26th June 2024
https://clowneroadrunners.org/?page_id=2085
Elmton Chase came highly recommended from our cycling friends. The prospect of a meal in the village pub afterwards clinched it. Elmton is 16 miles from Sheffield but as the affiliated entry fee is only £6 it is worth the journey. The village is small, known apparently for its famous (?) resident, Jedidiah Buxton 1707-1772, a self-taught mathematical genius and farm labourer. Registration was at the only pubic house, the appropriately named Elm Tree, with a lovely garden with much needed shade on this very hot evening. Entries are limited to 200.
The race is described as ‘just under 5 miles of undulating countryside, tracks, fields and a little bit of road’ which is a fair summary. Most of the tracks were through wheat fields which are not the easiest to negotiate, but the major sticking point was the herd of cows blocking one of the styles (my excuse for a poor time!). Happily, the marshal at this point was very effective in his cow management skills. The race started out from the main road outside the pub to the left. We were pretty quickly onto tracks which took us on a loop back to the village whence we completed another loop in the opposite direction. The figure eight shape was perfect as it enabled the organisers to provide water which was much needed even with the distance being so short. The race was well organized by Clowne Road Runners, its summer companion to the Clowne Half Marathon, although there were reports of some people who got lost.
Prizes in the form of a bottle of wine were given out to each age category. Apparently, I won my age category but I did not find out until the next day as I was too busy eating my tea in the pub to go to the prizewinning. So that’s a bottle of wine I will never see.
First male finisher was Samuel Gibson of Rotherham Harriers in 25.30 and first female was Katrina Prior of Cannon Events RC in 35.05.
I was the only Strider as far as I am aware. I came first in the FV65 category in 50.16 and was 134th out of 159 finishers.
Results
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/wa7bAA7JDPmsbBN8/
