This week's news 03/03/2014

On Friday, members of Sandbach Striders running club held their annual awards night. This is a time to reflect on the year’s achievements and reward those members who have excelled. It is also a time to celebrate with a good buffet meal and a few drinks.

The Club 10k winners were the first awards to be given and were awarded to the fastest male and lady who competed in the version of the popular Sandbach 10k restricted to members of the running club only. The fastest man was Giles Hodges and the fastest lady was Heather Carter.

Prizes this year were awarded by special guest of honour Graham Smith of HS Sports whose generous support allows us to chip time both of our races.

The club championship trophy was awarded to Tony Taylor for the male category and also to Sandbach’s most successful runner Liz O’Keeffe for the female category.

Liz O'Keeffe - Ladies Club Championship Winner with Graham Smith of HS Sports.

The Club personality of the year awarded was given to Steve Treweeks. A chap whose successful battle against serious illness and determination in not letting that stop him run a marathon and his positive outlook and broad smile throughout makes him a deserved winner.

Club Personality of the Year - Steve Treweeks with Graham Smith of HS Sports.

The John Lawton Memorial Trophy is awarded in memory of the sadly missed Strider who was lost in a race in Greece in 2012. It is presented by his widow Lynda to a Strider who has achieved something beyond the norm and who epitomises the spirit of John. This was awarded to Chris Brumby (pictured) for the many epic events he has competed in last year including the Courmayeur Champex Chamonix, a 100k mountain race over Mont Blanc.

Lynda Lawton and Chris Brumby - Winner of the John Lawton Trophy.

Despite the Friday evening festivities, Sandbach Striders were represented in three different parkruns around the region. At Congleton seven Striders took on the three laps of Astbury Mere

20:01 Tony Taylor
23:14 Mat Simister
25:04 Heather Carter
27:03 Clare Pheasey
27:03 Catherine Greaves
27:04 Terry Coppenhall
32:25 Eve Roberts

Meanwhile up in Hanley club chairman Michael Escolme (pictured) took on the inclines of Hanley Park and recorded a time of 35:08

Mary Chadwick and Michael Escolme at Hanley parkrun

Over in Delamere forest, brother and sister duo Peter Ball and Jill Young battled it out for sibling superiority with Peter recording a time of 27:54 narrowly pipping Jill to the finish post, who recorded 29:44

On Sunday, the club social secretary Paul Nicholls took on the challenge of The Millennium Way, one-way run across the entire width of Staffordshire County. The Way for the Millennium is a national trail that was setup 14 years ago to celebrate the millennium. Despite being 38 miles long the trail follows old train lines and waterways for pretty much the whole route and so is almost flat. Paul finished the course in 8:52:59.

Paul at the Millennium Way ultra-marathon.

Also that day the Silverstone half-marathon took place at the iconic race track in Northamptonshire and consisted of three laps of the circuit with runners taking the place of racing cars. Martin Gunther (pictured) nursing a sore calf muscle managed to squeeze in just under the two hour mark at 01:59:48.

Martin Gunther at the Silverstone Half-marathon.

At the “Wrap Up and Run” 10k race held in aid of Age UK at Tatton Park, three Striders took part. Husband and wife team Matt and Elaine Wood competed as did Philip Truman. Philip finished in 58:27, whilst Matt and Elaine finished in 1:05:18.

Even more Striders were in action at the popular Cloud 9 hill race in Congleton.  This 9 mile jaunt up and down The Cloud tests the legs of even the most experienced fell runner. Six Striders were amongst the record intake for this event, whilst chairman Michael was helping official race photographer Bryan Dale at mile 3 and 7. More photos can be seen on Bryan's website here.

01:21:08 Gordon Hutchins
01:38:14 Cheryl Hutchins
01:39:26 Elaine Tatham
01:42:41 Christiane Bunte
01:45:03 Jill Young
02:04:24 Karen Lovatt

Karen, Jill, Elaine, Christiane, Gordon and Cheryl at Cloud 9

On a busy Sunday, the Cheadle 5 was also held once more. Liz O’Keeffe was in action and recorded a time of 45:06.