By Mark Crawshaw
98 runners joined Wirksworth Running Club’s Stuart Learmouth Undulator race this year at Stoney Wood on the club’s 20th anniversary. The original route designer from the club Russel Morgan joined for the race’s twelfth running. The recent weather made the course soft but not muddy for the runners who set off on the steep climb to the Star Disc at the top of the reclaimed limestone quarry. The first three runners at the top of that climb were the first three to finish, with a back-and-forth battle between Colin Brearley and Allan Bland for first and second place throughout the race. With Colin pushing forward on the climbs and Allan on the descents, Colin ultimately made enough of a lead to cement the first place on the final steep descent.
Long Eaton’s Hannah Warrener took first place for the women with Jane Crowson F60 for Dark Peak coming second and Joanne Grant of Milltown Milers taking third. The highly contested M70 category saw Wirksworth’s own Graham Smith, ex of Pennine, not only beat his five opponents but also come in faster than any of the M60 competition, super vet indeed.
Many of the runners said how much they enjoyed the views on the race and with the great marshalling and course marking from the volunteers everyone got back safely. There were worries that cattle, including a bull, in some of the fields on the course might pose a danger to the runners but in the end good relations with the farmers allowed the race organisers to mitigate that. The biggest threat turned out to be falling shot from a clay pigeon shoot coming down in the open access land leading up to Harboro Rocks trig point.
The money raised from the race, unlike the clubs other races which all go to local charities, is ploughed back into the club and local runners through its’ bursary scheme. Any club member in need of some assistancefunding their participation in a running event that will promote running to the wider community is welcome to bid for the bursary. Successful recipients then report back at the club’s AGM on what they were able to achieve.