Ivanhoe Runners ladies team ran brilliantly in the latest leg of the Derby Runner Cross-Country series held at Ullesthorpe between Hinckley and Lutterworth. The ladies team were beaten into second place in the race by Westend by just one point, but the nine points awarded for their second place, together with the inability of Barrow Runners to field a scoring ladies team, meant Ivanhoe Ladies stormed to the top of League One and are four points clear with just one race to go. This should see them finish the league as winners, a fantastic achievement which has not been seen for many years.

Leading the ladies home again were Ellie Armstrong and Faith Tipper, both real finds for the Club this season. Ellie was a brilliant 3rd in 46.11 with Faith 18th in 52.53. They were supported well by Emily Wideman 33rd in 55.59 and Ingrid Redmond 34th in 56.15, while ladies club captain Victoria Smith played an important role as the scoring vet in 44th in 57.55. Amanda Bradbury ran a blinder and was 46th in 58.18, ahead of a group including Karen Bell 54th (59.26), Cathy Bradley 55th (59.30) and ladies cross-country captain Teresa Talbott 57th (59.43).

Just outside the hour was Carolyn Osborne 60th in 60.43, and next home was another recent addition to the club, Emily Partridge, running 61.06 in 63rd place. Stalwart Sally Jeyes was 81st in 65.32, ahead of Trish McPherson 88th (66.47) and Ruth Green 95th (69.19). Running with Ruth was new member Sophie Cooper making her cross-country debut, and she enjoyed the outing with her 96th place in 69.21. Club chairman Heather Swan was next home in 99th place (69.38), just ahead of Helen Horn making her comeback after injury (103rd, 70.06) and finally Grania Towle 113th in 73.10 rounding off a great team performance.

The men’s team were considerably depleted from previous races, with just a scoring eight making the start line. Leading them home in fine form was Craig Hinds, 57th in 44.58, just under a minute ahead of Osian Flowers 70th in 45.52. Matt Freeman was next home, 116th in 50.09, followed by Mark Parker 129th in 50.42. Andy Jeyes had another storming run to finish fifth Ivanhoe and 138th overall, in 51.19, with a long gap to Martin Rowse 186th in 56.55 and Mark Eydman 193rd in 57.25. Final man and scoring for the team was Keith Baron; maybe this will delay his hanging up his cross-country boots ? Keith was 230th in 64.45. This placed the men seventh in League Two on the day, and fourth after six races.

The combined results for Ivanhoe (seven men and three women) was eighth on the day (in League One) and leaves them eighth after six races.

In the individual rankings, Ivanhoe’s ladies again lead the way with the forerunners being Ellie Armstrong who leads the U20 female category, and Rosie Dear, standing as 3rd in the VL40 section. Sally Jeyes is 4th in the VL60 category, Faith Tipper is 5th senior lady, Carolyn Osborne is 5th VL50 and Trish McPherson 8th VL50. For the men, Andy Jeyes is 4th V60 and Craig Hinds 7th V40.

Away from the mud, Helen Thurogood ran the Wombwell Five miler near Barnsley. Having a great run, Helen finished 319th and set a new personal best time of 52.50.

Written by Kevin Sanders - last updated by Lucy Allsop on 25/02/2016