News

Result for the North Devon marathon, 26-Jun-2016

Garry has sent the following report of the North Devon marathon, where he finished 19th overall and 1st in his category! Top running, Garry.

First time trying the full marathon after a couple of runs out doing the half marathon. This event is a figure of 8 with the race start/finish on the green at Woolacombe right next to the beach. A testing course featuring 3435ft of ascent over what I ve recorded as 25.77 miles but being a fell runners association event they’re not the sort to fret over a few hundred yards (nope,nor me)! Luckily the weather was overcast and damp making for ideal conditions for running/grovelling!!

Overall 19th – 1st in age cat’ – 3:48:35

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Results for the Donnington 10, 26-Jun-2016

Lisa has sent the following report:

Another Sunday another race, this time it was 10 miles for part of the ‘Great Run Festival’ around Donnington Park. With a few aches and pains from the previous

days club outing to ‘Go Ape’ we were unsure how we would do. This run had an elite feel as it was started by the legendary Gemma Steel and won by soon to be Olympian Sonia Samuels. 3 Sphinx’s set off after a last minute swerve by Kevin Dick who after yet another night on the sauce was unable to even get his shorts never mind function at normal capacity. The show must go on though. Expectations of the course were that it was fairly flat but just under a mile in there was quite a hill which we had to do 4 times. The highlight would have to be the run through shower as the sun came and temperatures were on the rise. Spectators were aplenty in the stands and the atmosphere was fantastic. Big thumbs up to Mama and Papa Hand for being part of our support crew. Laps 3 and 4 were a bit tedious but on the plus side it allowed us to run back on each other and spur each other on. As I made my way for my final lap the lead bike was there moving us out the way paving the way for Sonia’s amazingly strong finish. After the race we re-grouped and it was picnic/prosecco time. We had the best afternoon doing nothing as the sun shone down on us and even have sunburn to mark the occasion as well as an fab goody bag, t-shirt and medal. A massive thanks to Allen and his chins for driving us! This was ‘funning’ with a difference. I got home and looked at results to find somehow I had managed 7th female.*Insert joke here*. No, just NO!!!

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Results for the Prestwold 10k, 26-Jun-2016

Mitch has sent the following account:

So, the Prestwold 10K, organised by Barrow Runners – some race this was! As you can see from the picture – a free bottle of beer to all runners, a plentiful goody bag and, unusually, a can of de-icer in ‘Sphinx’ colours. And, well, the raffle prizes…. they were just something else! So, after a very, quick discussion, Andy Mc and I took the extremely brave decision to change our footwear and actually run in the brand new trainers that we had acquired no more than 5 minutes previously! We both stood nervously on the start line, sporting our untried running shoes (remarkably in our own club colours), before setting off round the Prestwold race track/airfield, where we did a flat, fast 4k. Then we branched left onto a gravel track for a kilometre, before turning out into the Leicestershire countryside to encounter a series of gently undulating country lanes. With a quick downhill from 8K to 9K, we finished back at the entrance to the airfield once more. Perfect weather conditions and the new ‘Sphinx’ running shoes enabled Andy to knock almost a minute off his 10K PB, whereas I trailed in some 5 minutes behind L Disappointingly no medal or T-shirt (I gest), but free beer (and brand new trainers) at just £10 per entry more than made up for that J

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Results for various parkruns, 25-Jun-2016

At Coventry, Fintan McSharry completed his 100th parkrun and Alexander O’Brien achieved a new PB. Elsewhere, Alex Bartlett ran the Colby parkrun for the first time.

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Results for the Weedon 10k (EMGP), 21-Jun-2016

Mitch has supplied the following write-up of the Weedon 10k:

‘We done’ Weedon again then, 6 of us this time. Flat as ever. Course PB’s for Glassman (by 12 minutes), but only because he was injured last time (again) and walked most of it, and also for Laura by 4 minutes (now that’s what we proper athletes call genuine improvement Richards!). Nothing much else to report, except that Allen ‘Rockefella’ El-Sour is currently running at £26 a race for this year’s EMGP series. Thanks to Dave W. for driving.

