MAC History 2020

JANUARY

Cross Country Season is well underway in January and first up of the New Year was the Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire XC Champs at Shipley Park, Heanor.  There were many medal winners with representatives in the U11 Boys through to Seniors.  U13 boys got team silver – Will Croft, Jacob Jones, Charlie Ross.  U17/20 Girls – 1^st Elsbeth Grant and 6^th and 3^rd U17 Lizzie Webster.  Senior/Vet Women – Shelley Fairey 3^rd SL, Hayley Gill Silver FV35, Jan Forrester Gold FV65.  Alison, Hayley, Jan and Carly Spear also took Team Silver.  In the Senior/Vet/20 Men Dan Haworth was 1^st and Derbyshire XC Champ!  3^rd Billy Cartwright.  Colin Davenport MV35 Bronze, Mick Moorhouse Gold MV65.  Vet Men Team – Colin, John Thorpe, Paddy Wright and Karl Webster took Team Gold and Bob Foreman, Mick, Simon Croft and John Hurley Vet Men Team Bronze.

7 Juniors took on the 4^th and final race in the N. Mids XC League at Wollaton Park, Nottingham.  U11 Girls Georgia Belbin 27^th.  U11 Boys Jacob Jones, Will Croft, Logan Fairey and Andrew Slater 1^st team.   U15 Girls Amelia Corke ran to 20^th.  In the Senior Men Mick Moorhouse was 1^stMV65.

The MAC 10k Handicap Age Graded races of 6 in the Series continue with the last race being in March.

It was the 4^th Race in the BDL Series at Bramcote Hills, Nottingham.  The MAC Ladies shone with Shelley Fairey 1^st lady and the Team taking the top spot.  The men did not fare so well with John Thorpe 1^st MAC back in 13^th putting them in 11^th from 12 teams.  With one race to go at Holmesbrook Valley Park in February.  There are lots of individual titles to go for too.

At the Northern XC Champs at Bedale, Dan Haworth was in fine form again taking 1^st place in the Senior Men’s race.  7 MACs took part.   Dan was selected by the ECCA to represent the North of England in a Team of 4 at the International Belgium Cross Cup on 8^th February.

FEBRUARY

If we only knew what was to come.  Races were starting to be cancelled due to the very heavy rain and damage to trees from the storms, Ciara and Dennis.  So the last race of the BDL Series of 5 at Holmebrook Valley Park, Chesterfield was postponed and then cancelled and the series will be decided on the best of the 4 races.

Dan Haworth and a contingent of 50 English Athletes made it to Belgium for the International Cross Country Cup and Dan had a great run to finish ibn 25^th place representing Northern Athletics.

Tony Barrable continued to dominate in the MAC 10k age graded handicap in the 5^th race with one to go in the series in March.  He also ran the fastest performance grading in the event – 83.62%.   Elle Thompson in her debut race came home first for the ladies,  32 runners took part.

The English National XC Champs, Wollaton Pk, Nottingham went ahead despite the very wet conditions, but parking was a nightmare as runners were directed to areas all over Nottingham; some runners nearly missing the race.  MAC were represented in the U13 girls – Ellen Corke, U15 girls – Amelia Corke and Poppy Lynn, U13 boys – Alex Currie , Junior Women with Elsbeth Grant taking 20^th from 131 runners.  In the Senior Ladies 3 ladies took part – Lottie Riddle, Louise Rowley and Nicky Dick, Senior Men – Dan Haworth 19^th, Billy Cartwright 80^th, Harry Holmes 109^th, Paddy Wright 534^th, Colin Davenport 601^st and Peter Wilmot 1,144^th.

MARCH

The High Peak Marathon was cancelled due to unable to obtain enough access land.

