Ivanhoe Runners ladies rounded off a fantastic season as they secured overall victory in the Derby Runner cross-country league by finishing top of League One after Sunday’s final race at Foremark Reservoir. Finishing third team on the day, they finished the season there points clear of their nearest challengers to capture one of the club biggest successes in recent years. In fact, the club has not won this trophy since the early 1990s, so victory was particularly sweet.

This victory is the result of both fine individual performances but also the club’s ability to field large teams with strength in depth. This was true of Sunday, when 22 ladies raced across the 5.4 mile course, led home by Faith Tipper in 9th in 42.37. Faith was 5th senior lady across the seven race series, a fine achievement. Next home was another new addition to the club, Emily Wideman, who finished 18th in 44.24, followed by Rosie Dear 24th in 45.25 and Sarah Terry coming back from maternity, 28th in 45.36. Rosie’s strong cross-country running through the series meant she was 3d v40 across the seven races, a great performance.

These scoring four were as usual backed up by some great team running. Karen Hartland was next home in 30th (46.06), ahead of Ingrid Redmond 38th (46.47), Emily Partridge 40th (47.00) and stalwart Amanda Bradbury 54th (48.47). Just behind Amanda, ladies captain Victoria Smith clocked 49.18 to finish 56th, ahead of Cathy Bradley 59th (49.28), and an ecstatic ladies cross-country captain Teresa Talbott 64th in 50.20.

Carolyn Osborne’s consistency through the series was rewarded with being 5th vet50, and Carolyn finished Foremark in 67th place with a time of 50.50. Next home was Sarah Malone, improving all the time, and finishing 76th (52.38), just ahead of the irrepressible Sally Jeyes 77th (52.42). Ruth Green was 82nd and Lindsay Tilbury 83rd (54.00 and 54.04), while Trish McPherson was 92nd in 54.49. Club chairman Heather Swan made the top 100, finishing 96th (56.06), ahead of Karen Edwards 109th (58.32), both Helen Horn and Lucy Allsop on the comeback trails (110th 58.57 and 116th in 60.40), before Grania Towle brought the team home with 121st place  (61.52) to score a fabulous team victory.

The men were again led home by Craig Hinds, finishing 39th in 37.10, ahead of Gez Eivors 48th in 37.53, Osian Flowers 57th in 38.37 and men’s captain Nick Rowles 69th in 39.37. Next back was Phil Stevenson 84th (40.46), and ever present men’s cross-country captain Martin Yeomans 91st (41.41), ahead of Andy Lindley delighted with his top 100 placing of 96th (42.05). James Cox completed the scoring eight in finishing 123rd (44.29), ahead of Kevin Brown 133rd (44.58), Tim Sturla 140th (45.21), Mark Eydman 157th (46.45) and Alan Edwards 160th (47.10). Julian Rawlings put in an appearance and ran well for 182nd place (50.09), ahead of Kev Wright (203rd in 53.45) and Keith Baron (205th in 55.00).

This performance meant the men were an excellent 3rd in League Two on the day, and finished the season third in League Two. The combined men’s and ladies the team were a brilliant third in League One on the day, and finished 8th over the season. Individual winners not racing at Foremark were Andy Jeyes 5th vet60 overall and Ellie Armstrong 1st under 20.

Elsewhere, four Ivanhoe Runners did the Silverstone half marathon. Pick of these was Chrissy Betteridge running her first half marathon alongside Kelley Finney, and both were pleased with a time of 2.35. Also chuffed with her time of 1.53 was Anne Newbury after an injury lay off, while London Marathon bound Nick Lee-Smith used it as a training run to pace a friend round as he clocked 1.56.

Written by Kevin Sanders - last updated by Lucy Allsop on 28/03/2016