Seventeen members of Grantham Running Club take part in the Whissendine 6ix race
Seventeen members of Grantham Running Club visited the village of Whissendine last Friday for the annual six-mile event which has been running since 1985.
The course is known for its undulating nature and provided a rare chance to complete a six-mile race as well as forming a fixture in the GRC Grand Prix.
First back for GRC, in 35:08, was Gavin Potter who enjoyed running alongside clubmate Russel Whittaker.
This was his first trip to Whissendine, but no doubt won't be the last having secured fifth place overall.
Russel came in sixth overall and paced himself nicely alongside Gavin to achieve a 51 second personal best and a finish time of 35:10.
Rounding out the three top 10 finishers was Samuel Jepson, who was pleased to maintain the pace throughout. He didn’t enjoy the long hill in the fourth mile but was happy enough with his result of 35:25.
Jack Heathershaw came in at 38:42, in what was his first time at the Whissendine 6ix. His fuelling strategy of Monster Munch before the race proved very effective.
Making a return to Whissendine after five years, Matthew Atter was pleased to achieve a sub-40-minute result and a two-minute personal best.
He started faster to try and bank some miles, knowing the hilly nature of the second half of the course.
Coming second in his age category and achieving a 47 second personal best was Stefan Latter, who really appreciated the support from the crowds in the village and felt this was possibly one of his best races to date. His finish time was 40:03.
Next in, with a time of 40:49, was James McMullen. He enjoyed the undulating run as he felt it kept the route interesting. It was his first time racing six miles and, had it been a 10k, this would have been a personal best for him.
Hannah Whittaker didn’t think the hills seemed as bad as she remembered and she achieved a 55 second personal best.
Hannah's time of 43:27 is also a six-mile women’s club record and the icing on the cake was coming first in her age category.
Martin Rodell felt the weather helped him this year and managed to bag himself a massive four-minute personal best with a finish time of 45:48. He was also second in his age category.
Next back for GRC and second in his age category was Paul Jepson in a time of 49:40, making this a 42-second personal best, a result he was pleased with.
Also benefitting from the cooler conditions was Sylv Hull who ran an impressive three-and-a-half minute personal best.
She found it tough to keep the pace consistent due to the up and down nature of the course, but she did feel it was a rare occasion where everything came together quite nicely for a time of 49:43.
Naomi Rivers really enjoyed the race this year and felt the weather was perfect to help her achieve a great one minute and 58 second personal best.
Following Naomi, 21 seconds later, was Zoe Wragg who finished in 50:24. She was fairly pleased with her time considering the hilly course.
Christopher Smith was pleased to have made more than four minutes improvement on his 2023 time. He came in at 51:00.
Crossing the line next for GRC was Richard Urquhart who came in at 53:27.
Treating this as a normal training run was Nicci Whittaker, who was super happy with her result of 54:05 in her first race in a year following injury. Clare Smith completed the six-mile course in 01:06:40.
All runners received a bottle of beer and a decorated glass, provided by the race sponsors Grainstore Brewery.
The support in the village and around the course was fantastic with a great atmosphere at the finish.
Full GRC results: Gavin Potter 35:08, Russel Whittaker 35:10, Samuel Jepson 35:25, Jack Heathershaw 38:42, Matthew Atter 39:23, Stefan Latter 40:03, James McMullen 40:49, Hannah Whittaker 43:27, Martin Rodell 45:48, Paul Jepson 49:40, Sylv Hull 49:43, Naomi Rivers 50:03, Zoe Wragg 50:24, Christopher Smith 51:00, Richard Urquhart 53:27, Nicci Whittaker 54:05, Clare Smith 01:06:40.
