results 2203

Northbrook Results

For a complete listing visit the Results Index

March 2022

• Bedford Autodrome 20
• Victoria Park 10k
• Wolverhampton 10k
• Coniston 14
• Midland 12-Stage Men’s Road Relay
• Midland 6-Stage Women’s Road Relay
• Ashby 20
• Twin Lakes 10/20
• Leicester 5k Winter Series
• Bedworth Park 5k
• Milton Keynes Half-Marathon
• Chester 10k
• Chester Ultra 50
• Oundle 20
• Draycote Water 10k
• Enigma Week at the Knees 7 Marathons in 7 Days
• Hannington Hike
• Warwick Half-Marathon
• Bedworth Park 5k

Bedford Autodrome 20 Miles – 27 March20M

26

Claudie Combelas

3:09:59

---

Victoria Park 10k – 27 March10K

I embedded this run in my final long run before Manchester.

A very flat course and real PB potential venue when focused on this distance. Enjoyed the run and may well head back in the future. Managed to squeeze an age category win by the grand margin of 4 seconds!

Grabbed a picture with the winner.

---

Wolverhampton 10k – 27 March10K

I ran the Sutton Park 10k in 53:39 in February and today I ran the Wolverhampton 10k in 50:33, knocking over 3 minutes off my time from last month – Darren

---

Coniston 14 – 26 MarchOTH

Malc Copeland

1:59:16

---

Midland 12-Stage Men’s Road Relay – 26 MarchOTH

On a sunny and hot day in Sutton Park numerous non-running supporters, a reserve/photographer and 24 super heroes donned their cloaks, pulled on their sunbursts and showed what it meant to run for their club.

The COVID crisis in the women’s teams had impacts on the men’s running orders, and with the lack of interest we managed to field just two 2 teams, 1 fewer than we normally would. But that does not mean the 24 there were over-shadowed. If competing for their teams and their clubs could be measured then we were top of the pile. I knew I had 23 men behind me who I would trust with my life, they were there to ensure my back injury was not pushed further than it needed to be. 23 men who laid everything on the line for their club and captain made days like this invaluable to be part of a club.

With one signing off his sunburst in true fashion in his last ever sunburst race, with debutants and with experienced runners we were armed with everything we had. Our voices encouraging/abusing ensuring that each one drove up that finish straight, taking the competition to the competition. We were set against each other and we were not far off (the last team change on the day meant the calculations were slightly off).

Our strength was our sunburst, it was our support, it was our club we ran for.

Thank you to all involved, you made my job easier on the day with my confidence in you all – Spencer

---

Midland 6-Stage Women’s Road Relay – 26 MarchOTH

On a sunny day in Sutton Park, 18 women, plenty of non-running supporters and a reserve/organiser for the women showed Northbrook’s strength.

With COVID, illness and a general lack of interest decimating the teams the final line ups were set in stone with 1 day to go, two teams initially to race against each other and one going for a time.

Team members in teams they would not be used to showed why they were selected to be in those teams. Debutants showed that no matter what the weather and the terrain threw at them they completed their legs for their teams and their clubs, all showing what representing their club means to them.

18 women, no capes required, 18 super heroes all giving everything they had and coming away with no voice from the shouting and encouraging. We were the loudest supporting club there and you could see everyone’s pace pick up as the rain of encouragement fell on them on the finish straight.

Thank you all involved – Spencer

---

Ashby 20 – 20 March20M

	Natasha White	2:16:28	Club record
	Matthew Hathrell	2:23:49
	Pete Marshall	3:35:45

---

Twin Lakes 10/20 – 20 March10M

One lap (two if you do the 20) of very scenic pathways around two lakes, virtually flat. One section that could be dodgy if it was raining as you had to do a couple of miles along the canal towpath but apart from that, no nasty suprises.

