The West End 8 was the first race in the Leicestershire Road Race League summer series, and a keen squad from Ivanhoe runners took on the best runners in the county. Ramzi Sidani led the squad home in 19th place in 48.13, a new personal best, followed by Craig Hinds 40th in 49.41 and Ian Bolton 43rd in 50.16. Phil Stevenson set a new personal best with 51.32 (56th), just ahead of men’s captain Nick Rowles, 58th and also setting a personal best time of 51.42. Newcomer Tom Smith ran a brilliant 53.46 in 84th place, before another PB-setter, Andy Lindley, came home in 55.05 (104th).

Clare Fowell led the Ivanhoe ladies home in an excellent 9th place, clocking 55.40, ahead of Martin Yeomans who ran 56.35, a great run as he set his first personal best for some time, and Emily Wideman running her first eight mile race for the club, clocking 58.25. Matt Joyce ran 59.18 in 182nd place, and was the last Ivanhoe Runner under the hour mark. Next home was ladies captain Victoria Smith, who gained a personal best with her time of 1.02.04. Damon Bland continued his injury comeback and ran well for 1.02.10, followed by Lynda Revill 1.05.05 and Emily Patridge 1.05.59. Helen Smith clocked 1.08.09, Carolyn Osborne ran 1.09.47 and Lindsay Tilbury set a new personal best, knocking 2 minutes off her previous best to clock 1.09.56.

The next five Ivanhoe Runners home were all running their first eight mile races. Fiona McKean was pleased to clock 1.10.23, while Jez Millington-Pipe clocked 1.11.24, Grania Towle 1.17.27, Helen Thurogood 1.26.50 and Sonia Hoult 1.32.48. Finally Julie Henfrey managed to clock exactly the same time as in 2015, with 1.35.46.

Written by Kevin Sanders - last updated on 16/05/2016