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Northbrook Results

For a complete listing visit the Results Index

April 2023

• Big Bear Bluebell Challenge
• Longhorn 30k
• Tissington Trail Marathon
• TCS London Marathon
• Bath Beat
• Big Bear Badger Challenge
• Leicester Big 10k
• Manchester Marathon
• Chasewater Easter Egg 10k
• Maidenhead 10 Miles
• A Coventry Way 40-Mile Challenge
• Centurion Grand Prix 5 Mile Race 5
• Kew Gardens Half-Marathon
• Regency 10k
• Men’s 12-Stage & Women’s 6-Stage Road Relays

Big Bear Bluebell Challenge – 27 April OTH

Jan Watson

6:35:56

23.6 miles

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Longhorn 30k – 23 April OTH

A great trail race around 3 muddy laps of the grounds of Thoresby Hall with my brother Michael. There were races from 5k to 60k, including a 10k Canicross.

I would recommend it to anyone who likes trail running.

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Tissington Trail Marathon – 23 April M

The other marathon going on today. We had perfect conditions for this jaunt around the Derbyshire countryside. The race is an out and back on a converted railway line, so has a nice even gradient and all very gentle turns. The only thing that stops this being a very fast course is the fact that you climb 800ft in the first 8 miles. That actually makes it a very big test of pacing (one that I’ve failed a couple of times before).

This time I tried to set out more steadily, but I was still ahead of target at the top of the climb and, feeling pretty good, I decided to turn up the pace. I probably ran the next 10 miles slightly too fast, meaning that the last 10k, even downhill, felt incredibly hard.

Still, a far better time than I was expecting, and, all in all, a brilliant race experience – Matthew

Having been unsuccessful in the London Marathon ballot, I decided to do a race I did back in November 2021. The Tissington Trail is a very picturesque trail marathon, with fantastic views over the Derbyshire dales. The first 13 miles are more or less uphill, then you turn around, and run back to the start in Ashbourne. Travelled up with Matthew Hathrell, who was aiming for around 3h15m, and I had half an eye on sub-4.

I’d forgotten how much 13 miles of uphill running takes it out of your legs, so despite doing the first half in just under 2 hours, I was unable to take advantage of the downhill return and finished in 4h11m, 28 minutes faster than my marathon PB. Matthew however, ran a blinder and finished in 5th position in an amazing 3h3m.

Definitely one to consider if you’re unlucky in the 2024 London ballot – Alan

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TCS London Marathon – 23 April M

Amazing atmosphere and support from the crowd all the way round. I was flying the first half and had to keep checking my watch and slowing down. I loved seeing the Northbrook support crew and my family at mile 12 and it took me some time to calm down from their immense cheering.

It went downhill from mile 16, at mile 18 got another boost when I heard someone shouting my name and our friends had came to support us. I started getting cramp twinges in my legs but seeing my mum and Daisy at mile 20 who loaded me up with sweets got me going again and distracted me from the pain by unwrapping them. At mile 22 I heard my name again and I spotted Caroline, Tim, Malc and Alexis which gave me another boost.

I knew the Northbrook crew would be at around mile 23 and I was very pleased to see them; I tried to stop for a chat but they wouldn’t let me. I really knuckled down for the last 3 miles and managed to pick up my pace. I was so pleased to see Buckingham Palace. Fantastic atmosphere and support all the way round. Loved it – Joanne

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There may be one or two people left on the planet that don’t know I’ve been trying to get into the London Marathon since 2016 and back in December I was lucky enough to get one of Northbrook Athletic Club’s two club places. To say I was happy would be an understatement, stunned, ecstatic, and hugely thankful, after 6 years of “we’re sorry to say…” emails I very much thought really it wasn’t meant to be.

I did my first and fastest Marathon in 2016 at Manchester for Zoe’s Place and hobbled over the line at 4:07:14. I’ve done another 5 marathons since then, Worcester, Stratford, Gloucester, and Manchester another two times, the latter including an attempt in 2017 where I endured my only DNF, chasing a sub-4 finish I blew up at 16 miles, and head gone, my race was finished.