Next and final race http://mcs.open.ac.uk/mkac/emgpmiltonkeynes10k.htm

Let me know if you want to car share from the club (5 definites so far).

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Results for the Arden 9, 19-Jun-2016

Thanks to Lisa for the following communiqué:

There was a good turn out of Team Sphinx for The Arden 9. A slightly odd distance for some but the perfect opportunity for another social gathering. The late start on Fathers day meant a bit of a lie in and time to open presents for the fathers amongst us. Mitch aside who was feeling slightly concerned having not even received a fathers day text. This was soon resolved as (ailment free) Jamie and (£2 for an expresso Dave) stepped up as honoury sons for the day. A good show of Mitche’s ‘Go faster socks’ could only mean one thing, Mitch had now become style icon. They are now going on eBay for twice the value!

As we set off temperatures were soon on the up as well as spirits as we were one step closer to the pub. It was a great course which was well marshalled. As usual The legend that is Tim Numan was snapping away at mile 5. I couldn’t decide weather to work my face or flying feet so I did neither as my now bored Massey pacer ran off into the distance leaving just me, myself and I for the remaining 4 miles. I’ve been left wondering if we can fund Tim to do a photoshop course to make me more photogenic!

A few miles from home came the lake where there was an array sugar daddies with their rods at the ready. If this had been tinder I would have been swiping left and they’d have ended up in the lake.

This was Vicki’s longest run to date in preparation for a potential half marathon. She exceeded her own expectations and unleashed her inner athlete. Vicky didnt need a hand as she stormed the finish saying ” I’ve ran 9 mile for no medal” . The goody bag in itself was a little disappointing, if you were quick enough you were worthy of a banana where as the the lesser athlete ended up with a packet of buttons, a broken pen (if you were lucky) and some out of date sweets. We did receive a fab t-shirt though so all is forgiven! As we went off to local pub the White Lion we realised it had (aa) in the post code. A sign perhaps…

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Results for various parkruns, 18-Jun-2016

Brian McSharry and Lore Paterson both achieved PBs at Coventry on Saturday; well done to both. Elsewhere, Alex Bartlett did Osterley parkrun for the first time, and the Timms’ and Steve Osmond ventured to Leamington and Daventry respectively.

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Results for the Monks Kirby hc, 16-Jun-2016

We have the following report from Jackie and Chris, and photos from Dave Timothy:

A total of 40 runners took part in the Monks Kirby Handicap on Thursday 16th June, which included 3 guests. Fortunately, the rain held off again. Haven’t we been lucky?

The first to cross the line was the evergreen Tom Marchi, running as well as ever – What’s your secret, Tom? The fastest time was by Rob Wheatley, 30:41.

There were 7 first timers and 8 pbs.

Thanks to everyone who ran and all the marshals and helpers. Next race is at Birdingbury on 14th July.

Jackie and Chris

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Results for the Harborough 5 (EMGP), 14-Jun-2016

Mitch has provided the following account:

4 of us made the trip to Foxton Locks for the Harborough 5. The photo shows us at 7.40 p.m., just five minutes before the start, with the cows in the background scurrying for cover. Probably something to do with the grey cloud directly above us that decided to unleash its full potential at 7.44 p.m. just as we were standing on the start line 🙁 Notwithstanding the torrential rain, we all got round in respectable times (but nothing that the handicap secretary needs to be concerned about ahead of Monks Kirby this Thursday) and Jamie actually had an injury free run (no spasms, cramps, pulled muscles, diarrhoea, constipation, scarlet fever, man/bird flu, chickenpox, broken nails, twisted eyelashes, etc., etc.). Thanks to Dave West for driving. Next race Weedon, 7.45 p.m. next Tuesday http://mcs.open.ac.uk/mkac/emgpweedon10k.htm Please let me know if you wish to car share from the club.

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Results for the Two Castles 10k, 12-Jun-2016

17 Sphinx runners completed this popular local 10km along a point-to-point route, from Warwick Castle to Kenilworth Castle. Garry Barnes finished 2nd in his category and Laura and Fintan achieved PBs.

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