On a cold and wet evening with frequent rain storms 12 members of Kenilworth Runners, 4 ladies and 8 men, travelled to the Silverstone Motor Race Stadium in Northamptonshire to compete in the Silverstone 10 kilometre race which is the first of 8 races that make up the excellent East Midlands Grand Prix series. This race always attracts a good turnout and on the evening there were 1030 finishers.
The race started on the grid where normally only high speed motors are to be found but on Tuesday evening it was to be human effort that covered the two complete circuits taking in all the same twists and turns top drivers experience. Whilst the course appeared to be flat there were two steady inclines near the end of each lap which provided a stimulating view as the pit stop was reached. The sign for a 'pit stop' beckoned the end of the race which finished in the area normally associated with the hectic changing of wheels etc.!
On this flat(ish) course it was Mick Morris and Richard Elliott who took 'Poll Position' by finishing the race in 2nd and 4th position respectively in their age groups, the over 70's and over 55's.
The other Kenilworth Runners times and positions are as follows:-
| Runner |
Category |
Position
Overall |
Position
Category |
Time |
| Martin Dorrill |
Senior Men |
33 |
18 |
35.33 |
| Richard Elliott |
Male Vet 50 |
86 |
4 |
37:37 |
| Matthew Kingston-Lee |
Senior Men |
93 |
52 |
37:51 |
| Karen Hallas |
Senior Lady |
157 |
11 |
39:34 |
| Nick Bradbury |
Male Vet 40 |
168 |
34 |
39;59 |
| Rebecca Kendall |
Senior Lady |
198 |
15 |
40.33 |
| Colin Dooling |
Senior Men |
212 |
102 |
40.57 |
| Sandra Pearman |
Lady Vey 40 |
677 |
16 |
49.49 |
| Nigel Hayes |
Senior Men |
689 |
296 |
50.02 |
| Laurence Copeland |
Male Vet 60 |
705 |
20 |
50.21 |
| Pauline Dable |
Lady Vey 55 |
720 |
6 |
50.43 |
| Mick Morris |
Male Vet 70 |
759 |
2 |
51.34 |
In the team events Kenilworth Runners did particularly well with the ladies coming in 3rd position out of 14 teams, the senior men 9th out of 32 teams, the veteran men 12th out of 17 and the total men and ladies coming 10th out of 39.
05/05/05
Kingwinsford 10Km
On a cool Thursday evening Kenilworth Runners Nick Bradbury travelled to Birmingham to take part in this testing hilly course in Dudley. Despite the difficulties and also having run at Silverstone two nights ago he completed the race in a splendid 41 minutes and 57 seconds to finish 165 out of 1050 finishers
08/05/05
Hilly Challenge
Sunday morning brought a record attendance of runners to Kenilworth Runners Annual Hilly Challenge and Fun Run both events being watched by a large enthusiastic crowd of onlookers. For the 16th time this unique event was held in the beautiful arena of the Abbey Fields, Kenilworth a venue greatly appreciated by the 157 entrants in the fun run and the 170 in the tough Hilly Challenge. The weather was at its best for running, dry but cool and so everything was set for a superb mornings sport and the spectators were certainly not to be disappointed at what is now Kenilworth's premier sporting event.
Throughout the event Gary Bradbury of Kenilworth Runners made the announcements and kept everybody well informed of the progress of both races and at the end Nick Gilbert, Kenilworth Runners Chairman, presented prizes to the winners. The whole event being brilliantly organised by Roger Wilkes, Kenilworth Runners Race Organiser.
The 1 mile fun run started the proceedings with lots of children of all ages and their mothers and fathers and the occasional dog taking part. The run takes in the Abbey ruins and the lake and returns back by the tennis courts. Matthew Halliday lead the runners home in the spectacular time of 5 minutes and 26 seconds whilst Sharron Dixon was the first girl to finish again in the impressive time of 6 minutes and 23 seconds.