So Project London 2023 was on. I can’t remember training with more focus than for this race. I’ve trained for longer, with more weekly miles, but London was three months of dedicated marathon training. Long slow runs, plenty of speed work, and two strength sessions a week with Sarah Duffy “getting buff with the Duff.” And I did all this with a 500-1000 a day calorie deficit. All this resulted in me getting onto the start line 20lb leaner, and feeling as well prepared as I’ve ever felt for a race.

I don’t tend to get anxious about races but I was more nervous before this race than I’d ever been, but once I’d deposited my post-race bag on the lorry, I started to relax. The rain that had been forecast wasn’t too bad and it would keep the temperature down, the start pen wasn’t too crowded, and I was at the back of the pen behind the 4.15 pacers (my minimum goal pace) so I wasn’t too worried about getting pulled along, I could start easy and find my pace. We were quickly fed through to the start so not too much hanging around, time to do a quick start line selfie and we were off. I crossed the start line feeling very emotional, bottom lip definitely had a wobble, but a nice wobble.

Best piece of running advice I’ve ever been given… enjoy it. Boy did I enjoy it, I was euphoric. The support was almost instantaneous and like nothing I’ve experienced, oh my goodness, I felt like a rock star, there wasn’t a minute that went past where someone wasn’t shouting my name in encouragement. I could hear people saying “Look at him, still smiling…” How could I not? A dream was being realised and was going to high-5 every hand, and thank every single person that cheered my name. Sometimes the noise was so loud you could physically feel it vibrating in your chest. I had thought it would be the landmarks, and following the blue line that Farah, Kipchogie, and Radcliffe had raced along that would be the highlights, and don’t get me wrong, that’s special, but it’s the people that make London the greatest marathon in the world. It’s humanity at its finest, charity runners, people battling along for 6,7, 8 hours to remember lost loved ones, and London responds with a tidal wave of support. It’s a carnival, and you feel like the guest of honour, their generosity is humbling.

As for my race, it went brilliantly, I had hoped for 4.10, anything under 4.07 was going to be a PB, and if everything went 100% right, I felt there was a chance I could get my first sub-4 finish. I like to split my long races into thirds and on that basis my first 10 miles needed to feel very easy and I quickly settled into a good pace. I eased past the 4.15 pacer feeling very comfortable so I knew there was a good chance that 4:10 was achievable. My plan for part 2 was to cruise the second 10 miles, stay in the zone, get to 20 miles without any drama, and then see if I had anything left to push the pace for the last 6 miles. I had an unexpected mini-issue at mile 12 – the Northbrook tribe had rallied to London and at mile 12 they were poised, an island of black, green, and gold amidst the massed crowds, and buoyed by their cheering faces my trainers grew wings and flew around the bend onto the approach to Tower Bridge. That’s a memory that will live with me forever, to look up and run under those towers, through that corridor of noise, to see that wonder mirrored on the faces of other runners. Well, I came off that bridge with my heart racing along with my pace!. “Remember a marathon doesn’t start until mile 20,” says Paula Radcliffe so I composed myself, picked a slower runner to drop in behind, and settled myself back into my cruising pace, no harm done.

I saw some family at mile 15 which was a well-timed boost and a good downhill section at mile 17 gave me an easy injection of pace, and I saw more friends at mile 18 which was really well-timed, my mind had begun to drift and I had my second mini-wobble during mile 19. My eyes had dropped to the blue line, I was thinking about digging in, thinking about how it was starting to hurt and I thought “That’s not what I need to be doing” I started to interact with the crowds again and the response was almost instantaneous. I found my happy pace, my stride got lighter, and my smile returned. The Northbrook crew was there to spur me on again at mile 23 and my legs felt strong, I had some gas left in the tank, I’d caught up with the 4.05 pace runner and sub4 was on. I pushed the pace, the crowd cheered, I swerved around the increasing numbers of walkers, and I raced towards the mall. The longest 400 metres of my life, I gave it everything and crossed the line at 4:01:11.

No sub-4 but a 6-minute personal best, a dream fulfilled, and all my expectations surpassed. A huge thank you to Northbrook for the opportunity, the training, and the support! My friends and family that made the journey, picked me up when I needed it most, and fetched me beers from the bar afterwards. And to who it’s all about, the people of London. For putting me centre-stage for an incredible experience that money can’t buy – Cliff

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Bath Beat – 22 April OTH

26.7 miles of undulating multi terrain, very muddy wades at times with Long Distance Walkers Association (LDWA). The final miles of ups & steps were draining.

