This Wednesday a certain someone in my life is celebrating a birthday. He also happens to be the Ivanhoe record holder for the Dave Denton 5K, which is apt, as on Wednesday it’s the final one of 2023.

At the November edition, it was Ramzi Sidani first Ivanhoe back in 18:06, followed by Paul Woods in 18:37, Richard Hampson in fine form collecting another PB in 19:22, 25 seconds taken off a September Conkers parkrun, and also under the 20 minute barrier was Andrew Stanley in 19:20.

Ian Bolton ran well in 20:29, Patrick Horn ran a road 5K seasons best in 22:13, Sue Tait achieved a sparkling diamond standard time in 24:31 and Ellen Bolton was 29:28, like Ian, has ran in every event of the series so far. I’m sure they all had a blast in the mile too, either using it as a tactical warm up, or a lung busting all out effort, but the results are AWOL sadly. Well done to all that ran.

Figured out he upcoming birthday boy yet? He nabbed himself another club course record round Telford 10K in a bonkers 34:19, which you’d have thought would be good enough for the top spot but on this occasion, Mark Parker had to settle for 381st. He did bank an impressive 1 minute 8 personal best, so not a bad outing you may say. He was joined by Andrew Stanley who wasn’t so impressed with the ‘fastest course in all the land’, running 40:48 down the Silkin Way, little ol’ me ran a personal best in 41:37, your epic ladies captain Gemma Shaw ran 52:28, and the legend that is Kenny Ashton ran 1:18:19.

Matt Pleass scored an awesome new high score as our solo representative at the Milton Keynes half marathon. He knocked more than a minute off his Uttoxeter time earlier this year in 1:22:44. Also on a half marathon adventure was our wonderful Fiona Betts, who popped to sunnier scenes in Malaga, where she achieved a finish time of 1:52:29.

Last but certainly not least, Julie Taylor went on an epic journey Escaping from Meriden, trying to do exactly that, and get as far away from the West Midlands village as possible. Her endurance strength took her all the way to Tupton just outside Chesterfield, for almost 100km for what she describes as the hardest run she’s ever done, congratulations Julie.

Written by Emily Partridge - last updated on 08/01/2024