Age winners were:-
Boys
| Name |
Age Category |
| Sam Ballard |
1st 7 years |
| Jonathon Jones |
1st 8 years |
| Craig Bell |
1st 9 years |
| Charlie Mitchell |
1st 10 years |
| Allen Guy |
1st 11 years |
| Adrian Smith |
1st 12 years |
| Matthew halliday |
1st 13 years |
Girls
| Name |
Age Category |
| Linda Jelly |
1st 7 years |
| Sarah Thornton |
1st 8 years |
| Rachel Emmerson |
1st 9 years |
| Magan Clements |
1st 10 years |
| Loma Bell |
1st 11 years |
| Kelli Dixon |
1st 12 years |
| Jade Williams |
1st 13 years |
| Sharron Dixon |
1st 14 years |
| Caroline Kelly |
1st 15 years |
In the main event, 'The Hilly Challenge 10 kilometre race' which takes a three lap circuitous and very tough route around the boundary of the Park, the first man to finish was Mark Hilay of Rugby and Northampton AC who won in convincing style with a time of 34 minutes exactly. He was followed by Gwyn Bellamy of Warwick University (36.07) and then third placed Steve Reeves of Holme Pierepoint (37.58).
The ladies were led in by three times winner Lucy Aphramor of Kenilworth Runners in the magnificent time of 42 minutes and 5 seconds. She was followed by Rachel Shaw of Rugby and Northampton AC (44.37) and third was Rosaland Lee of Warwick University (46.55).
In the age categories the first man over 40 was Graham Stephens (38.58), the first over 50 was Martin Booth (40.47) and the first over 60 was Graham Patton (40.42). The first Lady over 35 was Vicki Smith of Spa Striders (47.16), the first over 45 Jane Feltbower (53.16) and the first lady over 55 was Janet Wash (62.06).
11/05/05
Rugby 5 Mile East Midlands Grand Prix
Two members of Kenilworth Runners took part in the second race of this superb series of road races, The Rugby 6 Mile Road Race.
The course could not have been more different from that used for the first race on Silverstone Motor Race Track a week earlier. Gone were the stands and pit stops to be replaced by pleasant country lanes and steep climbs. The race started on the road just outside St Andrews Rugby Club in Ashlawn Road, Rugby. It headed along Ashlawn Road to turn left into Onley Lane when after a long downhill and crossing over the M45 the lane reached Cart Horse Hill to turn left part way up the Hill into Barby Lane. This lane took the race back over the M45 to the Hillmorton Road and so back into Ashlawn Road and to the finish which was on the field at the Rugby Club.
Richard Elliott had and superb run to finish in 35.47 and 3rd male over 50 and 27th finisher and Mick Morris completed the course in 54.16 and 3rd male over 70 and 299th out of 320 finishers.
14/05/05
Gaddesby Half Marathon
On a cool Saturday, Colin Bricher, a member of Kenilworth Runners tackled this tough half marathon in Northamptonshire and despite a neck injury and a rural course with plenty of stiff hills, completed the race in 170th position and in the time of 123.32 minutes.
18/05/05
- Bedford 6 mile - The East Midlands Grand Prix
On a dry and reasonably cool Wednesday evening Mick Morris, Kenilworth Runners over 70 athlete, travelled to Bedford to take part in the third event of this prestigious road race series. This time the course distance was 6 miles. This series is proving more and more popular with 298 runners finishing which is an astonishing number for a midweek evening 6 mile race.
The six mile course started in a very pleasant park near the race headquarters at The Mark Rutherford School, Bedford. After a mile through the suburbs of Bedford the race entered a nice quite, but undulating lane which it followed for two miles before turning left to present the runners with a long hill which was quite steep in places. The effort of climbing the hill was rewarded by a lovely long downhill back to the Park and after a small detour in the Park to the finish line
Whilst over 70 runners are a fairly rare breed, three took part in this race, including it should be noted one runner who was in the over 75 category, Mick Morris had a titanic battle with the other over 70 and in the end just piped him to the post in the time of 51 minutes 33 seconds and so claimed the coveted 1st over 70 position.
