Race date: Thursday, 26 December 2019; race distance: 4 miles (according to Maltby RC website)

Race report by Simon Gleadhall

As the name suggests this is a race, held on Boxing Day, around Braithwell. It is the final race in the KMR series. Always well supported 189 runners took part, some in fancy dress but most wrapped up against the cold.

For anybody that doesn’t know the KMR series is run by 3 clubs I Rotherham, Kimberworth Striders, Maltby Running Club and Rotherham Harriers. 12 races in all from April onwards. Entry to each event is £5 and there is normally food after.

Anyway onto last year’s event. Start was a hangover-friendly 11am and 3 Striders braved the clear cold weather. The course is made up of trails and quiet road and around 7kms on length. The race started with a shotgun start. A real shotgun. The shocked, and some deafened, runners then left Braithwell on tarmac with the course then turning onto local fields skirting round the quarry. Although the mud wasn’t too bad there was a short section which had turned into the local Lido.

Most took to the high ground with a few souls ploughing straight through. Once the mud had been conquered it was all road. A nice descent into Stanton was followed by a sharp climb and then a couple of steadier climbs back to the finish.

This year’s winners were Elliot Smales of Rotherham HAC in 23:32 and Lindsy James of Kimberworth Striders in 28:25.

Striders results: