Joseph and Archie secure English Schools accolade

Lincolnshire were competing against Suffolk, Norfolk, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire in an event that many of the counties were using to select athletes to compete in the national finals.

Running for Lincolnshire were sister and brother Ellie and Archie Rainbow, along with Joseph Rice-Mundy.

Giving it their all in horrendous windy and freezing conditions, Ellie (year seven girls) was first to race and came 58th, finishing her first run for the county with a winning smile.

Archie finished in seventh place and Joseph finished 44th in the junior boys and intermediate boys respectively.

Due to their results both Joseph and Archie were selected to run in the English Schools event in March.

The Stamford Striders’ St Valentine 30K Race is that club’s flagship event.

It is run each year on the Sunday closest to St Valentine’s Day and is recognised nationally as a tough event, providing a good training run for those planning a spring marathon. This is a very popular race - it has worked its way up to ninth in the Runners World list of 100 Top UK Races from feedback.

This was a sold-out race to 700 runners, but Elaine Wilson from Mablethorpe RC managed to secure a place and used it as preparation for her upcoming 2016 marathons.

Starting and finishing at the Queen Eleanor School in Stamford, the course winds its way through Little Casterton, Tolethorpe, Ryhall, Careby, Pickworth and Great Casterton on a challenging rural undulating route but there are a few modest hills.

Elaine was pleased with her time of 3 hrs 20 mins 35 secs and her placing of 546th.

The race was won by Aaron Scott (Notts AC) in 1 hr 40 mins 12 secs and the lady to finish first was Gill Fullen (Bedford Harriers AC, 19th overall) in 1 hr 58 mins 12 secs.

Three Mablethorpe runners were among the 595 competitors that completed the annual Sleaford Half Marathon.

Hosted by Sleaford Striders AC, this year the event was sold out.

The multi-terrain (mostly road) course starts and finishes at the Sports Pavilion of RAF Cranwell.

The rural nature is somewhat challenging with undulating roads but also very muddy patches over the grassed areas and farm tracks a few miles in.

At approximately 12 miles there is the much feared hill which is probably the most challenging part of the route, and only a mile or so from the finish.

Results: Roger Blake - 156th in 1 hr 41 mins 33 secs, Debbie Jinks - 403rd in 2 hrs 04mins 24 secs, Andrea Mettam - 469th in 2 hrs 10 mins 11 secs.

The club meets at Mablethorpe Athletics Club on Sherwood Fields in Mablethorpe at 6.30pm every Monday and Thursday.

For further information, log on to www.mablethorperunningclub.org.uk