results 2001

Northbrook Results

For a complete listing visit the Results Index

January 2020

• Not the Roman IX
• Farnborough Half-Marathon
• Mallory Park 10k
• Bedworth Park 5k
• Winter Wychavon Way Ultra 40 Miles
• Midland Cross-Country Championships
• Four Villages Half-Marathon
• Ilmington 10k, Tempo Winter Series Race 4
• Bedworth Park 5k
• Oundle 5k and 10k
• Draycote Water 10k
• Midland Women’s Cross-Country League Race 3
• Birmingham & District Invitation Cross-Country League Race 3
• Leicester 5k Winter Series
• Centurion Grand Prix Race 2
• Bedworth Park 5k
• Enigma Winter Trail Marathon
• Warwickshire Cross-Country Championships

Not the Roman IX – 26 January

NTRIX returned for 2020 having missed a year and 19 Northbrookers turned up on a cold and windy day. Huddling together for warmth at the start meant that as soon as the race started we had to run to stay warm.

The space and field soon settled down with Natasha and Craig battling to lead us home. The rest of us battled our way through a headwind and up Loxley Hill before approaching the “bump” at the end. A slight change to the finish from previous runnings of the event did not deter from the event.

A great course and well organised, and it was good to see so many of us out there challenging ourselves on an unusual distance. Even better to see Natasha and Claudie earning prizes from their efforts – Spencer

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Farnborough Half-Marathon – 26 January

Tommy Demsey

1:33:37

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Mallory Park 10k – 26 January

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Bedworth Park 5k – 26 January

Eleven Northbrook members turned up on Sunday morning for the Bedworth Park 5k, some with tired legs from the previous day’s gruelling cross country, some including it as part of a long run.

Craig shot off from the start and never reappeared, setting the standard and leading the field home. The rest of us followed doing what we could. We had to shoot off straight afterwards but another great local event supporting a charity – Spencer

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Winter Wychavon Way Ultra 40 Miles – 25 January

Tony Bowe

10:00:34

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Midland Cross-Country Championships – 25 January

27 Northbrookers and supporters headed North to Prestwold Hall for the Midlands Cross-Country Championships. The weather was cold and dry but the conditions underfoot were more of a worry. With the juniors having gone round first the ground had been “loosened up” for the women’s race, a 2 lap race during which the men supporting had a great vantage point to cheer on our women. Some great running with Captain Cath leading the way until the final sprint with Amanda. Our 15 women were amazing, the awaiting spectators were shocked to hear of a hill (the course looked flat from where we were), great battles through the field from ours and smiles (afterwards) showed that the women’s team is strong.

Then it was the men’s turn, and by now the ground was cut up, sticky and fluid under every footfall. But everyone had to run on the same. I did realise half way round that the leaders had some sort of levitation device as they appeared to not touch the ground! We soon settled into our order and the course seemed flat. Then we entered a technical woods stage which gave a change to the flat fields. Then we turned and the embankment loomed up on us, we were warned, and this was steep. Break the climb and get over the summit and throw yourself down the embankment to get ready to go again. 3 laps later and the turn to the finish was uphill (sadists) but at least they turned us at 3 laps this time.

Great running by all the men, our 2 front runners battled all the way setting up a great rivalry, Craig at his best weaving, Matt back from injury, Paul exhausted at the end and me running for my life. Martin was chasing and being chased by David. The team kept coming in, all looking exhausted and shocked having given everything they had.

This was a tough, tough course but our camaraderie and supporters were the best, a great atmosphere and great to be part of the teams on the day. A great Northbrook day out – Spencer

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Four Villages Half-Marathon, Helsby – 19 January

Rory Anderson

1:25:59

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Ilmington 10k, Tempo Winter Series Race 4 – 19 January

Twelve Northbrookers and 4 supporting/running Northbrookers headed to Ilmington for the 4th race in the Winter Series. It was time to try the series hoodies on for size, with the weather how it was we should have kept them on to keep us warm while we ran. It was cold, the roads were icy, slippery and frosty. There was no grip and very little push off, but it’s never stopped us before.

