Category Archives: GP

The GP is made up of 24 races in four general categories: Cross-country, Fell and Trail, Short Road or mixed-terrain, and, Long Road or mixed-terrain.

Each category comprises six races, and there are separate women’s and men’s competitions.

In each race the first Strider home gets 15 points, the second 14 points and so on. All Striders 15th and below get 1 point.

In the overall Grand Prix all 24 races count. In each category a runner’s best four from six count.

Race Key
See the fixtures page for details of individual events.

Elvet Striders Grand Prix, Saturday, July 27, 2019

GP,
photo credit: Nigel Heppell

The results of the GP have been updated after the Northumberland Coastal Run. The latest rankings can be found on the GP Results page.

The next fixture on the GP calendar is a green jersey race. The Quayside 5K.

July 2014
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Published by on 27th July 2019

Sunderland 5K, Wednesday, July 13, 2016

Katy Walton

GP, Katy Walton

I had been looking forward to this race following my great experience in 2015. This race is a very fast 5k course. On this night the sun was out and the wind up slightly, but no conditions to make the pb seekers fear their results.

Ladies and M50’s were the first group of people to charge down the 1k hill at the very start of the race. Elbows all out hoping that you don’t trip.

Once reaching the bottom of the hill a crowd of spectators greeted the eager runners as they started their small lap of the park.

Clearly marked kilometre signs were positioned en route for those keeping to a set pace.

As you finished the first loop of the park you approach the supporters again, Simon, Allan, Graeme, Mark, Stephen and Gareth were shouting loudly. Next is a larger loop where runners do a loop of the lake, at this point the wind was certainly making its point in slowing me down.

A lady who I often race against at the NEMAA ran past me which bucked me up a bit, I knew I was on par with her so my new aim was to keep on her.

A little mistake I made last year was that I didn’t push on the winning ‘straight’ (I was unaware where the finish was) and this year I was determined not to repeat my mistake so I started to pick up my pace and give my all.

A nasty little incline on the finishing straight certainly finished each runner off nicely!

Excellent times from all Striders, Stephen Soulsby, Elaine Bisson, Louise Warner, Lesley Charman, Fiona Jones and Karen Byng, Louise Barrow, Catherine Smith and Victoria Stott.

In the second race Strider men running were Gareth Pritchard, Stephen Jackson, Mark Warner and Graeme Walton, all men gave their all as the vast group of runners flew down the hill causing a big draft of wind to hit the spectators. Fabulous runs from all.

This race is a brilliant, cheap local race which can be entered on the night and also an offering of a good chance of a pb. See you next year Sunderland 5k!!

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Published by on 13th July 2016

Brass Monkey Half-Marathon, York, Sunday, January 17, 2016

Catherine Smith

Catherine Smith, GP, half-marathon

Having found myself up at some ridiculous time earlier in the year to secure the entry I was once more rudely awakened from my sleep very early on Sunday morning because of the Brass Monkey!

Catherine out for another PB
photo courtesy and © Ben McNeilage Yorkshire Knavesmire Harriers

Road trip for me, Kerry Anne Barnett, her boyfriend James (second claim Strider) and Gareth Pritchard we set off on the icey journey to York Race course

I had high hopes for a PB with all the talk of a fast and flat course but was also nervous my PB at Keilder had been a fluke and that the ice may scupper any plans we had for a fast race.

We arrived to a beautiful sunrise and got ourselves ‘race ready’ (selfies, numerous toilet stops and other essential pre race activities!)

It was great to catch up with some of the strider posse before we all went outside and lined up for the race.

Gareth and I had discussed what I needed to aim for pace wise to get my sought after 2.05 ish PB so I stood in the appropriate time pen with Rebecca Devine (more selfies… Obvs!)

After a few announcements we were off, it was absolutely freezing, but bright and clear and there was a great buzz from the crowd – runners and spectators.

I was enjoying the pace & soaking up the atmosphere and soon enough the first mile was ticked off. I checked my watch and saw I was ahead of planned times so I slowed a bit, didn’t want to peak too soon! Wise words from Allan ringing in my ears, golden rules 1-5 – don’t set off too fast (and repeat x4!)

Along the way the support from the marshalls & spectators was great and I thought the surrounding areas were very pretty, despite it being a road race. I spoke to a couple of Striders on route, Robin Linton and Jayne Freeman which was a welcome distraction for me but all in all just tried to focus on sticking to pace and not spilling icey cold water on myself at the water stations!

