Graham Welsh reports
It was a chilly start to the day in Worksop but by the time the Halloween Half Marathon began, conditions were near perfect. Lewis Hopkinson was the first of the 27 Newark Striders to finish the race, coming in 43rd from 2362 finishers in a time of 1:22:05. Next in with the first of 10 personal best times was Matt Silk, 1:31:41 followed by Jean-Louis Balestra, who recorded 1:34:58 despite having to stop, take a shoe off and tend to a blister. Peter Davis was back in 1:39:48, the race also serves as the Notts AAA county championships and Peter won the silver medal in the men's 65-74 age category.
Ted Behl crossed the finish line in 1:41:59, then Steve Padgett who carved 3:34 off his PB with a time of 1:48:01 and Graham Welsh 1:49:49 PB, getting inside 1:50 for the first time. Emma Gilbert was next, finishing strongly for 1:50:07 PB, then Simon Drury 1:53:30. Despite tripping in Clumber Park, Andy Scott got 1:56:24 followed by Cate Driscoll 1:57:36, Stephen Tomlinson went under the magic 2 hours for the first time 1:58:12 PB, then Hannah Thomson 1:58:14.
Duncan Barnett completed the 13.1 miles in 2:00:18, Gary Tasker 2:01:28 then, not to be outdone, Nicki Padgett knocked 5:40 off her PB for 2:03:13 running with Jason Cobb 2:03:13. Mary Swindles PB finished in 2:06:26 earning a county championships gold medal in the women's 65-74 category, then Bev Hancock complete with zombie make up 2:14:12, alongside Sara Carter 2:14:12. Karen Illsley 2:21:04 ran with Heather Green 2:21:05 and they were followed by Jason Priest, in full fancy dress, 2:22:47.
There were strong runs from Kath Scott 2:24:16 and Lynne Boby who earned a new PB of 2:24:17 as well as from Nicole Henderson and Di Holmes PB who crossed the line together in 2:34:42.
The Jacksons were in Slovenia along with 18000 other runners for the Ljubljana Half Marathon. Conditions were wet but the temperature was ideal, Mark finished the Half in 1:30:53 whilst Jacqui did the 10K and ran it in 1:00:07. Closer to home, Nick Harrison did the Belvoir Clockback off road 10K in a watch time of 1:18.