Graham Welsh reports
Marathon news to start us off, Nige Driscoll and Graham Welsh were in Chester hoping for personal best times on a fast course in near perfect conditions. Nige recorded 3:56:48 for a PB, achieving his aim of going sub 4 hrs for the first time. Graham knocked 52 minutes off his PB and went under 4:30 as he had hoped with 4:28:17.
Meanwhile at the south coast, Jon Rawson took on the Bournemouth Marathon, which he completed in a time of 5:08:33. Becky Clift ran the Bournemouth Half Marathon at the same festival and finished in a super time of 1:57:56, first time under the magic 2 hrs and a new PB by over 5 minutes.
Jason Priest did the Cardiff Half Marathon in support of Combat Stress, a great cause and topical given the club's focus on mental health awareness this week. Jason covered the course in 2:07:46.
On to 10K and 11 Newark Striders took part in the Syerston Challenge. First over the line in 12th place overall was Peter Davis 46:56 followed in 13th by Mark Winter 47:39. Jess Gordon was the first lady finisher in 20th place with 49:12. Steve Gurd was next 50:54, David Daubney 53:09, Sara Carter 54:56, Geoff Riley 55:32, Mary Swindles 56:49, Philippa Clarke 1:09:49, Stacey Atkins 1:09:50 and Andrea Leech-Smith 1:14:22.
The Syerston Challenge wasn't the first 10K of the day for Jess, Philippa and Stacey who had already completed the Dawn 10K at Rushcliffe Country Park early on, finishing in 47:15, 51:08 and 58:50 respectively.
Nick Harrison was in cross country action, covering the Goose Fair Gallop 10K in 1:07:11, whilst Stephen Tomlinson took on the Power Surge 10K at West Burton and recorded a time of 52:47.
Finally to international news. Tom Spelman and Lynda Madden were participating in the Marbella 10K at 9pm on Saturday evening, once temperatures had reduced from 30 to 24C. 53:47 for Tom and 54:55 for Lynda.
Well done everyone!