The Max Factor.

Massey Ferguson Tractor 10k

Report – Richard Liggatt

Easter Monday saw the return of the Massey Ferguson Tractor 10k at Stoneleigh Park after a 2 year hiatus due to Covid.

A fast and flat course, as well as being the first race of the Warwickshire Road Racing League calendar, it attracted a strong field from many local clubs including 18 Stratford runners.  The conditions for the race were perfect with a gentle cooling breeze on a beautiful spring morning, leaving the Easter chocolate excesses as the only excuse not to be chasing a PB.

Over the line first for Stratford and second overall in an impressive 32.18 was Ben Kruze – going from strength to strength despite a recent bout of Covid. The ever reliable Matt Burdus-Cook was next home in 9th for Stratford, claiming another age category win. Richard Liggatt ensured 3 Stratford runners in the top 10, recording a PB in the process.

As it was a fast course and having not raced a flat 10k for a while, I wasn’t quite sure what time to be aiming for. I held back slightly during the first few miles meaning I had enough in the tank from 7km which is always the hardest part of a 10k. I was delighted to sneak under 35minutes for the first time – despite the course seeming to run slightly long.

Next home for Stratford was Alex Pester who stuck very well to his game plan with very consistent splits to finish 19^th.  Up and coming Alex has had a strong cross country season and looks faster with every race.

Rounding off the points scorers for the team race were Drew Sambridge and Adrian Mason in 31^st and 37^th respectively.

This excellent performance put Stratford in second place behind Kenilworth Runners. Having won the Warwickshire virtual road race league during lockdown, it is great to see our form continuing.

Max Ross was recovering from a half marathon PB at Draycote Water just 2 days earlier but still managed an impressive sub 40minute time.

Next home for Stratford with a course PB and valuable Grand Prix points was Pete Sugden. Bonus points are awarded for PBs, so it’s likely that Pete has been holding back in previous years to maximise competition points and have a go at the title this year!

Suzanne Ross was the first lady home for Stratford in an impressive 47:03, gaining a 30second PB in the process. Susan Hunt, still racing under the Bourton Roadrunners flag but firmly a Stratford member was next in 51:37. Only 2 and a half minutes separated the next 4 Stratford runners – Dave Maundrell, Bev Brigden, Pip Bell and Jan Mclure separated by only 33 places.

Philippa Abrams was next home for Stratford and John Butler continued his busy schedule with a time of 1:12:09 – his fastest of the year so far.

Overall a very well attended race and a brilliant start to the road racing league season for Stratford.

Mallory Park Spring 5k

Report – Paul Hawkins

After racing the Midland 5k championships last month on what turned out to be a very short course, Maddie Linfoot travelled to Leicestershire for the Mallory Park Spring 5k, where she came 4th in the Under 15 girl’s category.

All of the age groups started together so it was always difficult to keep track of positions in the race but Maddie was pleased with a fast time of 19 minutes 9 seconds, a new PB and thinks that she will be go under 19 minutes soon. 

Draycote Water Running Festival

Report – Max Ross

The early morning fog had cleared and temperatures soared in the baking sunshine with nothing more than a slight breeze on the notoriously windy route.

The course had three distances on the day, with the half marathon setting off first, followed by both 10k and 5k runners making their way around the gently undulating reservoir near Rugby.

I opted for the half marathon, racing among a field of 90 runners. Following on from some good runs over shorter distances, I managed a new personal best of 1:26:15, finishing in fourth place.

John Butler was the club’s other runner the day in the Veteran 75 age category of the 10k race. John completed the course in 01:15:50, only slightly behind his previous efforts at Draycote. It was a result he was happy with as he was recovering from his booster jab and unsure if he would even run on the day.

We had both raced together the previous weekend in the Regency 10k, and would both be meeting again two days later at the Massey Ferguson RC Tractor 10k in Stoneleigh!

John was going to spend his ‘recovery’ day out on his new motorcycle, while I accompanied my wife at an equestrian event, both of us making the most of the fantastic bank holiday weather!

Following on from the club’s recent participation in the Teddy Hall relays, Phil Marshall has received this invitation for club members to take part in the Iffley Festival of Miles on the iconic track where Roger Bannister was the first man to break the 4 minute mile barrier.

“Being a local club we thought your members would be keen to know that Iffley Festival of Miles will be back up and running this summer! As a club we really appreciate the support your club has given us at Teddy Hall Relays and Iffley Festival of Miles in the past and would be grateful if you could circulate the information below to your members.” 

Oxford University Athletics and Cross Country Clubs are proud to have relaunched this event after two years off. This year’s meeting will be held on Saturday 4th June. Join us for a wonderful afternoon of graded mile races held on the legendary track where Sir Roger Bannister set the first sub-4-minute mile, running 3:59.4 in 1954.

This event is open to runners of all abilities with a series of paced, seeded races, culminating in an elite invitational race for men and women. It will be a perfect opportunity for anyone to set a PB over the Mile distance and an official 1500m time, within the mile races, will also be taken and published on Power of 10.

The minimum age of entry, as decided by England Athletics, is 11 years old on the day.

For any further details, please see our webpage at www.ouac.org/iffley-festival-miles, or email iffleyfestivalofmiles@gmail.com.

We’d love to see you at this year’s event, so get your entries in soon!