The Sabbath dawned cold and clear across much of the East Midlands on Sunday 11th December 2011 – yet the forecast threatened heavy rain.

Arriving from the West, the deluge began early in Keyworth, Nottinghamshire as a downpour of Derwent Runner PBs threatened to wash away the annual Turkey Trot.

After nearly thirty years of hosting the event organisers of the race thought they’d seen it all. But there could be no preparation for a flood of such biblical proportions.

As on previous occasions, the first stone was cast by Hoops legend and Noah-look-a-like Matt Cartwright.

Not content with finishing in the top ten of the men’s race, the bearded wonder shaved 40 seconds off his record time to post 1:21:12 – less than nine minutes behind the overall winner.

Just ten places behind Matt – having cut his PB by an even more incredible 11 minutes 34 seconds – was Oliver Meek in a time of 1:22:32. Jesus wants him for a sunbeam.

Third home in a record 1:32:45 was Neil Thurlow, who regained the straight and narrow after holding off the twin threat of Simon Field and your own correspondent.

And had he not been seeing angels at the end, James Watt would have taken even more off his PB than the 1 minute 24 seconds that he and Thurlow’s super-fast start ensured.

First home representing the Derwent Runners women – and just outside the top fifty women overall – was Yvonne Peake, whose time of 1:45:23 was four minutes quicker than her previous best set a month earlier at Worksop.

Lyndsay Adcock and Charlotte Lawson (disguised as a Shelton Strider) put in sterling efforts, as did Julie Hand, whose 1:59:10 easily beat her previous attempt over the distance.

And despite troubling the St John’s Ambulance for a much-needed cup of sweet tea at the end, Adele Styles can be rightly proud of her efforts after finishing well within the top 200 women in the race.

There were no fish or loaves to feed the 5,000 at the end, but hot soup and the latest bargains to be had from the Derby Runner sustained young and old alike.

And as the heavens opened and competitors headed for their cars or thumbed a lift from good Samaritans, the sun, as ever, shone on the righteous.

By Robin Hutchison

THE JOY OF SIX

Lovers of skimpy singlets and low-lying mist were in their element again on Sunday as runners from far and wide descended on Cromford for the annual High Peak Relay.

One of only three clubs in the 38 strong field to enter three teams, Derwent Runners were well represented by a strong men’s team and two enthusiastic mixed ones.

As in previous years, a testing 800ft climb began proceedings as competitors raced uphill to join the former railway line that makes up most of the trail.

Muddy underfoot and cloaked in the aforementioned mist, the course flattened out to follow the cinder path once taken by steam trains on their way to Dowlow, near Buxton

After doubling back on themselves, athletes running the latter legs then retraced the steps taken by their colleagues to return to the cheering crowds stationed on Intake Lane.

In such trying conditions all efforts were herculean. But special mention should be made of Matt Cartwright and Mike Marshall, who finished second and third in their respective legs.

James Watt, in his first High Peak start in the green and white hoops came eighth, as did Oliver Meek, and Neil Thurlow’s hard work earned a highly impressive fourth place.

Not content with running one leg, Ian Doherty ran two, with Andy Morgan going one better in managing to turn out for all three teams.

Having squeezed into ninth overall in 2010 with a time just over 238 minutes, the men’s team went three places better to finish sixth, shattering their previous record (albeit on an altered course) by almost fifty minutes.

They were within 15 minutes of North Derbyshire Running Club’s winning one and less than four minutes off their nearest rivals, Porter Valley Plodders. Surely a top five finish beckons next November?

Despite a slight slip down the rankings from 18^th and 27^th to 31^st and 36^th, our mixed teams proudly flew the flag too, proving the Hoops are Derbyshire’s friendliest running club as well as one of its best.

And with the post-race debrief at the Mill House in Milford in full swing, the ever-growing band of green hoodies took over a corner to toast their achievements.

Frothing pints and curly chips were on the menu, but, as ever, it was camaraderie and Corinthian spirit that sustained them and soothed their aching limbs.

Roll on 2012.

Robin Hutchison

Sunday, November 27, 2011

THE unnerving sight of a giant bank of low-lying cloud concentrated over the north of the county was the first thing greeting anyone heading from Derbyto the 26^th Clowne half marathon and I feared a soaking for the best part of two hours.

However, by the third mile of the race there was a fair amount of winter sunshine, a far cry from this time last year when icy conditions caused the race to be cancelled.

Another bonus as you hit mile three was that the wind was the fact that, there was a turn to the left and for two or three miles, runners had the wind at their heels.

The course itself is undulating rather than hilly with fields rolling away into the distance like the swell on a sea or green. Any steepish climbs were fairly short ones. A clear day, it was the polar opposite to the High-Peak relay where the fog made it feel like you were running through elephant-hide soup.

The Clowne half-marathon also takes you through a few pretty former mining villages with pubs bearing names like Black Diamond. Appropriately enough, around eight miles in, I was having to dig deep, having made the tactical mistake of playing an hour of frenetic five-a-side football on the eve of the race.

Cool and crisp, conditions would have been perfect had it not been for some strong breezes. High hedges and dry stone walls protected runners from their worst effects for parts of the race. That said, the end of mile nine and much of mile ten saw competitors running into a Viagra-stiff wind like an army of numbered Technicolor mime acts.

There was a bit of a climb prior to the run in which was draining but a sign signalling 800m to go galvanised the spirits of those with enough left in the tank for sprint for the line.

All in all, it was a well organised event, plenty of easy parking, about 40 minutes’ drive from Derby, top-notch changing facilities and if I’d known how nice the homemade biscuits were at the end, I’d have produced a much stronger finish.

Oliver Astley

Well done to the runners who endured a cold foggy day where the uphills were very slippery and the downhills were just treacherous! A good turnout for both the male and female teams.

Today we entered 3 teams into the High Peak Relay,  It was very foggy in
places (generally the places we were running!) and lots of mud, but I think
I can speak for all of us when I say we had a great time!!  It was awesome
to get everyone together and fab to have 4 new members  turn out as well! A
sea of Green Hoodies  took over a corner in the Mill House in Milford
afterwards for food and drinks (not to mention a well-earned cup of Tea!)