On Sunday 18th August six MACs made the short trip to Belper for the Belper Rover. Advertised as a 30k trail race, the current course measures under 30, but few competitors are known to cross the finishing line complaining that they want to run some more.
With 580 metres of elevation the route includes woodland, gates and stiles, fields, stiles, some road sections and stiles. Yep – a lot of stiles. It’s also a pretty route, well signed and very friendly.
The Belper Rover used to sell out, but in recent years the entry numbers seem to have reduced a little. The event is well priced and entrants receive a decent medal, free race photos and a cheese sarnie – what’s not to like.
For MAC, Damon Harrison had a great run to finish 11thin 2:16, with Andy Mellor 18th, Neil Corker 31st, Pete Wilmot 35th and Gavin Elliott 146th. Jakki Simmons opted to walk the route with a number of Sole Mates and the race photos seem to indicate that this might have been a far more enjoyable experience – plenty of smiles all round.
The race was won by Chris Patterson of Mansfield Harriers in a course record time of 1:50:59.