An enjoyable event and more to do in the future.

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Big Bear Badger Challenge – 20 April OTH

Jan and I covered 23.1 miles and no one was chasing us.
The furthest distance I have ever covered – Becky

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Leicester Big 10k – 16 April 10K

Seven Northbrookers and one supporter went to this event in Leicester.
Knowing it was flat and fast meant we could have a proper push. The elite race commenced at 9am with a time limit of 45 mins, which had no sunbursts in it.

Our race for the mere mortals started at 10am and it was busy. The first mile just met road block after road block with people starting out of position. 1 mile in and space started to develop after my weaving through the crowds and I picked the pace up knowing Craig would be chasing me. After encouragement from the friendly face of Sarah at the water station I counted back to find I was in 15th in the mere mortals race. My head went up and I engaged pursuit mode. After a drop down the steps I narrowly missed a supporter on a bike who nearly went in the canal. Then Tracey appeared with a km to go. Her encouragement was, what are you playing at 13th, go get the 3 in front of you. Just the encouragement I needed. 12th place with 600 mtrs to go and I lit the afterburners to close the gap to 11th, with the top 10 beginning to tread water./p>

Tracey having shouted at Craig realised she now needed to sprint across to give me that last mouthful of abuse but was just too late as the race for 9th was leaving trainer marks on the tarmac. The 400 mtrs sign and I lit the afterburners again, but so did the 9th and 10th placed 20 somethings ahead of me maintaining the gap to leave me in 11th and desperately seeking the floor and oxygen as the legs gave out.

As the world stopped spinning Craig had finished and was sat next to me. As I sat up Dave and Adrian finished followed closely by Sarah and Collette with Jan engaging her sprint mode to get past a Massey woman.

Great run right through the field for the sunbursts that meant we all left Leicester smiling as we awaited news from Manchester.

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Manchester Marathon – 16 April M

	Damian Pharoah	3:05:52
	Tommy Dempsey	3:19:47
	David Hartopp	3:35:57
	Gemma Nash	3:47:05
	Debbie Campbell	3:48:45
	Caroline Hughes	3:58:43
	Liz Pharoah	4:04:21
	Tim Hughes	4:14:30
	Louise Myers	4:15:09

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Chasewater Easter Egg 10k – 9 April 10K

Simon Aldridge

00:51:41

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Maidenhead 10 Miles – 7 April 10M

A great way to start the Easter weekend with this Good Friday 10 miles run.

Pleased to just keep under 8 minute miling, after some recent injury setbacks.

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A Coventry Way 40-Mile Challenge – 2 April 5M

The A Coventry Way Challenge is a 40-mile off-road trail event that follows public footpaths in a roughly circular route around Coventry. Due to the persistent and at times heavy rain over recent days the going underfoot was at best soft, and at worst waterlogged meaning some very heavy going in places.

The organisers are keen to point out that this is a Challenge event and not a race, the challenge being to complete the distance within the prescribed time. The first participants set off at just after 5am and the last person home arrived back at 8.57pm.

The relocation of the event HQ to the Heart of England Social Club in Meriden provided a much more convivial environment for participants to register at the start and to relax, pick up their certificates and consume refreshments after finishing.

Early starters set off in dark, cold and rather damp conditions, but as the day wore on the weather improved with the sun putting in a welcome appearance during the afternoon.

Out of a starting field of 208, Northbrook fielded a cohort of nineteen, fifteen taking part as individuals and four forming a relay team. Dave Halford distinguished himself by getting slightly lost just after the first checkpoint; the checkpoint volunteers were somewhat surprised to see him coming past again. A short time later his shoes fell apart but, undaunted, he stopped at a house and phoned his brother to bring him a fresh pair so that he could carry on to finish the route. Rich Cawley and Sara Phipps set off but decided to call it a day after just over 28 miles.

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Centurion Grand Prix 5 Mile Race 5 – 2 April 5M

Series results
Northbrook men – 1st
Northbrook women – 2nd
Craig Holmes – 2nd male
Matthew Hathrell – 3rd male
Cath Fenn – 3rd female vet

The final race of the series saw trophies for Cath Fenn, Matthew Hathrell (missing today’s race to run the A Coventry Way Challenge event) and Craig Holmes.