The British Athletics Cross Challenge incorporating the UK Inter-Counties Champs were held at Prestwold Hall, Loughborough and 4 MACs represented Derbyshire.  Dan Haworth came 13^th, Billy Cartwright 46^th and Harry Holmes 92^nd.  The Derbyshire Men’s Team finished 7^th overall alongside 5 other runners.  In the Senior Women – Shelley Fairey, Hayley Gill and Louise Rowley took part.  In the Junior races – Bertie Elphick, Lizzie Webster, Elsbeth Grant 8^th from 136, Jacob Jones, Will Croft  and Charlie Ross.

MAC Junior and Senior XC took place at Stancliffe Hall, Darley Dale – a new venue.  The Coronavirus was just starting to take hold in Britain but as it was a MAC event not open to the public it was decided to go ahead.  Karl Webster presented the prizes for the juniors – Will Croft, Marlene Mettam, Oliver Lloyd, Poppy Lynn.  He also presented prizes for the Junior GP for the 2019 season.  In the Senior Race in the XC it was Shelley Fairey who led the ladies home and Simon Fisher the Men.

In the evening it was the Senior Presentation for 2019 at the Remarkable Hare, Matlock.  30 members attended the buffet and quiz and presentation  of the Senior GP winners for 2019 – for the Ladies overall winner was Emma Turner, Alison Pye 1^st SL, Sally Owen 1^st LV40 and Jan Forrester 1^st LV50.  For the Men – John Thorpe overall winner, Bertie West 1^st SM, Ian Watson 1^st MV40 and Jim Thorneycroft 1^st MV50.  Tony Barrable won the MAC age graded 10k handicap and Louise Rowley for the ladies.

Then disaster struck and the Coronavirus started to impact on races with many being postponed or cancelled.  MAC stopped all training sessions too as the Government upped restrictions on movement and social distancing.  In mid-March the UK went into Lockdown and the White Peak Festival of Running and the Peak Rail Runner-v-Steam were postponed.  Exercise outside was still allowed but limited to short distances and only from home with no inessential journeys allowed.

All we could do was sit and wait for the virus to be contained.

APRIL/MAY/JUNE 2020

As the Coronovirus spread around the World MAC continued to adhere to Government guidelines and exercised alone, but once it was realised we were in for the long haul, the Committee decided it would be a good idea to help keep members motivated, fit – mentally as well as physically – and connected by organising a series of Virtual challenges.

The biggest and most successful was the Virtual 300 Relay which involved over 70 runners running for 30 or 60 minutes each, from home, with a given time slot for 36 hours over a weekend in May, including through the night.  £6,600 was raised for Ashgate Hospice.

Some members took part in a National Virtual 5ks.  Exercise sessions at home or garden in MAC vest.  Running or cycling and displaying club vest – in places such as on rocks and fences in various locations.  The Virtual fast mile.  Proudest running moment with photo were posted on social media.  To keep the spirit of Runner-v-Steam alive, Jim Thorneycroft organised the Virtual Runner-v-Steam where members replicated the distance – 7 miles- and terrain where possible, for those who were unable to travel to the actual route – Rowsley to Matlock and back on the trail.

Although Government restrictions on movement and exercise were gradually being slackened as deaths from Covid 19 drop, The Ian Milne White Peak Marathon had to be cancelled, although the other 2 races in the Running Festival – the Swift Half and the inaugural Down in a Shot 10k were postponed until November.  The thinking that November could be a bit late for a marathon, so the marathon will be part of the Running Festival for 2021.  So over 4 days members could run the full marathon or half and the juniors ran 10k or 10 miles.

There was a Virtual duathlon with the run, cycle and run on different days.  5k run, 10k bike, 3k run.

The Virtual TODV where runners ran their own routes for the famous Tour of Derwent Valley  4 races over the May Bank Holiday weekend.  Again replicating the distance and elevation where possible.  Some members managed to run at least part of the courses.  Duffield; Bulls Head Belper Lane End; Farnah Green and Rowsley.

