The first round of the Leicestershire Road Running Summer League took part this week at the West End 8 miler, the unusual distance making it a good opportunity to post a debut or personal best at the distance. Ivanhoe Runners were out in force on the slightly altered course this year and enjoyed the spring sunshine. Fastest on the day was Craig Hinds with a strong run to finish 33rd in 48:51 and a new personal best. Not far behind were a group of runners all competing in their first ever 8 miler led by Matt Please, 50th in 51:04, Mark Parker, 65th inn 52:15, Alastair Burgwin, 67th in 52:19 and Ivanhoe’s first lady home, teenager Ellie Armstrong who had a brilliant run to finish 5th lady and 84th overall in 53:24, just ahead of another debutant Louis Barnes, 91st in 53:51.

Mark Bradford ran well to cross in 56 mins dead (120th) just in front of Patrick Horn with a fine debut in 56:09 (124th). Clare Fowell finished in the same time (127th) and had an excellent day as she took home the 1st Vet 40 prize for the race and also collected the vet 45 prize for the whole winter league. Rosie Dear was pleased to set a new PB of 59:56 (197th) with new member Hanna Robbins proving an excellent addition to the team debuting in 201st (1:00:13) ahead of Karen Bell, 229th in 1:01:39. A strong group then finished closely together led home by Andrea Trickett, another debut at the 8 mile, 239th in 1:02:26, followed by Chris Finney, 243rd in 1:02:09, Karen Hartland, with a new best time of 1:02:23 (248th) then 3 more debut runners :Tracey Powell (249th in 1:02:25), Tim Moore, 261st in 1:02:56 and Mark Hoult, 262nd in 1:02:57.Damon Bland finished in 271st (1:03:42) ahead of Laura Graves, 280th in 1:04:15 a pleasing new PB.

Ladies captain Victoria Smith was 300th in 1:05:13 ahead of Emily Wideman, 302nd in 1:05:19, Ruth Cousin, 320th in 1:06:34 in her first 8 miler and Emily Partridge, 389th in 1:12:10. Marie Concannon and Helen Finn ran together for their debut and finished strongly in 1:15:21 (434th and 435th). Jane Bland was the final debutant for the club with a great run crossing in 466th in 1:19:01 ahead of Grania Towle, 469th in 1:19:44 on tired legs and Julie Henfrey who set a new best of 1:34:57 (520th).

Elsewhere three Ivanhoe Runners took on the Stratford Marathon in warm conditions. Fastest was Ian Kirk, 133rd in 3:39:19 ahead of Sarah Malone who had a great day in her first ever marathon finishing in 406th in 4:27:30 ahead of Martin Yeomans who suffered in the heat before crossing the line in 500th place in 4:49:16. In the Stratford half marathon it was a good day for the Hopes with Rich Hope running his first half for the club in 1:53:06 (566th) before Laura Hope who also debuted, 1050th in 2:05:50 as Jenny Hope set a new personal best of 2:17:25 (1440th).

Four runners took on the Lichfield half marathon where unfortunately the race was interrupted by a train at a level crossing but this didn't stop Andy Lindley who was first home in 43rd place in 1:31:27 ahead of Dave Hobbs, 57th in 1:33:27. Ivanhoe ladies were delayed by the train with Becca Hobbs 209th in 1:49:24 and Fiona McKean 317th in 1:55:56.

Written by Kevin Sanders - last updated on 15/05/2017