I had a bit of a panic when my garmin dropped out and said I was doing 11 min miles all of a sudden as we went through a wooded part but some lovely regular Brass Monkey runners said “that always happens here love” phew!!!! Apart from that minor shock I was loving the race, I was ahead of pace and feeling strong, I was starting to believe I had sub 2.05 in me & pushed on.

I struggled a little from mile 11 so the frozen jelly babies were very gratefully received around Mile 12.

Pacing still on track and lifted with the sugar hit and shout outs from the crowd I pressed on, trying to work out the pacing maths in my head distracted me from the pain of the last mile and a bit which seemed to go on forever!

I could finally see the finish line and I knew I was ahead of the sub 2.05 target – I was so elated but just kept telling myself not to fall over! I crossed the line at 2.03.13 (official chip time). I actually squealed as I read the text much to the shock of those around me at the time who thought something bad had happened!

I was absolutely delighted to hear that Gareth and James had also PBd along with many of the other purple posse!

Battling it out at the sharp end.
photo by Ben McNeilage / Yorkshire Knavesmire Harriers

We celebrated Kerry coming in ahead of her planned time and then went on the hunt for much needed refreshments hearing the achievements of many of the club as we passed them enroute including Penny, Matthew, Michael and Kelly who all reported excellent PB times.

I have officially classified this as my new favourite race (didn’t have an old favourite race to be fair!!) I loved the whole day (not just cos I PBd) and will definitely be setting my alarm for next years entry!

Results

pos bib name category gun time chip time
– 1855 Dan Kastral (Barnsley Athletic Club) (M) 1:08:53 1:08:52
– 90 Sharon Barlow (Darlington Harriers & AC) (F) 1:18:35 1:18:33
1 884 Stephen Jackson (M) 1:16:21 1:16:18
2 1305 Gareth Pritchard (M) V35 1:17:33 1:17:31
3 1027 Michael Littlewood (M) V40 1:19:01 1:18:58
4 42 Matthew Archer (M) 1:24:52 1:24:48
5 227 Penny Browell (F) V40 1:27:13 1:27:02
6 161 Elaine Bisson (F) V35 1:31:48 1:31:38
7 429 Sarah Davies (F) V45 1:39:30 1:38:50
8 1705 Graeme Walton (M) V40 1:40:37 1:40:04
9 1588 Malcolm Sygrove (M) V45 1:40:39 1:40:05
10 802 David Hinton (M) 1:42:10 1:41:17
11 1469 Tim Skelton (M) V35 1:43:55 1:43:02
12 922 Greta Jones (F) V50 1:45:12 1:44:17
13 386 Lucy Cowton (F) 1:45:20 1:44:25
14 1762 Nicola Whyte (F) 1:47:08 1:46:14
15 728 Diane Harold (F) V40 1:48:40 1:47:59
16 923 Karen Jones (F) V45 1:49:02 1:48:07
17 1519 Ian Spencer (M) V50 1:51:08 1:50:13
18 91 Stephanie Barlow (F) V40 1:51:56 1:51:16
19 1587 Kathryn Sygrove (F) V50 1:54:27 1:53:21
20 1476 Alan Smith (M) V65 2:03:26 2:02:26
21 1484 Catherine Smith (F) V40 2:04:33 2:03:13
22 1239 Mike Parker (M) V40 2:06:54 2:05:09
23 781 Lucy Herkes (F) 2:07:30 2:05:45
24 1025 Robin Linton (M) 2:07:36 2:05:51
25 595 Jayne Freeman (F) V45 2:07:54 2:06:59
26 458 Rebecca Devine (F) 2:11:32 2:10:12
27 1814 Jill Young (F) 2:11:37 2:09:53
28 1099 Debbie Mcfarland (F) 2:13:10 2:11:26
29 837 Karen Hooper (F) V40 2:15:13 2:13:28
30 353 Kelly Collier (F) 2:15:37 2:13:50
31 1634 Margaret Thompson (F) V65 2:28:56 2:27:34
32 96 Kerry Barnett (F) V40 2:29:37 2:27:30
33 899 Neil Jennings (M) V50 2:32:39 2:30:31
34 701 Lisa Hall (F) 2:33:54 2:31:46

1512 finishers.

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Published by on 17th January 2016