The Virtual Fell Challenge with members replicating local routes of 8k distance for a category B fell race – 25-49m of ascent for each kilometre.  Routes chosen including variations on Ricky’s Race and the Black Rocks Fell Race.  The fell race was due to be run proper in July, but this too was cancelled as was Black Rocks Fell Race.

For June there was the British Masters Virtual 5k Relay, doubling up as a 5 challenge raising money for the Whitworth Centre, Darley Dale with members paying an entry fee for the Virtual race.   The Virtual Hairy Helmet Relay.  MAC had entries in most categories in the V35-70+ in ten year bands.  The best result was Colin Davenport in the MV35-44  category and the Ladies team of Jan Forrester, Tessa Jackson and Ann Armistead in the LV65-74 category were 4^th just 10 seconds behind Totley AC.

MAC resumed Thursday evening training as Government restrictions eased at beginning of June so that a group of up to 6 were allowed to run together with a guide at 2 metre distance and adhering to guidelines about not running with symptoms, not leaving gate open for next runner, not touching stiles where possible.  This worked well and up to 6 groups of 6 were meeting up at various locations to run to train and socially.

Mark Pollak arranged a Bronco Challenge which was a series of shuttle runs covering a total distance of 1.2k held in the bottom field at the Whitworth Centre, again with funds going to their crowdfunding appeal.  John Thorpe was fasted for the men and Lisa Jones for the ladies.

July, August, September 2020

Restrictions on activities continued as the death toll reached over 40,000 in the UK.  Although gradually easing, there is still no indication when racing of any kind can resume.

So several MACs entered an event organised by Events Up North – 3 fell races.  The first a short – 4 miles, 900 ft ascent to be run between 27^th June and 3^rd July.  Race 2, medium, – 8 miles, 1,800 ft ascent, to be run between 11^th-27^th July and Race 3, long – 12 miles, 3,000ft ascent to be run between 1^st-7^th August.  Race 2 results were delayed due to a threat to security of Garmin which meant people were unable to record their results for several days.

As the Belper River Relays were cancelled, Jim Thorneycroft organised an inter-club event with North Derbyshire RC, Ripley RC and Canon Events for a 4 man relay.  45 teams over the 4 clubs were amassed with the 5k run being as flat as possible and taking place over the weekend of 4^th-5^th July.   Some local to Belper managed to replicate the actual run along the River Derwent at Belper as near as possible.

Ian Watson devised an Ascent Challenge with the most height ran in 30 or 60 minutes.  Richard Bradbury took the honours in the 60 minute event by amassing 982m on Crookstone, near Kinder scout.  In the 30 minute Alaina Bond was 1^st lady with 311m of High Tor and Riber Road.  Ian Watson was 1^st man with 361m on Bank Road, Matlock doing reps.

As Fell Runner magazine had no events to report, they did a retrospective for the Summer Issue mentioning many past winners.  3 MACs got a mention in the British Junior Boys’ Fell Running Champs with Josh Moody taking the title in 2005, Lee Jones 2006 and George Tighe in 2008.

Monday evening training sessions resumed in July 2ith 2 groups of 6.  Restrictions are being looked at continually by ARC and EA but by beginning of August there was some conflicting information and so it was decided for safety to stay with 6 to a group for now.

Some members had expressed a wish for a Tuesday evening session and Hayley Gill volunteered to lead this.  So a spreadsheet was set up in August for this session.  The Arc re-opened in September but it was decided to keep going with the MAC training sessions into October to see how things go.

It was decided to go ahead with the Chatsworth end of Summer run from Calton Lees.  Several groups of 6 were set up on the spreadsheet with a leader for each and starting at 10 minute intervals, different distances and some going in reverse, the Committee ensured the safety of the groups.

It had been hoped that the White Peak Swift Half and Down in a Shot 10k could have taken  place as planned in November, postponed from May and a sub-committee had been meeting regularly to try to resolve all issues.  The Ian Milne White Peak Marathon had already been postponed to next May 2021.    However, with further restrictions in place and difficulty gaining permission from Peak Park, it was regrettably decided to postpone the Running Festival to May 2021.

