Last Wednesday evening saw the start of this year’s Sexarathon – a popular local series organised by Telford AC, where six races that vary in distance from 5k to 5 miles occur on Wednesday evenings between April and September. The series is always popular with members of Newport & District Running Club, and this year is no exception.

The series starts each year with the Lilleshall 5, a 5-mile race that starts and finishes at Lilleshall Sports Centre, with the route following the main drive towards Newport, and a loop around Pave Lane, before runners head back up the drive to the finish at the Sports Centre. This year, 27 Novaportan runners took to the start line.

Team NDRC at the Lilleshall 5!

The first Newport runner, in 26th place overall, was David Clarke, who ran a time of 29 minutes, 23 seconds. Alex Millington was next, running a time of 30:15 to finish 34th overall. Robin Guy clocked 31:20 to finish 51st, and Tom Pope was 101st in a time of 34:46. Alex Cochrane ran a 5-mile PB of 35:46 to take 124th position, just ahead of Phil Dolding, who was 126th in 35:50. Andrew Wilmot ran 36:10 for 129th place, followed closely by Phil Link, who was 131st in 36:12.

Alex Cochrane (in green) on his way to a new 5-mile PB!

Pete Johnstone took 170th spot with his time of 38:38, followed by Oliver Stokes, who was 178th in 00:39:03 and Graham Rogers, who took 206th position in a time of 40:53. Carrie Stokes was next for Newport, running a time of 40:53 to take 207th place, just ahead of Kirsty Greenhead, who was 213th in 41:04. Ralph Humphries finished in 44:09 to take 256th place, whilst Helen Mason was 272nd in 45:40. Tracy Hartridge clocked a time of 46:12 to secure 285th place, whilst Louise Patterson ran a PB of 48:02 to take 304th, and Anne Strowger stopped the clock at 49:05 to place 311st and also win her category.

Anne Richards finished 322nd with her time of 51:28, just ahead of Mathew Richards, who was one place behind in 51:29. Matthew Humphries placed 326th with his time of 51:58, whilst Amy Hughes was 332nd in 52:49. Petra Leach was 341st in 54:17, just ahead of Liz Holbrook, who was 342nd in a time of 54:30. Steve Cannon clocked 56:51 to finish 355th, whilst John Stokes tok 357th place in 57:16.

The next race in the series will take place on Wednesday 17th May in Dawley (the 5k “Phoenix Flyer”).