Stratford's half dozen take on the challenge - The Stratford Observer

Stratford's half dozen take on the challenge

Stratford Editorial 7th Mar, 2017   0

SIX Stratford Athletic Club runners competed in the picturesque Belvoir Challenge – a 15 or 26-mile event for runners and walkers around the Vale of Belvoir, Leicestershire.

Both routes follow footpaths, byways, tracks and minor roads throughout the beautiful Vale of Belvoir and, with the kind permission of the Duke of Rutland, they go through the Belvoir Estate.

Both routes start and finish at Harby Village Hall but each year they are varied in order to keep it fresh and interesting for entrants.

Three Stratford runners opted for the 26-mile distance and the same number the lesser distance.




In the 26-mile race, making his debut at the distance was Ivan Sarti who ran a fantastic race to finish 21st overall (3.56.02) despite being five minutes late at the start as the parking was a bit chaotic.

Ultra runner extraordinaire Rebekah Loftus finished in 201st place in a very impressive time of 5:52.59 and was 50th lady finisher.


Andy Brown was next to finish for Stratford in 234th place in a time of 6:32.26. The race was won by Stephen Shanks in 3:20.28 and first lady to finish was Kit-Yi Greene in 26th place in a time of 4:04.54.

Three ladies represented SAC in the 15-mile race and they were led home by Sarah Bland, who was 128th and 24th lady finisher in the very impressive time of 2:38.09.

Just five minutes behind Sarah was Lesley Kirk who loves nothing better than a long, hilly and muddy race. Lesley finished in 142nd place in a time of 2:43.23 and was 33rd lady finisher.

Next to finish was someone else who enjoys the mud and hills, Sarah Odell, who came 185th in a time of 2:52.14 and was 50th lady to finish.

The 15-mile race was won by Benjamin Griffiths in 1:44.07 and first lady to finish in 17th place was Bethan Gay in a time of 1:56.15.

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