Sunday 11th October marked the first of seven races in the 2015/16 Derby Runner Cross Country league with a 5.5 mile race held at South Charnwood High School, Markfield in lovely autumn sunshine. A record turnout of 53 Ivanhoe Runners took on the undulating course across the fields and through woodland to Thornton Reservoir and back.

A split start saw the men race first. Making his cross country debut in an Ivanhoe vest and first male home for Ivanhoe was Craig Hinds in 58th position (37:19), closely followed by impressive runs from Gerard Eivors (64th, 37:35) Ian Bolton (68th, 38:02) and Nick Rowles (83rd, 39:02). Nick Teige made a rare cross country outing, next (95th, 39:35) just ahead of Phil Stevenson who also made it into the top 100 (97th, 39:40). Mens cross country captain Martin Yeomans (111th, 40:16) and Steve Randall (128th, 40:57) made up the eight men needed to count for the team points.

Running his first ever race for the club with an excellent run was Dean Hawley (144th, 41:44). Barry Alldread (162nd, 42:40), James Cox (179th, 43:14) and Andy Jeyes (184th, 43:20) all had solid races. Mark Eydman finished strongly in 210th (44:44) with Andy Lindley 223rd (45:16), Damon Bland 226th (45:27), Ian Potter 239th (46:12), Alan Edwards 248th (46:41), Richard Bebbington 261st (47:21) and Kev Wright 262th (47:23) all battling strongly for their places. Club chairman Kev Sanders (304th, 50:59), Keith Baron (320th, 53:52) and John Lewis (337th, 58:49) completed the men’s team. Andy Pole started but unfortunately had to withdraw during the race.

The ladies team made an excellent start to the season lead by their youngest member Ellie Armstrong coming into the senior team from the Ivanhoe Robins and finishing a fantastic 8th place (40:20). Next with an impressive race on the back of her parkrun victory the previous day was Becca Hobbs (15th, 42:03). Faith Tipper had an outstanding debut for the club finishing an excellent 19th (42:26) with Zoe Allery running very well to complete the ladies scoring four (31st, 44:270. Karen Bell had a good strong run (43rd, 45:29) closely followed by a trio of Ivanhoe ladies with Ingrid Redmond 57th, (46:59) Rosie Dear 61st (47:33) and Lynda Revill 62nd (47:40) Rosie had selflessly stopped to help an injured runner from a competing team otherwise would have finished higher up the field. Next came the ladies engine room packing well together with Amanda Bradbury 74th (48:59) Carolyn Osborne 78th (49:13), Ruth Green 87th (49:48) and Anne Newbery 90th (49:52). Ladies cross country captain Teresa Talbott has inspired many ladies to give cross country ago even providing a spread of homemade cakes at the finish after her excellent run (94th, 50:26). Lindsay Tilbury and Jennifer Smith were two other cross country debutants running very well to finish 95th (50:31) and 101st (50:55). Tracey Smith made a welcome return to the team (110th, 52:00) ahead of Sally Jeyes 114th (52:08) Emma Kirtland 116th (52:27), Sarah Malone 125th (53:26) and Gabby Smith 126th (53:28) all supporting each other well. Also closely packing together were Trish McPherson (135th, 54:07), Beverley Trilloe (141st, 55:01), Karen Edwards (150th, 56:03) , Angela Bebbington (155th, 56:39) and Maureen Danvers (157th, 56:54). Katie Poole continued her great year (169th , 58:39) finishing ahead of Heather Swan (170th, 58:51) and Helen Horn (173rd, 59:22), both pleased to finish despite persistent injuries. Rebecca Wilkinson made a welcome return from a long lasting injury finishing 185th (62:00) with Natasha Quick not far behind completing the team in 192nd (63:02). Overall the Ivanhoe team came 6th in League 1 with the ladies finishing an excellent 2nd behind a very strong Barrow team and the men 7th setting them up nicely for the next race at Bagworth Heath on the 22nd of November.

Written by Kevin Sanders - last updated on 26/01/2016