21st June 2005

The Burton Summer Race Series continued its programme last Tuesday at Shobnall fields the hosts being Burton AC. On what seems to be a regular hot night  for this event  with  a very generuos turn out in numbers. A lap of Shonall fields then onto the tow path to complete a lap of Branston water park then making their way down lawns farm to the finish at the Albion Hotel completes this 10k course. From the start the leading pack set off at a fast pace to jockey for position on the single track tow path where the red vests of Hatton Darts were evident.

First to finish for the Darts Tony Caulton the resilient vet ran hard and  managed 3rd place overall (35.32) closley followed by Stan Knopik whose injury troubles seem to have now cleared finished in 5th pos (36.51) whilst Dave Gilman finished also finished hard and back to form in 8th pos (37.18). Chris Fletcher's run of races proved just as he was pleased to finish in10 th pos (37.59)

Steve Clewes managing to get time off for a mid-week race also strived well in the hot conditions finishing 14th (39.03) and completing the early mass of red vests young Nigel Elson galloped in 17th (39.48). Second race for the darts, Duncan Stewart's confidence grows as he was pleased to come in at  race  position 25th (41.43) and Dean Taylor's duathlon training helping him in at 33rd (42.29) another strong finisher.

Further down the line a great battle between Darts buddies Mark Cottam and Tom Knopik developed with Cottam 48th (44.16) just edging out Knopik 49th (4.19) just 3 secs behind. Geoff Mulcahy  was content with his time (45.55) having just completed the 3 peaks challenge, chasing him all the way and her  first race for the Darts Jane Radford in an excellent run finished 70th (46.39) and Wendy Freeman's choice of music on her personal cd player helped her cruise in at 73rd (47.14) closely followed by Deb Gilman found the going hot but still provided a fast finish 77th (48.14)

Phillip White produced a fine effort in 79th (48.26) and will surely get better in future races and first race for the Darts Peter Gould looked comfortable all the way and was well happy to finish in 98th (51.39) and Andy Gadsby completed the Darts band finishing in a worthy time of 52.54.


Geoff Mulcahy
geoffmulcahy