Athletes compete in third part of Cross Country Grand Prix Series

Ryston Runners AC members took part in the rescheduled third race of the club’s Cross Country Grand Prix Series, postponed from December due to inclement weather.It was a landmark event for club chairman Rob Simmonds, who became the first athlete ever to complete 150 races since the series’ inception which, with only six races a year, represents almost a lifetime’s association with the sport and, indeed, the club, which he joined as soon as he had his eighth birthday.This momentous achievement was marked with a presentation to Simmonds by a previous chairman, and race director, in Martin Ive. Simmonds himself marked the occasion with a customary podium place in the M35 category, clubmate Ben Keeley taking first spot.Keeley’s was one of seven wins that went the way of host club members, the others being Dylan Whitehouse and Isabella McKenzie (U17), Law Misevicius (SM), Anna Kahn (SW), Susan Hipperson (W45), Ruth Chadwick (W55) and Gina Hurrell (W60). Chadwick and Hurrell broke the event age group records for their respective categories.Other second category places went to Freddie Hubbard (U11B), Cody Pearman (U17), Dani Sparkes (SW), and Linda Marshall (W55) while third places were won by Cali-Rose Lee (U9), Martha McKenzie (U13), Christopher Cann (M35), Mark Ramsden (M45), Marina Marcinek (W45), Will Honeybone (M50), Debbie Crowley (W50), Lisa Harris (W50), and Paul Firmage (M65+).Other Ryston results included Dexter Young 6th U9B, Kaitlyn Allen 6th U13G, James Trim 5th SM, Olivia Chapman 5th SW, Charlotte Smith 6th SW, Kellie Stevens 4th W35, Jamie Bransgrove 7th M45, Paul Freear 5th M50, John Crowley 6th M50, Helen Driver 4th W50, and Tony Savage 4th M60.Missing the event in favour of getting in some more spring pre-marathon mileage, Julie Williamson, Becky Taylor and Phil Thompson donned their Ryston vests to compete in the Oundle 20 mile race. Thompson finished 30th overall and third M50 with 2:20.12, Taylor dominated the F45 category, winning it with 2:30.18 and finishing in 48th place overall, and Williamson just missed the F40 podium, placing fourth in age group and 73rd overall with 2:38.03. Taylor’s time was a minute improvement on her own previous club F45 record time for the distance.Martin Elsegood, Glenn Perkins, and Dan Yallop took part in the Marriott’s Way Half Marathon, recently adopted by BoghopperRaces after the retirement of Positive Steps director Kevin Marshall.