By Chairman Andy Heale

Sunday was the main event

Sunday 27th March was not only Mothers Day and the clocks springing forward but it was also our main club event of the year; Our Leighton 10k race from Long Marston Cricket Club. The race was a sell out event, and despite the clock change all the participants and volunteers made it on time!

It was great to see the team spirit of LFR in full force, with an amazing turnout of cakes, biscuits, and goodies for post-race refreshment; and an army of volunteers by 08:00 in the morning, with some particularly keen members turning up earlier in order that they could also run the race.

The race starts, and finishes, under the LFR branded arch outside the Cricket Club pavilion with the sounds of the ukulele band (Ukie Tunes) in full swing with a  circuit of the cricket pitch, then out onto the main road heading towards Cheddington cheered on by the enthusiastic marshals who are all in position to man the main road. Runners were directed off the main road by Team Stocks and then picked their way through the village making their way towards the canal at Cooks Wharf and the halfway point water station.

The race then takes a slightly different feel as they head along the tow path for about a mile, avoiding the various trip hazards. At the insistence of the canal trust our marshals were armed with throw lines and warned against the dangers of Lymes disease should they fall into the canal. Turning right when coming off the towpath and following the quiet country roads until about a mile outside Long Marston when they join a busier road back to Long Marston where they turn right and through the  Queens Head pub, avoiding the tricky cross roads and head back to the cricket ground for a final lap and finish.

Finishers were rewarded with the further sounds of the ukulele band, Dan’s commentary and a distinctive bright pink T-Shirt sporting the creative designs of Anthony Smith and the logos of our sponsors and of course cake and drinks.

Thank you and well done to all those involved

With around 60 volunteers helping out, its impossible to give everyone a mention, but some special mentions to Mark & Jenny McLoughlin, visiting from Wales, Ian Bisby for leading the way on his bike, Kelly Doyle & Laura Goss as tail runners, Gavin Prechner and Emily McClelland for the photography, Michelle Evans Riches for organising the cakes, Dave Ayres as head marshal and helping take everything back at the end, and of course Dan & Vicky Green for all their work as Race Directors.

We had some great running from club members, with many running their first race or first 10k. We had 45 finishers: Bob NICHOL, Carina ARCHER, Caroline CLABBURN, Celia WALKER, Cherie CUNNINGHAM, Clare KLEANTHOUS, Debbie MACPHERSON, Doubec LEVICK, Emily WEINGART, Emma HIBBINS, Gina GURNEY ,Gurpreet TANK, Heidi BUCK, Helen EATON, Ian BICKERS, James BOOTH, Janet LANGDON, Jenna PARKER, Jenny HOGAN, Jim BUTTLEMAN, Jo SECKER, Julia GALLIE, Julie ETHERDEN,Karen BOULTON, Kelly DOYLE ,Laura GOSS, Laura KEYTE, Liz WEBSTER, Lynda MURRAY, Mark KLEANTHOUS, Martin WALKER, Matthew GILBERT, Matthew LADDS , Matthew MA, Nicki ATKINSON, Paul CHEEK,Pauline GLEN, Roy BIRD, Samantha TINGEY, Sophie MARCH, Stephen BUXTON, Stuart LAY, Tasmyn SIMPKINS, Wayne WALKER, Will BURCHELL and William ELLIS.

Congratulations to Mark Kleanthous and Janet Langdon taking first place in their respective age categories! A special mention to Emma Hibbins and Gina Gurney who ran this is their first ever race and first ever 10km after only completing the C25K course in December of last year.

We had some great feedback on social media posts including Monica Petrosino (first lady) who is an ex GB Ice Hockey player saying “A great race LFR thank you for an awesome and safe race”. Buckingham running club also thanked us, especially the marshals who were so encouraging.