd v45 in 42.27. Behind her in 236th place was Andy Lindley in 43.32, half a minute ahead of Mark Eydman 264th in 44.08. Next home was the second lady home for the Club was Rosie Dear, 32nd in a fine 44.23. Dave Hobbs ran 44.27 for 286th place, ahead of Kevin Brown 312th in 44.54, Matt Joyce 327th in 45.28, Alan Edwards 334th in 45.49 and newcomer Mark Parker 345th in 45.42. Continuing a run of fine form, Emily Wideman finished 50th lady in 46.07, ahead of new ladies captain Victoria Smith celebrating a new personal best fro six miles, 62nd in 47.15, ahead of a “chatting” Becca Hobbs 70th in 48.03. Another new member turning out for Ivanhoe was Emily Partridge who ran well for a time of 48.06 in 75th place, just ahead of Ruth Shaw 79th in 48.29 and Karen Hartland 84th in 48.57.

Carolyn Osborne was 93rd home in 49.31, narrowly ahead of Jason Green 448th in 49.33 and Ruth Green 97th in 49.35 thankfully having an uneventful race. Anne Newbury was 106th in 50.02, half a minute ahead of Catherine Bradley 114th (50.32), who led home Lindsay Tilbury 117th whose time of 50.52 was an excellent new personal best for her. Amanda Bradbury defied gravity to finish 120th (50.53). Jennifer Smith ran 52.55 for 152nd place, three places ahead of Francesca Sinclair who ran 53.27. Kev Wright paced round new member Ruth Cousin in her first race for Ivanhoe, Kev clocking 54.06 (567th) and Ruth 54.02 (165th lady). Sarah Malone was 170th in 54.42, ahead of Christine Ridley (172nd, 54.54), Club Chairman Heather Swan (176th, 55.22) and Trish McPherson (192nd, 56.36).

Jez Millington-Pike made his Ivanhoe Runners debut and ran well for 56.34 in 608th place, ahead of Sandra Lawless who ran 58.00 for 214th place, while Ivanhoe’s best female newcomer in 2015 Lucy Allsop ran 60.44 on her return from injury. Another new member Chrissy Betteridge ran her first road race in Ivanhoe’s colours, and did well to clock 64.40 (269th), while 2015’s joint most improved lady runner Julie Henfrey ran 70.41 (283rd), a minute faster than last year to complete an impressive Ivanhoe squad.

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Written by Kevin Sanders - last updated by Lucy Allsop on 27/01/2016