With two league races clashing this weekend, the Ivanhoe Runners squad were split between the Hermitage 10k in the Leicestershire Road Running League and the Burton 10k in the Burton and District Summer League.

In the Hermitage 10k, first home was Andy Jeyes in a swift 44.43 in 131st place. Chris Finney was next home in 218th in 49.47, ahead of new member Richard Hope, 259th in 51.27. Lindsay Tilbury had a great run to set a new personal best time of 53.45 to be Ivanhoe's first lady home, ahead of Sarah Malone who ran 56.23. Jenny Hope ran 1.01.58, Mo Danvers 1.05.25 and Julie Henfrey 1.16.45 to complete the Ivanhoe team tackling the tough, hilly course.

Over in Burton, a larger squad of 25 runners took on the Burton 10k run from the Shobnall complex, with a testing start but fast downhill finish. Matt Pleass led them home as 19th male in 38.22, just holding off Craig Hinds 20th in 38.26 and Ramzi Sidani 21st in 38.51. Men's captain Nick Rowles was next home in 28th place in a fast 39.40, and he was just ahead of Matt Brocklehurst 32nd in 39.56.

Just outside 40 minutes was Alistair Burgwin, clocking 40.35 in 36th place, ahead of Patrick Horn 64th in 43.31, and Martin Yeomans 78th in 45.01. Just behind Martin, Alex Dutton was 83rd in 45.42, before Lucy McDermott stormed home as 9th lady overall and first Ivanhoe lady with a time of 46.02, winning her an age category prize as first vet35. Andy Lindley ran 46.03 in 85th, one place ahead of Martin Rowse 86th in 46.11. Rosie Dear beat ladies captain Victoria Smith home, claiming the first v45 prize, Victoria clocking 47.43 as 13th lady. 14 lady and setting a new personal best was Hanna Robbins, 48.10 placing her 14th. Karen Hartland was 20th in 49.29, closely followed by Carolyn Osborne 26th in 50.49.

The next three Ivanhoe ladies all set new personal bests for 10k: Amy Derbyshire had a good run for 55.08 in 43rd, with Helen Finn just behind in 44th in 55.42, and 30 seconds later came Marie Concannon in 56.12, 51st lady - all great performances. A welcome return to racing saw club chairman Heather Swan finish 65th in 59.15. After going strongly in the early stages, Andrew Bottrill hobbled home with a injury, clocking 1.09.34, followed home by Fiona Spiers 91st in 1.09.44, Kay Gosling 95th in 1.12.03 and Helen Brandon 98th in 1.12.54. 

The ladies finished an excellent 2nd in the league competition behind arch rivals South Derbyshire but well clear of Lichfield, while the men were 4th behind Lichfield, Hatton and South Derbyshire.

Written by Kevin Sanders - last updated on 14/08/2017