It was a hot summer night and the tarmac was burning, we were dying just to ask for a race.
This unique event in the GP calendar brings an absolute freshness to the champs. Following the junior 5k races, there were 5 senior races graded by estimated time. With 4.75 laps per race, it was a great opportunity to follow the progress of fellow Toddies and cheer them on.
Top of their classes were Richard Blakeley & Lisa Peatfield. Lisa won the F50 category by a slender but decisive four seconds, whereas Richard took the M80 category by a comfortable couple of minutes. Both runners demonstrated the perfect pacing required on a course where it is too easy to go too fast too early and pay the price.
Finishing second in their categories were Katie Samuelson and Paul Brannigan. Also attaining podium places were Simon Anderton (M65) and Richard Butterwick (M55) with 3rd places.
Our other runners fully deserve a mention for tackling the intensity, and the heat, of this recognised fast course, where in 2021 Beth Potter broke the women’s world record for a road 5k. So hats off to Ian MacLachlan, Darren Gilman, Zoe Dijkman, Dave Weedon, Dan Taylor, Duncan Ritchie and Helen Hodgkinson. The class of runners at the top end was demonstrated by Dom Leckie whose 17.34 placed him 40th, which is like going back to the 80s.
The first 3 men were sub-15 minutes and Patricia Jackman, travelling up from Newark, was first lady in 16.25.
https://www.ukresults.net/2025/barr5k.html
by Paul Brannigan
Header photo by Buddy