Double delight for proud Gainsborough Striders in the Poppy 10k

In another weekend of success, proud Gainsborough Striders bagged second places in both the men's and ladies' team events at the annual Brigg Poppy 10k.
POPPY POWER -- the Striders trio who took second place in the Brigg Poppy 10k. From left, Ronnie McWilliam, Mat Huteson and James Croft. (PHOTO BY: Craig Ward)POPPY POWER -- the Striders trio who took second place in the Brigg Poppy 10k. From left, Ronnie McWilliam, Mat Huteson and James Croft. (PHOTO BY: Craig Ward)
POPPY POWER -- the Striders trio who took second place in the Brigg Poppy 10k. From left, Ronnie McWilliam, Mat Huteson and James Croft. (PHOTO BY: Craig Ward)

For the men, Mat Huteson (35.18), Ronnie McWilliam (36.27) and James Croft (37.33) all recorded personal-best (PB) times and finished in the top 12.

For the ladies, Hanna Bennett (49.14), debutant Molly Creed (50.07) and Clare Hardwick (52.33) pulled out all the stops in a 25-strong contingent from the club.

No fewer than ten other Striders clocked PBs. They were Craig Ward (41.22), Craig Williamson (44.43), Rick Hickling (45.56), Lee Creed (47.14), Samantha Garrison (54.30), Kirsty Smithson (57.22), Carol Knapton (63.36), Maureen Allen (68.00), Janet Goude (68:23) and David Allen (78.14).

Season’s best efforts came from Phil Marsland (41.36), Gary Atkinson (45.06), Glenn Peniston (48.56) and Lottie Lindley (52.40), while the rest of the finishers were Tim Smithson (46.19), Shaun Boyle (49.06), Mick Wood (52.04), Jeanette McGhee (54.48) and Diana Forrest (61.06).

Meanwhile seasoned ultra-marathon runner Jane Benson made a successful second attempt at the notorious Snowdonia Marathon, which involves ascents of more than 800m, an average climb rate of 2%. Benson was relieved, and delighted, to complete the course in four hours 21 minutes, a good eight minutes quicker than her previous try. She finished in the top half of the 2,000 field after making up almost 200 places in the second 13 miles.

At the Worksop Hallowe’en Half-Marathon, Lorna Allison was the first Strider across the line, finishing 23rd of the 1,023 ladies in a time of 93.14. Not far behind was the consistent Simon Hunt in 95.50, while Andy Trowsdale marked his first race for two years with a time of exactly 100 minutes.

The Lincolnshire cross-country season also began at the weekend, with the highlights being a first-place finish for Lauren Staves in the U17 women’s

race, and a sixth place for Lucy Allan in the U13 girls’ event.

Well done too to Chris Inman for a PB of 45.03 in the Wistow 10k near Selby in Yorkshire, and to Sara Kelsey for clocking just over 78 minutes in a hilly 10k at Sheffield.