The Belvoir Challenge is a very tough 15 or 26 mile cross-country run from Harby, in the Vale of Belvoir, and is  always popular with Ivanhoe Runners. With the course being different every year, the one constant is the murderous climb up he escarpment out of the Vale and the mud! This year the conditions were tougher than usual with an extremely steep climb early on that greeted both the 15 and 26 mile entrants.

Ivanhoe Runners fielded nine runners in the gruelling 26 miler, with Karen Bell and Andy Lindley leading them home in 57th and 58th places. Running together all the way, Lindley tired heavily in the latter part of the race but the pair battled round for a time of 4.40.15 and 4.40.17. Tim Sturla loves this event and enjoyed his 77th place with a time of 4.49.13. Also running together, husband and wife Rebecca and Dave Hobbs ran 5.15.48 and 5.15.50 to finish 132nd and 133rd, tired but satisfied. Mark Hoult ran another great race to finish 161st in 5.30.54, before the marathon trio of Amanda Bradbury, Teresa Talbott and Heather Swan finished in 209-211th, missing six hours by seconds  - but not missing the cakes - as they clocked 6.00.22, .23 and .26 respectively.

In the 15 mile event, Tom Smith had a great run to finish 38th in 2.12.31, followed by event regular Andy Jeyes 53rd in 2.15.04. Mark Eydman was 151st in 2.44.59, ahead of Helen Smith in her first Belvoir Challenge 264th in 3.06.28, Sarah Malone 272nd in 3.08.13, Ruth Cousin 300th in 3.14.33 and Ruth Green 331st in 3.20.27.

The Leicestershire Road Running League moved on to the hilly Asfordby Hill course for the two lap Stilton Seven. Ivanhoe Runners had some great results in the arce with two age group winners and impressive team scores.

Matt Pleass led Ivanhoe Runners home with an excellent 27th place, clocking 42.46. Alastair Burgwin was second home for the blues, clocking 44.22 in 40th, ahead of men's skipper Nick Rowles running a swift 46.07 in 53rd despite being under the weather. Ellie Armstrong ran a great race to finish first Ivanhoe lady and a brilliant 5th lady overall as she clocked 46.51, just ahead of Louis Barnes 70th male in 47.01. Ellie was also first in the under 20 age category.

Clare Fowell also won her v45 age group in finishing an impressive 9th overall, clocking 49.03. She was ahead of Martin Yeomans who was 108th with a time of 49.49. Just ten seconds behind was Patrick Horn, 114th in 50.01, followed by Mark Bradford 120th in 50.20. Despite the gruelling Belvoir Challenge 26 the day before, Andy Lindley clocked 53.06 to finish 156th, just ahead of Damon Bland 160th, also in 53.06. Karen Hartland raced well and was 55th lady and 5th in her age group as she clocked 55.56.

Carolyn Osborne's streak of form continued as she ran a fine 58.52 in 82nd, ahead of Pete Graves, who seems to have unwittingly become a runner, finishing 205th in 59.30. Just outside the hour mark was Laura Graves, fifth in her age group as she clocked 1.00.09 in 90th overall. Angela Bebbington was one of the few to set a personal best on the day, clocking 1.03.41 in 120th.  Sam Toon was 138th in 1.05.54, ten seconds ahead of Richard Bebbington, struggling with a bad back as he clocked 1.06.04 in 239th. Grania Towle ran well for 1.07.03 (142nd), while Michelle Withey was 163rd in 1.12.17 and Julie Henfrey 189th in 1.24.29 to complete the team.

Written by Kevin Sanders - last updated on 03/03/2017