Tuttle leads MK home for historic win

In its 33th year from conception in 1984, Steve Tuttle became the first local male winner. Approaching the final 500m he was locked in a close battle with Steven Horton (Bedford Harriers) but using his track speed he held on to win in 33.01, two seconds ahead.

From a field of 377 finishers Steve Green placed 11th (34.45), James Tuttle 16th(35.26) and Dan Webber 21st(35.44). Gary Blaber was first M40 with a time of 36.33, Andrew Wasdell 4th (37.37) and Chris Finister 5th (38.21).

Age group wins also came from Ian Lamb 56th overall and first M55 man (38.48) and then the remarkable John Skelton, first M65 with a club age group record of 38.57. David Newens took the M70 prize, 189th overall in 46.18.

The MK men were narrowly beaten by Rugby and Northampton for the team prize but the veteran men(Blaber, Wasdell and Finister) won here with Kettering runners-up.

Great Britain international, Lily Partridge (Aldershot) was a very easy winner of the ladies race with a very fast time of 34.17, 7th overall in the main race. On the night Wendy Webber clocked 39.33 as second F35 and fifth lady overall whilst Sophie Gibbens ran a PB of 41.03, 9th lady overall and Debra Brent placed 6th F50 (46.42), Deborah Hindmarch ran 47.44 to easily win the F60 age group.

Earlier in the race series she improved the age group 10km record to 46.39 in the Silverstone 10km. Wendy and Sophie along with Helena De Villiers (42.55) won the ladies team prize on the night

This race is final event in the eight race East Midlands Grand Prix series where runners need to complete at least five races to qualify for a Grand Prix position. There were seven MMKAC finishers in this category with pride of place to Deborah Hindmarch who won the F50 title winning all seven of the races she contested. Karen Tincknell placed 7th overall in the F35 age group having run six races.

There were two MK athletes who ran all eight races. Andrew Wasdell finishing 4th overall and Dan Brumby 8th in the M40 category.

Chris Finister ran six races and placed 5th overall in this age group. Kelvin Smith won the third prize in the M65 series completing five races and finally Carl Tucker with seven races finished 12th senior man overall. This latter age group also took the third place in the final team category.

The MMKAC ladies travelled to Southampton for their second UK Women’s League Division Two match. Another fine third place was achieved and with only one further match in the series they are in third league position.

On the day lost club Southampton were winners with Sale Harriers Manchester second.

Joey Duck was welcomed back to the team and won both the 100m(12.130 and 200m(24.11). Elle Roche set a PB of 9.37.37 for third place in the 3000m with Lara Bromilow, returning from injury winning the B race(10.11.9). Good to see some excellent hurdling from Ella de Lucis with third in the 100mhurdles(15.14).

In the field Rachel Gibbens won her speciality, the pole vault(3.60m) as well as competing in the long and high jump events. Kewe King took second in the B pole vault with a height of 2.50m and fifth in the A triple jump (10.57m).

Again the throwers scored many points for the team. Kayleigh Presswell (54.73m) and Emma Beardmore (47.10m) achieved another hammer throwing double. Emma then threw a PB of 11.37m for third in the shot and yet another PB of 37.24m for third in the B discus.

In this event Emma Beales threw 41.85m for fourth place and is the leading F40 lady in the UK 2016 rankings.