With spring finally on its way conditions were warm and windy on this flat, fast course of just under 5.5 miles. Many quick times from the Deestriders as a result, well done everyone.
Steve Thomas led the club in as usual with a typically fine 31.00 and 22nd overall. Andy Edwards gave his best performance yet (it must have been because he needed his inhaler afterwards, for only the second time in ages) with an incredible 32.28. Fred Aird continues to work his way back with a very good 33.53. Vince Edwards, who has always been an excellent runner and continues to shine as a V50, gave one of his best performances for the club so far with 36.07. Martin Witty did equally well with a strong 36.17 and must also get some credit for how well behaved his two daughters, Amy (6 ½ ) and Isabel (4 ½), looked after by Jay, were! Our resident journeyman Mike O’Brien never lets the side down, travelling all the way from Manchester for a typically excellent 38.52. Phil Taylor made the right decision to miss the Wrexham Half with recovery stage flu as not only is he still on for London, he also had one of his best ever outings today with 41.18. Our other long distance traveller, Sid Bailey, had a tremendous day too, right behind Phil with 41.22. Seasoned veteran Kev Burns would make a great training partner for Sid (if they lived anywhere near each other) as as usual, the pair came in one after the other, Kev with a quality 41.36. The considerably improved Mike Norris anchored the men with an impressive 42.45.
There were also some fine performances from the club’s women. Linda Martin, tired having just returned from a week of skiing late the night before, battled round bravely to lead the women’s team in with a strong 39.38. Lorna Royle, who gave an outstanding performance at the previous week’s Wrexham Half Marathon (second North Wales V35 in 1.45), showed no signs of fatigue with a terrific 41.30. Emily Davies, who has only been running for six months yet came very close to breaking two hours in her half marathon debut last week, gave everything for a tremendous 46.48 (and looked ready to collapse at the end). Jane Evans was unfortunately unable to take part due to an ear infection and the five months pregnant Jay Jennions was on standby to make up the team, but luckily we had our fantastic four in the form of a courageous club debut from Lucy Reid, the sister of local marathon star Catherine Hewitt. Lucy has only just joined us but showed talent runs in the family as she was right behind the equally talented Emily with a brilliant 47.11.