The Desford Five miler was the latest race in the Leicestershire Road Running and Ivanhoe Runners were again present in force, with twenty-seven runners competing including one making her debut.

At the sharp end, Adam Smyth ran 30.02 to finish in 38th place, ahead of Craig Hinds second home in 48th in 30.44. The ever improving Mark Parker was third back for the club in 57th place, clocking a rapid 30.59, placing three runners in the top 100. Eliza Wrenne was Ivanhoe's first lady back, in a brilliant 7th place, clocking a fast 32.14. Behind Eliza, Andy Lindley seemed disappointed with his run, fading towards the end as he clocked 33.57 in 117th place. Just behind him on the road but two seconds quicker on chop time was Mark Bradford, 121st in 33.55.

Clare Fowell was next Ivanhoe and second Ivanhoe lady home in 34.34, finishing 13th female, and was just ahead of Martin Yeomans, 136th in 34.49. Patrick Horn was 143rd in 35.23, nearly a minute ahead of Richard Bebbington 161st in 36.18. Damon Bland was quicker on chip time than Richard with 36.09 but finished five places lower in 166th.

Next home in her debut race for the club was Hannah Robbins, who finished 50th female in 37.12, a great start to her club career. Finishing together were Tim Moore, Karen Hartland and Mark Hoult - Tim clocking 37.45 in 191st while Karen clocked 37.44 to set a new personal best and finish 56th female, and Mark clocked 37.39 to finish 192nd. Packing the team spaces well and just ten seconds back was Karen Bell, 59th lady in 37.54.

Ladies captain Victoria Smith was next home in 39.18 (83rd), followed by Chris Finney again on the comeback trail, clocking 39.11 (218th). The Ivanhoe Runners now started to stream in in quick succession with Emily Partridge 39.41 (88th), Tracey Powell 39.48 (89th), David Walker 39.56 (233rd), Peter Graves 40.18 (235th), Laura Graves 40.24 (98th) and Carolyn Osborne 40.57 (104th). 

Angela Bebbington followed up a parkrun personal best with a five mile personal best by over three minutes, clocking 42.10 to show that the Manchester marathon training is paying off. She was 123rd lady. Grania Towle also set a personal best, clocking 46.50 (180th) to knock nearly a minute off her previous best five mile time, and Julie Henfrey was 255th in 59.27.

Two intrepid Ivanhoe Runners embarked on the gruelling Canalathon ultra event, running 50k, starting from Great Ancoats in Manchester and finishing in Sowerby Bridge in West Yorkshire. For Tim Sturla this was his 60th race of marathon distance or further, while for Ruth Green this was her debut ultra event. Running sensibly, Ruth was 94th and Tim 95th as the air ran together to clock 6.06.10, a great debut for Ruth.

In the Monsal Trail half marathon, Ivanhoe's Simon Hill clocked 1.44 to finish in 75th place.

Written by Kevin Sanders - last updated on 01/04/2017