Some races started in August – including the Belper Rover 18 miler and David Denton’s Tanis’ 2 Person Relay at Peat Pits Woods, Alderwasley, in which MAC had 14 teams, sponsored by the Club. With the virus nowhere near under control, the restrictions in place were numerous and staggered starts were mandatory.

Christine Howard, Karl Webster and Lizzie Webster took on the Helvellyn Tri on 5^th September in awful weather conditions with an outstanding GB field including 24 pros.   Triathlons had re-started in August.

The much awaited cross country season also fell victim to the virus – The National XC was cancelled, N Mids XC League, BDL Derby Runner XC Series.

OCTOBER 2020

It was the 40th London Marathon on Sunday 4^th October, but never as we have seen it before, postponed from April because of the Coronavirus pandemic.

45,000 runners from around the World took on the Virtual London Marathon, the alternative event to the ‘real’ thing, devised by the organisers, so that those who should have been running in London could still do the run, albeit with a route of their own choice, for charity if desired, some in fancy dress costume. Others deferred their place til another year.

Several Matlock AC runners took on the challenge including Ian Watson who ran a local route taking in the trails and roads around Matlock, including Cromford Canal. Ian finished in an amazing time of 3 hours 2 mins 24 secs.

Paddy Wright and Carly Spear had a great morning! They ran from Buxton to Matlock Bath and back to The Whitworth Centre, Darley Dale in 3 hours 45 mins.

The main London Marathon was ran in closed St James’ Park for elite runners only, completing 19.8 laps of the park. The surprise winner of the elite men was Shura Kitata, Ethiopia, with favourite Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge 8th. In the Women’s elite race the winner was Brigid Kosgei, Kenya. The wheelchair race was won by Brent Lakatos, Canada and for the ladies Nikita den Boer, Holland.

It rained continually and was cold and the fastest time by Kitata was 2 hour 5 mins and 41 seconds.

Congratulations to MACs Nicky Dick on winning The East Midlands Best Virtual Activity of 2020 for her inspirational videos during Lockdown presented by East Midlands Triathlon.

Dan Haworth and Billy Cartwright managed to find a fell race which went ahead, as these have been mainly cancelled due to the landowner’s not granting permission.  The Wansfell Uphill TT in Cumbria.  Dan was 4^th and Billy 5^th.

The MAC Swift Half Marathon and Down in a Shot 10k, due to take place 7^th November were postponed til May next year.  The Marathon had already been moved to May.

And so to the next MAC Virtual Run Challenge organised by Chris Gillott.  As races have not resumed as hoped and with the Cross Country Season in doubt, this run is a 10k with neutral elevation to be ran between Saturday 3^rd and 10^th October with members deciding on their own routes.  34 took part.  Greg Hopkinson 1^st in 36.31 and Hayley Gill 1^st lady in 39.31.

MAC are also continuing with their Monday, Tuesday and Thursday training schedules for 6 people, taking in different routes to ensure fitness and mental well being are maintained as well as being able to run socially with club mates in a socially distanced way.

John Thorpe, Pete Wilmot and Craig Allen took on the Hardmoors 55 mile trail race in the North Yorks Moors in horrendous weather conditions.  John was 11^th in 10hours 04, Craig 11.43.15 and Pete 10.44.16.

The Thoresby Hall 10 races took place.  It seems that in these Covid times it is easier to organise a Covid safe race in the grounds of a country estate.  3 MACs took on various disances.

Chris Howard took on the Clumber Park Duathlon also at Thoresby Park.  The Sprint distance and finished 9^th lady overall and 3^rd LV50-55 in 1.21.19.

The Winter 10k Handicap Age Graded resumed in October with 6 races over 6 months, 5 to count.  The usual course from Arc Leisure to the Pav, Matlock Bath and back via Hall Leys Park.  Runners undertaking this on their own over a 5 day window.

