Race history Part 4
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Race history Part 4
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White Peak Marathon History the 3rd 10 years 1997 - 2006 1997 (number of finishers unavailable)
Another victory for the perennial Peter Bates on a hot day which caused problems. Another great run from George Kay, with an amazing time in his first outing as a vet 60. For the first time in years certificates. It was a long day out on the trail for the Armistead family who performed sweeper duties as an new all time slowest time was recorded of 5:58.00 was set in last place. 1998 (66 finishers)
The 1998 race was sponsored by Keep on Running and their commitment to the race lasted for some time. Sydney Strider's C. Barker took the prize for a second time with Ripley's Jeremy Bateman, another long term supporter of the race, once again finishing runner up - he must have begun to think his day would never arrive. 1999 (136 finishers)
A vintage year for Matlock AC with our first individual runner in the history of the event. James Arnold ran away from a large field to win relatively easily. Matlock also ran Dark Peak close for the team award. We had now for some time been calculating the team prize on the first 3 runners, irrespective of age category or gender. We were not being politically correct - it was just easier to do it this way. This year only 5 runners broke 3 hours but Sally Pitts only just missed this mark in setting a new women's course record. What a disappointment is was for Matlock's own Tracey Erskine to also surpass the existing record but only to finish second. 2000 (80 finishers)
Dark Peak looked set to make this their own race with Men's; Women's and Team victories. TYhe immortal headline in the Matlock Mercury ran "Whitewash For Dark Peak in White Peak". On the hottest day of the year so far the runners suffered immensely and only 4 broke 3 hours. The small entry was a disappointment and can be attributed to a curious incident. Another event called the "White Peak Bash", on the same date, at the same venue and over the same distance had appeared in the listings. This caused considerable confusion in the running fraternity. Fortunately the event did not materialise but the damage had already been done. Obviously Matlock AC have no copyright on the White Peak name or the traditional date for the race, but we suspected at the time that someone might have been trying to cash in on our long tradition, or worse, sabotage the event for reasons unknown. 2001 The event that never was The 25th race that never was. Foot and Mouth restrictions in the UK caused us to postpone the 25th running of the event with a September alternative in mind. Even though the countryside was open for business again by the Autumn, it was to prove impossible to drum up enough support to make the event viable this late in its 25th year and we were forced to cancel plans. 2002 (The 25th running with 74 finishers)
The 25th running of the race was fittingly won by a member of the organising club, Matlock AC's James Arnold who repeated his 1999 victory beating a previous multiple winner of the race Peter Bates of Bury AC and always highly placed Ripley runner Jeremy Bateman who was third. The smallish field faced slow conditions with a mixture of hot sun, heavy showers and a strong headwind after the turn at Parsley Hay, where Arnold chose to increase the pace to a level which Bates could not match. Appropriately prizes this year were presented by Cromford bookseller Dave Mitchell, the man who had the original idea of this unique race in the 1970s. 2003 (83 finishers)
The 2003 race, started in bright sunshine however the weather deteriorated as the race progressed with runners towards the back of the field enduring wet conditions in the latter part of the race. Benefiting this year from new sponsorship from the John Palin company organisers were pleased with an entry of over 100 runners after suffering lower entry levels following the foot and mouth restrictions and subsequent cancellation in 2001. Arnold, forcing the pace all the way, had established a lead of 6 minutes at Middleton Top which he further extended to almost 9 minutes at the finish line. Regulars Peter Bates and Jeremy Bateman were again in evidence amongst only 4 runners managing to beat 3 hours. 2004 Marathon (166 finishers)
2004 Half Marathon (207 finishers)
The incorporation of a half marathon in the 2004 White Peak race proved a resounding success for the Matlock AC organisers with total entries topping the 400 mark. In perfect sunny conditions Jeremy Bateman finally achieved his ambition with a win in the full marathon. The first 3 places were occupied by Vet 40 runners and 4th place was a Vet 50 runner and this holds up the evidence that our runners are coming mainly from the more experienced of the running fraternity. In the women's race Ina Scheuer finished just 36 seconds ahead of the 2nd place lady, Amanda Rawson. This year only 5 competitors managed under 3 hours. The 13.1 mile event proved not as swift as anticipated and in spite of, or perhaps because of the 800 feet of steep descent times were respectable but not especially fast. Former Matlock AC member Malcolm Taylor who completed the 1st running of the full marathon back in 1977 made a welcome return to compete in the 1st running of the half marathon. Again our sponsors were John Palin Ltd with excellent goody bags to all finishers and a number of spot prizes. 2005 Marathon (190 finishers)
2005 Half Marathon (223 finishers)
In good, if slightly warm conditions the 2005 race produced a new record in the ladies race. Nicky Legood being the first lady to join the sub 3 hour club with the 7 others who surpassed the mark this year. Winner Simon Smith was unsure at Parsley Hay, missing the turn marker he carried on a little way before realising his mistake and would probably been another minute or so clear of runner up Rob Atkin. With no such controversy in the half marathon race Andrew Middleditch of Dark Peak Fell Runners ran 3 minutes quicker than in the inaugural event to establish a new record of 1:13.49.
2006 Marathon (201 finishers)
2006 Half Marathon (224 finishers)
With the weather slightly damp; ambient temperature almost perfect; a 15mph headwind during the first half and the trails, after almost a week of constant rain, being described by one competitor as "swampy in places" the race was always going to be an interesting challenge. Fortunately for most runners the rain held back and times don't seem adversely affected by the conditions underfoot with 7 runners dipping under the 3 hour mark. Dav Connor from Ripley took the full marathon race, running away in the 2nd half to finish 7 minutes clear of the 2005 winner. Dav had already won the Ashby 20 in his preparation for the FLM but 2nd placed Simon Smith was recovering from injury and didn't enjoy the form of 2005 whereas 3rd placed Rob Atkin found himself running in a pair of beaten up old trainers, having left his racing shoes on the car park at Cromford Meadows - an incident which has caused much amusement within the host club. 4th placed Martin Firth ran faster than 2005 and was awarded the 1st Veteran prize. At the sharp end of the ladies race Lisa Barry, improving on her 2005 time by some 15 minutes, finished in 25th place overall just a half minute clear of her nearest rival, Lesley York who was the first Lady Veteran finisher. The overall team prize was taken away this year by Darwen Dashers. With the absence of Andy Middleditch there was always going to be a new name on the virtual trophy in the half marathon with Michael Aldridge coming up from Northamptonshire to take the race by 30 seconds from James Trapmore with Darren Hodgkinson coming in 3rd and first over 40. Les Cronshaw again finishing at the head of the men Vet 50s. In the ladies race Linda Clarkson finished 21st overall and 1 minute 40 seconds clear of Ruth Welsh with Susan Corsini carrying off the lady veteran prize. Again times did not seem particularly adversely affected by the puddles which were more numerous on the High Peak Trail than they were on the Tissington Trail for the first 11 miles of the Marathon race. Wootton Road Runners comfortably took the team prize with their 3 counters all in the first 10 finishers.
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Copyright © 2006
Matlock Athletic Club
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