Well marshalled and organised and definitely one to put on the calendar for next year.
I started with no expectations other than to finish but was rewarded with first lady over 55…….and 5th lady overall (out of 104 ladies!). Great medal and T-shirt at the end – Sarah

---

Leicester 5k Winter Series – 17 March5K

Two of us this month at the Winter 5k series which keeps astounding us to the speed they go off at. Both pushing all the way in the dark trying to keep up with the runners ahead of us – Spencer

---

Bedworth Park 5k – 13 March5K

4	Spencer Davies	0:24:05
6	Tori Boyle	0:25:55

---

Milton Keynes Half-Marathon – 13 MarchHM

Craig Holmes

1:25:48

---

Chester 10k – 13 March10K

Having supported Claudie in her 50 miler on Saturday, Sunday brought the 10k for me. Cool weather and a bit windy on the way back in to the City, this was more-or-less an out and back along closed roads. 2,600 or so runners in two waves and well supported along the route. A little bit undulating, nothing too serious although the final climb onto the main street was just what you don’t need towards the end of any race.

I ran comfortably and was content with my time. A warm down walk around the Cheshire Oaks shopping rounded off the afternoon.

Chester is lovely, a visit is recommended.

---

Chester Ultra 50 – 12 MarchOTH

Not having done much in the way of distance since October and a DNF at Wychavon, I was rather dreading this. I was up at 4am and ready for the off at Ellesmore Port Leisure Centre for 6am. Torch was at the ready and the pack full of GF, dairy free and nut free food weighed a ton. The first 18 miles are along the canal tow-path, which gets progressively muddier. I got taken out by a black labrador whilst running through Chester on the canal and went flying. The owner just walked on. Luckily I’m used to grazed knees.

Once you come off the canal at last, you wish you were back on it. There are some beautiful views over the estuary all the way to Liverpool from some very high hills with lots of steps and rocks. A gorgeous sunny Delamere Forest made up for the fact that 30 miles in I felt I’d had enough. The highest hill was still to come at Helsby. The legs were screaming by then.

I was lucky to meet a lovely runner from Warrington with whom I ran from mile 10. We supported each other through the downs and the long runs along boring and busy roads and made it to the end in 11.24. I was thrilled to be first in my age group, with the second and third being over 2 hours behind me.

GB Ultras and marshals were great. As always thanks to Chris Archer for carrying and fetching all sorts of weird food, sacrificing his parkrun not to miss any stops and making GF smoked salmon sandwiches.

---

Oundle 20 – 13 March20M

Thirteen Northbrookers made their way east to the East Midlands "taste of the Cotswolds" to run through the villagers of north Northamptonshire. The rain showers and low cloud as we travelled on the A14 soon disappeared once we arrived in Oundle and the blue sky greeted us on the first mile. 

The course follows a scenic route through the gently undulating, wide, quiet country lanes in and around the pretty villages like Fotheringay, Nassington, Yarwell and King’s Cliffe.

There was one long 2-mile hill at about 9 miles but the race produced excellent times for many of us with Terry first home in an excellent 2hrs 21m (1st in his age category) and Debbie Campbell came 2nd in her age category running her first 20 mile race in 2hrs 57m. Many of us are preparing for Manchester and I was very happy with a 3hrs 09m, trying to keep a relaxed pace as I contemplated the additional 6 miles I would have to run in 3 weeks time.

This is the 5th staging of the race first held in 2018 when just over 200 ran, today those numbers swelled to 326 as it fast becomes a favourite to rival the very popular Ashby 20.

Just watch that 20-mile column in the points tables get populated with these times. I wonder who will go top of the tables
– Kevin

My first ever 20-mile race felt really good for the first 15 miles on a course that was tough but enjoyable. I was told off by a member of the public for throwing away my water cup but there were no bins. the legs started to hurt at 16 miles but I was determined to finish in under 3 hours. I could hardly walk when I finished but I gave it my all. Thankfully I did it and managed 2nd female in my age
category – Debbie

Northbrook were out in force for this 20 mile race held in the market town of Oundle in north Northamptonshire. For many of the 13 club runners it was a chance to see how long-run preparation was progressing ahead of the spring marathon season.

