Breedon Race Report by Peter Attaway
A handful of Harriers gathered together at the annual bizarreness that is the Breedon-on-the-Hill 6.5k, surely the only race in the country where - if you ain't speedy enough from the off - you have to queue to clamber up some steps as you climb the starting hill to Breedon Church.
The 2007 overall winner was one Paul Gregory of some club called Hermitage Harriers, but the shiny-pated one failed to retain his crown, finishing in fifth place in a time of 23m40s. The rather more hirsute Darren Wilson came ninth in 24m6s, just beating the lank-haired cockney that is John Terry by six seconds.
Back to the baldies with Mark Bradford coming in at 27m8s, followed by Gareth "baby-face" Coates in 27m20s. Next up were the Jakubecz brothers, Matt (in 27m33s) just beating Jon by thirty seconds. Still in the Top 50 came Martin Prime in 29m12s. Much further afield - after getting stuck at the steps - came Peter Attaway in 36m35s followed home by Leon Spence who is making a fine return to the racing fold with a time of 37m8s.
Leading the ladies was Dawn "What A Feeling" Waters in her first multi-terrain race, finishing in a time of 36m39s. She was also the last Hermitage lady home, not to mention the only one, although the "official results" listed her as finishing 15th overall and the second lady home, sandwiched nicely between Abbey Norman (Burton RC) and Kate Ramsey (Barrow)!
The event overall was won by James Douglas (Charnwood) in a time of 22m9s.