East Midlands Grand Prix 2007

Link to Full race Information, including directions, Maps, previous results and Entry information can be found here ...

Previous Winners since Mike fromant's Victory in 1984 - Word Doc - updated for 2007

Milton Keynes 10km

In the final race of this years competition the senior men's team started off locked in joint first place with local rivals Wootton Road runners. With Mathew almond returning for the club after missing the previous round at harborough the club had hoped for a strong turn out to retain the title. Almond kept pace with Steve platts of the owls club before sprinting clear over the last 1km to win both the race and the senior men's overall prize - The much improved Stuart nelson was next across the line in 8th(6th senior man) to lift himself in to 4th overall in the competition. The team was rounded out by the ever consistent Brian summers and Portsmouth based guy Peterson. Next across the line was former track specialist Ross glover with an encouraging run in 24th.

Wootton produced another excellent turn out and the mighty purple vests could be seen in huge numbers as with the previous rounds, the senior mens team of Phill melling, steve pool , craig mattocks and richard lack all produced a stunning team display to capture both the Team prize on the night and the overall serious prize for the first time in the clubs history.

In the woman's event, first home on the night was Alison Cooper in 3rd position (senior ladies), Alison ran superbly to narrowly miss beating the 40 minute mark. Next up for the club was the pair of Elizabeth dines and Jo pulsford, with only 12 seconds separating the pair and only 1 place(5th and 6th respectively)  the team finished in 3rd place. Elizabeth dines finish in 5th place meant she captured 4th overall for the senior ladies compitition.

Ann rollings completed a perfect score like Mathew Almond to capture the F55 award - With the prize already won after the previous round

Overall series positons (all Rugby and Northampton)

Harborough 5 mile

Banbury 5 mile

Weedon 10km

Rugby and Northampton secure victory over local rivals Wootton Road runners in the men's team event. Mathew Almond again leads the team home with another victory followed by Stuart nelson in a solid 4th place. Almonds victory virtually assured himself of the overall prize for an athletes top 5 performances. In second place was Wootton's top man in recent races Phill Melling, just holding off the consistent Nathan Holmes of Northbrook. R+N youngster Steve Emery and Veteran Brian summers completed the 4 man scoring team with 11th and 12th place finishes.

In the woman's race Nicki Nealon secured another victory and along with Matt Almond should have secured the overall prize. A close second in the woman's race was Kirsty Whigham of Wootton. Top R+N lady home was Alison cooper(4th) in a time of 41.48. the 3 count scoring team was completed by Jo Mainwaring(6th) and Liz Dines(7th) with times of 44.16 and 44.56 respectively. 

Ann Rollings again captured the F55 category from wellingborough's  Lucia Hale, while in the F60 category B Parkinson and Jane Walsh finished 2nd and 3rd respectively.

Corby 5 mile

The latest race in this years Grand prix proved a second team win for Wootton Road Runners, Led home by a great run from Phill Melling in 4th place. Rugby and Northampton's Matt Almond was again the first club athlete home finishing in 3rd place overall but capturing the Senior men's 1st place due to the owls pair of Gordon lee and Steve platts both being a Vet40. Almonds run means he still leads the overall series. R+N finished a strong team to finish 2nd on the night with Terry Egan, Brian Summers and Mark bruce rounding up the 4 man team. Terry also provided an individual win in the V45 category. John Mahood finished an excellent 4th in the V55 with Ann rollings again capturing individual glory in the Ladies v55. 

Bedford 6 Mile

Rugby and Northampton provided a strong turnout but lost out on the team prize by just over 30 seconds to a well equiped Coventry Godiva team led home by race Winner Scott Hazell in 31:12. Hazell along with R+N's Matt Almond and Notts Ashley Sabin all began brightly, however hazell soon put his authority on the race with Almond unable to respond and Sabin pulling up at 2 miles. Matt Almond hung on well to complete a hectic racing week by claiming 2nd Place with the Clubs new signing and the fast improving Stuart Nelson. Nelson followed on from his PB at blisworth to record his second PB in just 5 days to suggest he will soon be on Almonds shoulder.  Terry Egan returning to form finished just outside the top 10 but claimed the vet 45 prize, Mike wilcox rounded the 4 man team finishing 3rd vet 40 to Aid R+N to the vets team prize

Club Results

Team Results

Rugby 6 mile

Rugby and Northampton produced a stunning display in the Home event with Team Victories and an overall Race Win for Mathew Almond. The race was led out at a fast tempo by Ashley Sabin of Notts AC with Nathan Holmes(Northbrook) and Phil Melling(Wooton) forming the chasing group.  Almond pushed on for victory 2 miles from the finish with the fast finishing Holmes and Melling juts failing to catch 2nd place Sabin. Matt Almond was backed up well by the ever improving duo of Steve Emery and Steve Milner with Emery using his recently acquired track speed to finish just 1 second clear in 10th place. Completing the team was Brian summers who took 2nd place in the over 40 catorogry.

In the womans Event R+N ladies brought home the team prize with Sally Baker, Joanna Emery and Sharron Fearn all putting in good displays. The team showed good depth with the next 3 finishes all crossing the line less than 10 seconda apart with Liz Dines,  V Jones and Fiona Light.

Club Results 

   Team Results

Silverstone 10km

As ever the weather showed up with its usual "gusts" for this popular fast course around the British grand prix circuit. Wootton road runners showed a good set of individual results to produce a clear Team win. At the front of the race Woottons Mike Aldrige produced a solid run to edge home the fast finishing R+N's Mathew Almond with the pair crossing the line in 3rd and 4th respectively. 

  Club Results                                    

  Team Results