This Week's News 01/03/2015

This week was the annual Sandbach Striders awards night where the many varied achievements of the members are celebrated and trophies and prizes awarded. 

Karen Lovatt and Michael Escolme

Karen Lovatt was awarded the most improved female runner with Steve Farnell having improved his times at every race distance this year was awarded the male equivalent.

Steve Farnell - most improved male runner

The winner of the male championship was Tony Taylor, with Heather Carter bagging the famle championship.

Karen Lovatt and Tony Taylor

Cheryl Hutchins was awarded the club personality award for her work promoting the popular couch-to-5k programme and for the hard work she puts in behind the scenes as kit officer. Club chairman Michael Escolme was awarded the John Lawton trophy, an award given annually in memory John Lawton.

Cheryl Hutchins and Michael Escolme

Despite the awards night celebrations continuing long into the night, it was still a busy weekend of running for the members of Sandbach Striders running club with the club being represented in eight different running events across the weekend. 

At the popular free weekly 5k parkruns held every Saturday morning eight Striders were in action around Astbury mere near Congleton. Lucy Lee continued her run of good form with another new personal best time.

The full results were as follows:

20:27 Heather Carter
23:52 Lucy Lee
25:36 Denis Culloty
28:06 Denise Dowling
28:44 Thomas Taylor
28:45 Tony Taylor
30:55 Tracey Hale

Meanwhile in the region’s other two parkrun events, Tony Ward was in action at Delamere Forest finishing in a time of 29:16. Michael Escolme was at Hanley parkrun, finishing the course in a time of 46:40.

Michael Escolme, Mary Chadwick and Frances Chadwick at Hanley parkrun

Further afield Karen Wright was at the Catton parkrun , located on ancient parkland on the outskirts of the City of Norwich. Karen finished the event in 31:34

Karen Wright at Catton parkrun

At the Cloud 9 trail race in Congleton ten Striders were amongst the 258 runners taking part in this popular local event. Heather Carter was first Strider home and also won the F40 category.

The full results were as follows:

01:13:48 Heather Carter
01:21:25 Gordon Hutchins
01:26:25 Jan Peake
01:28:30 Martin Gunther
01:30:05 Tom Mayell
01:31:42 Paul Nicholls
01:33:29 Cheryl Hutchins
01:41:21 Jill Young
01:50:49 Lindsay Beech
01:50:57 Amy Norman

Sandbach Striders at Cloud 9

At Tatton Park it was the Wrap up and run 10k organised to raise funds for Age UK. Six striders competed, the full results were:

00:54:13 Matt Wood
00:57:28 Liz O’Keeffe
00:58:36 Denis Culloty
01:00:12 Elaine Wood
01:12:28 Denise Dowling
01:12:28 Gayle Robson

Elaine Wood, Matt Wood, Denis Culloty, Liz O Keeffe at Age UK 10k

Making a trip further afield were two groups of intrepid Striders both running different half-marathon events. Over in Wales the popular Anglesey half-marathon took place. The race starts on the iconic Menai Suspension Bridge and runners pass the front of a picturesque Snowdonia backdrop.

Three Striders finished, their times were:

02:03:04 Janet Burgess
02:05:05 Louise Hayward
02:38:56 Grant Stanning

Lou and Janet at the Anglesey Half-marathon

In Cumbria at the Haweswater half-marathon, two more Striders followed an out and back course from Bampton Village on a route which passed along the shores of Haweswater in a remote and dramatic Lakeland mountain valley.

01:57:03 Clare Pheasey
01:57:04 Terry Coppenhall

Terry Coppenhall and Clare Pheasey at Haweswater Half-marathon

Sandbach Striders are a friendly, supportive and welcoming running club serving the communities of Sandbach, Middlewich, Alsager, Holmes Chapel and beyond for over ten years. As well as a varied running programme the club has an excellent social calendar and for those runners looking to improve Sandbach Striders have a number of fully-qualified running coaches to advise on training and ensure the safety and well-being of its members.