Saunders recovers from fall to finish ultra race

This race was over cross country with steep rocky hills and sections where it was impossible to run.

He was going very well, passing other runners, feeling strong, until around the 21.5-mile mark when he fell on a very steep downhill section of the race.

Two fellow runners stopped and gave Steve assistance and he then sat a while to recover.

Still feeling a bit groggy, he started to jog steady for a two to three miles and then picked up the pace, again passing other runners and finished the 30 miles in six hours and 21 minutes.

In another busy weekend for from Sutton Harriers, they were also represented at the No Walk In The Park 5k, staged by North Derbyshire RC, with Lee Morris winning in a time of 17.13mins.

Sutton also turned out at the North Midlands Cross Country Race at Heanor.

It was a very tough and hilly course, especially for the young runners over a shorter course, who all finished.

Times and positions were: U11s Mixed, Harriet Cross 17th 7.08mins, U13 Boys Robert Williams 29th 17.43, U13 Girls Martina Thorpe 23rd 17.44, U15 Girls Drew Alletson 13th 15.41, Erin Boromar 17th 16.20, U17 Girls Natatia Williams 16th 23.16, U15 Boys Ben Burnham 24th 20.04, Owen Hodson 28th 21.45, Senior Ladies , Michelle Willcocks 12th 29.58, Fran Meakin 29th 31.38, Amanda Alletson 37th 33.50, Senior Men Carl Allwood 31st 35.47, Dean Cross 61st 38.10, Liam Hodson 92nd 40.09, Nick Luke 116th 42.16,Gary Goacher 147th 46.21, Paul Beasley 183rd 51.19 , and David James 190th 55.22.

The Keyworth Turkey Trot Half Marathon saw seven Sutton Harriers taking part.

Their four ladies took the Ladies Team Prize while Paul Wittingham took first place in his age category.

Times: Paul Whittingham 11th 1.19.28, Lee Morris 17th 1.21.00, Tony Goodyear 44th 1.25.43, Sally Hughes 112nd 1.30.24, Sarah Hutchinson 132nd 1.32.12 (a personal best), Allison Whittingham 316th 1.42.55, and Claire Watson 452nd 1.49.36.
In typical December weather, the Mansfield Harriers were well represented in all categories in the third round of the North Midlands Cross Country League at Shipley Park, near Heanor, with Mark Johnson finishing as the fastest veteran.

He covered the 9.5km course in a time of 33 minutes 34 seconds, resulting in ninth overall in the senior men’s category.

Other notable performances were Andrew Wilson 48th, Pete Stafford 75th, Faz Fahay 80th, Steve Davies 94th, Jonathon Hardy 140th and Julian Wood 154th.
In the senior women’s race, the ever improving Rebecca Barson finished a very credible 19th, along with Amanda Hardy in 38th and Denise Winfield 70th.
In the U17 Men, Alex Riley finished a superb sixth with Ben Hardy not far behind in 14th.
Matthew Woodhall finished the U11 Boys event in a solid 21st place.

Check out the new Mansfield Harriers website www.mansfieldharriers.co.uk.