The drizzle encountered on the trip over from Coventry cleared and it was a bright start to the event, in which runners were allowed to start from 9am with the main pack setting off at 9:30. We ran through the picture postcard villages, taking advantage of the tail wind and downhill gradient for the first 7 miles. The scenery was spectacular and felt like a trip to the Cotswolds although with far less challenging hills to climb.

Shortly after mile 7, it was a sharp left turn followed by a 3.5 mile or so gentle climb to the highest point of the one lap circuit whereafter we descended a little and turned back for home. At around mile 13, it was payback time for the descent and wind as it was a broad uphill climb back to the race end with a headwind to contend with when it was least desired. As I passed the 13 mile mark I was surprised to see a Northbrook starburst vest ahead which was none other than Mickey Pearson who’d taken advantage of the early start.

All Northbrook runners did well on this undulating course and it was pleasing to arrive back cheered on by Jane Ward, who was there to support husband Sam running for Sphinx, and find out that an age category prize had been achieved. Debbie too achieved an age category placing (2nd FV55) and several significant PBs and time objectives were achieved adding to the club’s tally, with the first three Northbrookers crossing the finish line inside 2h30. A shout out to Mickey and Kathryn for achieving excellent results on their first outing at this distance. Overall, everyone did well and we took away various lessons to reflect on ahead of the April marathons.

While not a flat course, it’s certainly an interesting one, and well organised too. I can certainly recommend it –Terry

---

Draycote Water 10k – 13 March10K

Lee Newark

0:46:46

---

Enigma Week at the Knees Day 7, Caldecote Lake Milton Keynes – 13 MarchM

Duncan Gordon

6:28:51

Enigma Week at the Knees Day 6, Caldecote Lake Milton Keynes – 12 MarchM

Duncan Gordon

6:31:52

Enigma Week at the Knees Day 5, Caldecotte Lake Milton Keynes – 11 MarchM

Duncan Gordon

6:34:26

Enigma Week at the Knees Day 4, Caldecotte Lake Milton Keynes – 10 MarchM

Duncan Gordon

6:34:17

Enigma Week at the Knees Day 3, Willen Lake Milton Keynes – 9 MarchM

Duncan Gordon

6:14:11

Enigma Week at the Knees Day 2, Willen Lake Milton Keynes – 8 MarchM

Duncan Gordon

5:55:30

Enigma Week at the Knees Day 1, Willen Lake Milton Keynes – 7 MarchM

Duncan Gordon

6:04:38

A fantastic week of running around the MK lakes with Enigma Running. First 7in7 completed. Was great to be able to run the events with Charlie who had already completed 3 marathons prior to the start for her 10in10. Great training ready for my 100miler in June and 10in10, 4 days later.

Out of the starting line up of 32 runners for the 7in7 only 14 survived. Well done to all that ran on one or all of the days.

---

Hannington Hike 27 Miles, Wellingborough – 6 MarchOTH

Not a proper race, and meant as training for Cov Way, which I really hope won’t be this muddy! Think I started out a little fast, and the second half became a bit of a slog (though that’s hardly unusual). Run by the LDWA, the event had 3 distances and was aimed at all abilities. In general it seemed well organised, and a good day out. One I would definitely recommend for a casual day on the trails.

---

Warwick Half-Marathon – 6 MarchHM

	Natasha White	1:23:19
	Francis Mason	1:48:07
	Malc Copeland	1:48:57
	Alan Smith	1:55:48
	Mike Duggan	1:55:51
	Colette O’Keefe	1:58:01
	Allison Smith	1:58:26

---

Bedworth Park 5k – 6 March5K

A case of Groundhog day for me, taking exactly the same time as last week. Claudie finished first female with Lee and Spencer being busy towards the front of this four lap course – Chris