Natasha set the pace with Tony dragging the rest of us along. The weather was foggy as well as icy so runners ahead soon disappeared into the freezing gloom. The expected view at the top of the hill was just fog, then the marshall appeared out of the gloom warning of treacherous icy conditions on the steep down hill. I was soon aware he was not exaggerating and took to the mud in the gutters at the side. The mud was slippery but not treacherous. Tony and Martin appeared out of the icy fog, both walking to save slips and injury. I let everything loose in the mud and plummeted down the hill like a steam train out of control. One of the best downhill descents for a long time. Others were not so lucky; two reports of injuries incurred through falls.

The final kilometre up hill was more lethal, ice skates would have been better suited as there was no push off, just slipping. A great race with the icy twist thrown in. For me a further 6 miles was required, Natasha joined me to keep my spirits up before we all re-gathered in front of the roaring open fire in the pub – Spencer

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Bedworth Park 5k – 12 January

16	Chris Archer	28:14	PB
23	Pia Singh	30:04
24	Liane Powell	30:51
32	Tracey Williams	32:20
38	Gillian Coulson	35:42
45	Yvonne Boyle	36:48
47	Jane Stephens	38:43

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Oundle 5k and 10k – 12 January

Six Northbrookers and 1 supporter headed east to Oundle for the new year races. The weather was warmer than expected with a headwind but stayed mainly dry. The 5K and the 10K started together with the 10K being 2 laps. Annie was our sole representative in the 5K and on tired legs from the previous day’s cross-country heroics she managed to pull out a PB, great running followed
by even greater support.

In the 10K, 4 of the 5 of us had tired legs and knocks from the previous days heroic cross-country performances, Craig and Martin shot off, I took my time to ease the legs back into action. Craig had disappeared from view, Martin carrying a knock on his ankle soon drifted back into view.
A quick check he was OK and I pushed on, Craig was not to be caught.

A great course, even if one stretch was like running into a hairdryer (it’s a long time since I have had use for one of them). I was pushed at every step by other competitors but they were not going to catch me. Annie’s encouragement at the end saw me collapsed over a fence looking for my lungs and my breath. I headed back out to run Tracey in, knowing this was her 3rd run in the weekend and she was still smiling when I found her at the bottom of a hill. She did not give in though, pushing on and battling to the end.

Great running by everyone and great organisation. Then we got to the presentation, Craig running watch-free had won 1st MV40. Never could there have been a better winner, truly deserved – Spencer

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Draycote Water 10k – 12 January

It’s often quite windy and today was no exception. A number of us braved the winds and occasional rain. The last 1k was difficult, a ‘bracing’ head wind with no shelter – Lisa

A PB nearly 2 minutes better than my previous – Rich

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Midland Women’s Cross-Country League Race 3 at Coombe Park – 11 January

Northbrook Women – 8th Overall
Northbrook Women Masters – 4th Overall

10	Natasha White	27:54
46	Amanda Adkins	32:23
52	Sally Eason	32:45
56	Cath Fenn	32:52
61	Clare King	33:15
63	Gemma Ross	33:18
66	Katherine Plunkett	33:25
84	Becky Colbourn	34:28
95	Megan Miller	35:07
99	Claudie Combelas	35:18
110	Debbie Campbell	36:03
115	Katy Davies	36:31
118	Eleanor Townsend	36:49
127	Emma Vardy	37:34
128	Sarah Duffy	37:35
134	Ellie Aldridge	37:45
150	Dawn Webb	39:16
157	Carolyn Hadley	40:00
172	Annie McHugh	41:27
176	Helen Morris	41:55
187	Pia Singh	43:51
193	Anne Hughes	44:25
196	Verity Crichton	44:36
212	Tracey Williams	48:44
213	Kelly Parker	49:25
214	Tracey Cox	49:26
230	Jane Stephens	56:25
232	Yvonne Boyle	57:53

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Birmingham & District Invitation Cross-Country League Race 3 at Stoke – 11 January

Men’s ‘A’ Team 5th – 166 points, Overall 6th – 720 points
Mens’ ‘B’ Team 1st – 456 points, Overall 1st – 1526 points

24 Northbrookers and 1 supporter made the 70 mile trek to one of the most distant suburbs of Birmingham, Stoke–on–Trent. It was some distance to go and as a club we could not ask anymore from our men. Everyone of them was a hero on the day. The course found by Trentham AC may not have been true cross-country (more like a trail race) but they had found a mountain range.
800ft of climb over 3 laps was going to be testing. Footwear choice had to be trails, though some had only spikes or road shoes. With stony paths, the spikes rattled on every step and the road shoes slipped and gave little traction.

