IAN ALLEN was at his record-breaking best yet again last Sunday in the Tarpley 20.
The Spa Striders member topped the pile in the 20-mile race, finishing the event in a time of one hour, 52 minutes 52 seconds – 35 seconds faster than his closest rival. In doing so, Allen recorded Spa’s best-ever time in the race.
Fellow Strider Mairi Walker was tenth-fastest from the female contingent, racing home in two hours 47 minutes two seconds.
Elsewhere, Chris McKeown equalled a personal best with an impressive 34 mins 48 secs at the Bourton 10k.
Claire Davidson recorded an equally admirable result, crossing the line in 42:02, with Susie Stannard following just two seconds later.
The final Strider to return home was James Robbins, who shaved two minutes off his previous best to clock 50:52.
Gethyn Friswell stepped up his preparations for the Paris Marathon in April by running in the Leicestershire Half Marathon. He raced home in 1:32:07, to rank in 109th place overall.
Fellow Strider Tim Robb finished 870th overall in 2:13:29.
At Sutton Park, Vicki Smith was the fastest V50 runner in the 10k race, finishing in 51:51, while Paul Harris was the V55 runner-up in the half-marathon at the same venue in 1:48:04.
Richard Spear and Keith Wilson braved the elements in the English National Cross Country Championships, with Spear completing the 12km course in 58:45, followed by Wilson 19 seconds later.
In the Terminator 12.5 mile off-road race in Pewsey, Melissa Venables remained undeterred by the blustery weather and gruelling hills to finish third-fastest woman and second in the V45 category with her 1:49:25 time.
Gary Perkins was six seconds faster than his previous best at the Draycote 10k race, crossing the line in 55:45.
