by Sandbach Striders
on Monday 2nd March 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.
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| 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.
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| Steve Farnell - most improved male runner |
The winner of the male championship was Tony Taylor, with Heather Carter bagging the famle championship.
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| 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.
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| 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 Carter23:52 Lucy Lee25:36 Denis Culloty28:06 Denise Dowling28:44 Thomas Taylor28:45 Tony Taylor30:55 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.
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| 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
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| 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 Carter01:21:25 Gordon Hutchins01:26:25 Jan Peake01:28:30 Martin Gunther01:30:05 Tom Mayell01:31:42 Paul Nicholls01:33:29 Cheryl Hutchins01:41:21 Jill Young01:50:49 Lindsay Beech01:50:57 Amy Norman
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| 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 Wood00:57:28 Liz O’Keeffe00:58:36 Denis Culloty01:00:12 Elaine Wood01:12:28 Denise Dowling01:12:28 Gayle Robson
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| 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 Burgess02:05:05 Louise Hayward02:38:56 Grant Stanning
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| 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 Pheasey01:57:04 Terry Coppenhall
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| 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.