Step up Northbrook, and so we did. Stu was back, our charismatic flying scotsman was hobbling from the start. But the order was strict, make every place count. Matt left everything out there pulling a calf and unable to continue, but in true team spirit he was roaring every sunburst on. Liam’s knock got worse and worse but he still managed to finish through the pain, Martin rolled an ankle after a mile and pushed through the pain for the finish. The road shoes on Terry made his going harder work than anyone else and he still pushed and dragged us all to the finish.

Then the greatest performance, from one of our Greatest Showmen. The warrior that was Graeme, ensuring that no Northbrooker would be left behind pushed everyone home. It takes true grit and determination but what support he received. A baptism of fire for Graeme and he earned his finish.

On the day, our season’s best performance, our lowest point score, but this has been a tougher division than I expected. Promotion is unlikely but we will still ensure we are represented at the highest level in Gloucester. Well done guys, 24 heros.

Our supporter was our extra push, she had one of the loudest voices out there and ensured that we knew where she was. Great supporting by Charlotte dragging every Northbrooker over the summit of the Stoke Mountain range – Spencer

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Leicester 5k Winter Series – 9 January

Three of us returned to Leicester for the 3rd race in the Winter Series – 5K around Victoria Park. It was cold but the rain held off. The field was small but still fast.

Martin shot off from the start and managed to hold onto his lead all the way, once I had got going I started to pick off the numbers ahead of me. Chris running with no watch was enthused to a fast time.

Once the results were in we were happy to learn that not only had Chris and Martin won their age categories, but the 3 of us bought home the team prize as well. A pretty successful night for Northbrook all the way round – Spencer

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Centurion Grand Prix 5 Mile, Race 2 – 5 January

Twenty-two Northbrookers and supporters made the short hop up the road to Chelmsley Wood for the 2nd race in the Centurion 5 mile Grand Prix race series. New years resolutions were evident as there was an increase in numbers to normal. Everyone seemed nervous beforehand, tired legs from the cross-country or from a warm up at Bedworth 5K seemed to be the excuse everyone was using.

Craig led the way holding off Mike to lead us home in a respectable 8th place. What followed was battle for Northbrook pride right through the field. Great running by all and with it being the first 5 mile of the new year I’m sure we will all progress further – Spencer

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Bedworth Park 5k – 5 January

10	Lisa Bragg	24:44
13	Gemma Ross	25:15
14	Sarah Duffy	25:18
16	Rich Arnold	26:12
17	Caroline Parkinson	26:46
26	Tim Hughes	28:54
37	Chris Archer	31:54
55	Catherine Shepherd	38:10
56	Damien Dear	38:14
57	Jordan Tooth	38:16

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Enigma Winter Trail Marathon, Milton Keynes – 4 January

Tony Bowe

4:25:43

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Warwickshire Cross-Country Championships – 4 January

 

Thirty-two Northbrookers descended on Warley Woods, Smethwick on what seemed like a summers day. The ground was firm, but the hills were still present.

3 laps for the womens and 4 for the men meant our large group of supporters were constantly shouting encouragement.

This is a great venue and the course was short for both races but towards the end no-one was complaining. The women went first and did us proud, Amanda leading them home with Kelly and Pia chasing our packs in. Great running against a top quality field left both seniors and masters in 8th place. The women were even happy when they returned to see the men trudge off.

The men’s race was fast, the competition was fierce and the 4th time up the hill made it feel even steeper than before. Great running from all the men, Robin leading us home and Graeme making sure we did not lose anyone. 6th seniors team and 13th masters on the day.

Amazing to be part of a record breaking Northbrook turnout now to repeat it for the next league race. Well done all – Spencer