Jacob Jones took part in the Primary Schools Cross Country at Prestwold Hall, Leices and was 10^th in the Year 7 race.

November 2020

Billy Cartwright took on the Golden Trail Champs in the Azores, Portugal after winning a Golden strava segment ticket for a run in the Lakes of 26k.  A 4 day trail event with strict Covid 19 guidelines.  Runners from 20 countries.  Billy was 29^th overall from 114 finishers.

From 5^th November England went into Lockdown again and all training sessions and any races planned for November were cancelled.  The Lockdown was due to last one month til 2^nd December.

The Virtual challenges kept on coming –  Les Thurston’s ‘Which Way’ Navigation Challenges with 11 checkpoints with Colin Davenport winning for the Men and Alaina Bond the ladies;  David Greatorex organised the Post Box Challenge, bagging as many post boxes as you could in a 1 hour run.  Colin bagged 25 and for the ladies Alison Pye 24 boxes.  18 members took part.

Alaina Bond set up a Mini Gp series to run over 4 months starting with the High Tor Race 4.1 miles.  Toby Gill 1^st Man in 31.42 and Mum, Hayley 1^st L and 1^st VL40 in 37.07.  Leading the VM was John Thorpe VM40 32.56 and Chris Gillott VM50 37.25.  Jan Forrester 1^st VL50 in 46.11.  The 2^nd race in the series will be in January 2021.

The AGM took place with 27 members taking part on Zoom.  Subs did not change and the committee was voted on again and praised for the work done throughout the pandemic keeping members motivated with the virtual challenges.

The November Winter Age Graded 10k took place over a week, Arc to Pav and back.  Dan Haw smashing the record with a course time of 31.17 and age grading of 85.44%.  Jan Forrester also broke the age graded women’s record and recorded 51.48 and age graded 84.14%.  Alaina Bond was fastest lady in 44.54.

MAC made a £250 contribution towards Matlock Christmas lights following a plea from the Town council.

December 2020

We came out of Lockdown on 2^nd December but Derbyshire were put into Tier 3 which meant that we could at least resume Monday, Tuesday and Thursday evening training with 6 including a leader.

On 13^th December there was a Stars of Tomorrow XC in Huncote, Leics. Which brothers Logan and Heath Fairey took on with Heath finishing 5^th in the 1 lap, 1.3km race and Logan 3^rd in the 2 lap race.

Dan Haworth took on the Podium XC Elite 8k Race nr Clitheroe, Lancs and finished in 5^th place in some very revered company.

The December Winter Age Graded 10k Race 3 of 6 took place over a week and this month showed – Jan Forrester 1^st overall in the age graded race.  Greg Hopkinson was 1^st male.   Greg Hopkinson was fastest overall in 34.45 and 1t lady Elle Thompson 43.39.

Other members undertook the Grindleford Gallop course and Eyam Half Marathon in small groups.  There were still virtual races to be had including the British Masters AF 10k taking place for a week in December for 35+.

The Christmas Pub run was cancelled.  But the Carsington run around the reservoir was on with a spreadsheet schedule of 6 runners in timed slots, clockwise and anti-clockwise.  With 5 groups enjoying the run.

The Beetroot run also went ahead on Boxing Day as a self-timed event which members could run any time on Boxing Day.  Starting at the swing bridge at the High Peak Junction using any route they wished up to Black Rocks trig and back down.  18 members took part with Luke Beresford (2^nd claim) taking 21.43 and Lizzie Webster 1^st lady in 28.51.

Then on 31^st December 2020 Derbyshire and most of the UK were plunged into Tier 4.  So it was goodbye to Training Sessions of 6 but Committee set up a spreadsheet on MAC members page for members to buddy up with one other for a run, as in the Tier 4 rules.

What a year!  Let us all pray for hope and peace for 2021 and a return to racing!