Spencer Davies and Peter Kirkhope ran the Regency 10k in the morning then hot-footed it over from Leamington to join the race. Spencer then headed off to run a leg of for a relay team in the A Coventry Way event. Caroline Hughes, Tim Hughes and Catherine Dear, finished the race then ran home as part of long their distance training.

The rest of us mere mortals just ran the 5 miles with great performances from Tom Cox and Rob Cox (who scored a PB), with Amy Peters, Angela Hands and me completing the Northbrook contingent.

There were good shouts of encouragement from Richard Hands – Sally

photos credit: Sally Eason

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Kew Gardens Half-Marathon – 2 April HM

Billed as the "flattest half in London", they were not wrong – it was "as a pancake". If you believe my Garmin stats, I ran downhill the whole way, which is odd as the first five miles is in the grounds of Kew Gardens and you pass the start line at the 5 mile mark, and the remaining 8 miles are an out and back along the banks of the Thames, finishing back where you started. Perhaps the course was designed by Escher. It was a mixture of tarmac and slightly muddy riverside path.

Each runner was given 4 wristbands for spectators to stay in Kew Gardens for the day, so with 1700 people running and all those potential spectators, you’d have thought they’d have laid on enough toilets, but the queues were horrendous. That aside, the organisation was spot on, and the goody bag at the end was excellent, a medal, a running top & various snacks.

Although the organisers stated that the course was measured exactly, when I passed the 1-mile mark, my watch said 0.8 miles. A lot of people running near me were moaning of the same issue, and then every mile mark after that was 0.2 miles short. I thought perhaps this was going to be a short course, but thankfully the last mile actually measured 1.2 miles, meaning the course length was correct.

My plan was simple, to get well ahead of the 1h40m pacer whilst still inside Kew and then stay ahead. Despite a quick toilet break at the half-way mark, I managed to get back in 1h37m56s, knocking exactly 4 minutes off my Half-Marathon PB set at Warwick a couple of months ago. I was even more pleased to see I finished 6th in the MV50 category.

Well worth a visit if you’re after a PB. The surrounding town of Richmond is very nice and you get to spend the day in Kew Gardens too.

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Regency 10k – 2 April 10K

41	David Hartopp	00:39:54
181	Spencer Davies	00:45:49
192	Ian Paterson	00:46:06
204	Andrew Ralph	00:46:24
208	Jill Pittard	00:46:27
234	Peter Kirkhope	00:47:06
340	Cliff Evans	00:49:49
363	Adrian Powell	00:50:12
365	Charles Jones	00:50:13
383	Simon Aldridge	00:50:37
436	Sarah Batson	00:51:33
452	Mark Dalton	00:51:54
487	Lisa Abbott	00:52:39
552	Andrew Scruton	00:53:40
565	Darren James	00:53:58
629	Lee Miller	00:54:42
713	Joanne Evans	00:56:08
732	Ellie Aldridge	00:56:28
737	Julie Cozens	00:56:34
745	Collette O Keefe	00:56:46
	Jennifer Ennis	00:58:13
1020	Tracy Jefferson	01:01:52
1163	Martin Gavin	01:05:37
1254	Steve Mackie	01:07:31
1271	Tracey Williams	01:08:03
1289	Liane Powell	01:08:25

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Men’s 12-Stage & Women’s 6-Stage Road Relays – 1 April 5M

Our annual trip to the Sutton Park relays saw Northbrook field depleted numbers but we still managed to field a full men’s team and 2 women’s team. Looking around it was not just us that suffered, maybe to do with poor calenderisation by the organisers with so many local events on the same weekend. Maybe the lack of attendance might make them pay more attention – maybe not.
We can report that they finally seemed to listen to the parking issues as queuing to get in and out was minimal and congestion around the park was non-existant, or was this down to the lack of numbers.
Nevertheless our Sutton Park parkrunners were on site early enough to get a spot “on course” where we could encourage our runners up the finish straight.
With only a couple of dropouts on the build up everyone turned up which reduced the stress levels enormously.

Every one of our runners was roared on as they powered up the finish straight giving the club full advertisement and decent team finishes.
It’s a shame to not field more at this event but those who came out gave their everything, with some great battles up the finish straight witnessed – Spencer