19/05/05
White Horse Gallop - Summer League
On a cool but very pleasant Wednesday evening no less than 51 members of Kenilworth Runners turned up at the White Horse Public House at Balsall Common to take part in, or Marshall, the first race of the Summer Handicap Race Series and enjoy a friendly meal afterwards in The White Horse.
The course chosen for that evenings race was partly on the road and partly across country. Starting outside the White Horse in the accustomed order, that is, 'A' group first, 'B' group 5 minutes later and 'C' group 5 minutes after them the runners headed out along the A452 towards Kenilworth until they reached the traffic lights where they turned left into Waste Lane and so to Catchems Corner after which a very sharp left turn onto the access road to enter the cross country phase of the race at the cottages. Following the footpath past Barrat's Lane Farm to a footbridge the runners turned right onto the footpath that crosses the railway line and so to turn left onto Truggist Lane. Crossing the railway again the runners followed the Lane to Meeting House Lane which they completed to right again into Waste Lane and so back to the finish via the traffic lights.
A group chart will be prepared after the second race in the series which will be the rather daunting 6 mile race at Hunningham to be held next Thursday evening 26th May starting at 7.30 p.m.
25/05/05
Rockingham Speedway _ East Midlands Grand Prix
On a dry and reasonably cool Wednesday evening Martin Dorrill, Kenilworth Runners, travelled to Rockingham Speedway Track, which is on the outskirts of Corby, to take part in the fourth event of this prestigious road race series. This time the course distance was 5 miles.
The five mile course is divided into two equal laps and is generally flat(ish) following the same track normally used by high speed cars and motor cycles.
Martin had an excellent race to finish in 11th place overall and 9th senior men in the splendid time of 27.59 minutes.
26/05/05
Brooks Babbling - Summer League
On a very pleasant Wednesday evening another bumper turnout of 43 members of Kenilworth Runners turned up at the Red Lion Public House in Hunningham to take part in, or Marshall, the second race of the Summer Handicap Race Series and enjoy a friendly drink afterwards in The Red Lion.
The course chosen for that evenings race was one of the toughest and longest in the series being 6 miles starting near the Inn and then heading out of Hunningham along the lane towards Offchurch. Before reaching Offchurch the course starts to get a lot harder as it climbs, first steeply and then gradually towards the first crossing of the Fosse Way. Continuing steadily upwards along Stonebridge Lane until, bliss!, a downhill to the junction with the road that leads back to Hunningham and by so doing crossing the Fosse Way for the second time and it must be said not until another tough climb is passed at Hunningham Hill. The rest is all downhill to finish in Hunningham.
What an evening with no less than 3 course records being broken on the night. Julian Simpson beat the senior men's record with a spectacular run to finish in 35.46 minutes. Ruth Barnes beat the senior ladies record with an outstanding 38.41 minutes and to give the evening to the ladies Mary Joyce beat the veteran ladies record with an astonishing 43.26 minutes. IN the group competition it is Julian Simpson who is the overall leader with 96 points.
The group positions are follows:-
GROUP RUNNER POINTS
A David Wheatley 95
A Sandra Pearman 92
A Jane McNally 90
A Jane Pithie 90
B Matthew Keal 94
B Stan Alexander 90
B Stewart Fenton 90
B Will Seeley 89
C Ruth Barnes 93
C Steve Jackson 93
C Julian Tombs 90
C Roger Homes 76
30/05/05
The Oaks in Charnwood Trail Race
Colin Bricher represented Kenilworth Runners at the rather unique cross country race held on a mild Bank Holiday Monday at Oaks in Charnwood, Leicestershire.
This race is held on the same day as the annual fair and after some sharp climbs it challenges the substantial climb up to a familiar local eminence called Iveshead Beacon before returning to the finish at the fair.
Colin had a good run over this 6.5 mile race and finished 77th out of 83 finishers in a good time of 77.24 minutes
Monday 2nd May