Race Date: Sunday 16th October 2022

The 2nd running of Steel City Trail 10 at the Shire Brook Valley nature reserve on 16th October saw a real competition at the front, with 8 seconds separating the 1st and 2nd runner.

Winner Allan Shaw shaved over 3 minutes off his previous course best of 45.20, while newcomer Collette Gains improved the women’s course record by 3.50 (previously 50:25 held by Adday Heller).

Local runner Clark Bownes chased Allan Shaw right up to the finish line in his first SCT10 attempt, after volunteering with his family at Shire Brook last time.

The 39 runners praised the volunteer team, as usual, so hats off to: Lisi, Louise, Ian, Ruth, Ady, Alice, Peter, Emily, Euan, Rosie, Malcolm, Jo, and Nick. Special thanks to Malcolm, Jo and any other volunteers who rushed off to the Cross Country after their stint at Shire Brook.

We will try very hard to ensure that Steel City Trail 10 events will be on the 3rd Sunday of the month from now on, starting at about 9.30 (depending on site circumstances).

They are at various accessible locations around Sheffield, and will almost always be lumpy, quite often muddy, but all are doable by entrants of any speed, from competitive trail and fell runners to beginners. Our aim for these runs is for people of all speeds to have fun on fairly challenging courses, and to stress that any tricky bits can be walked without anyone turning a hair.

We again had a good number of new runners at Shire Brook. “My first time –  absolutely loved it!“ said one.

Another praised the course setter – round of applause please for Jo Gleig and her chums from the Cat Lane Canter crew, who came up with much of the route during their lockdown explorations.

We’re working with Sheffield Council on these events aiming to celebrate and promote the Outdoor City’s green spaces, and to support local voluntary groups helping to look after these areas.

At Shire Brook, our friends at the Shire Brook Valley Heritage and Conservation Groups opened up the visitors centre again for us, and provided tea, coffee and cakes. They were very grateful to the generous runners who donated £116.41 for their efforts to conserve and promote the history and nature of the valley.

First back was Allan Shaw (Vegan Runners) at 42:03, very closely followed by local lad Clark Bownes (NA) at 42:10 then Joel Kesterton  (SCS) at 44:30.

1st woman back was Collette Gains (Dronfield RC) at 46:35, followed by Striders Harriet Davies (49:10) and  Claire Wren at 52:49

The next race is Porter Valley on Sunday 20th November, followed by Redmires on Sunday 18th December.

We’ll be aiming for a regular 3rd Sunday of the month timetable in 2023, along with a 6 month competition for runners – see the Steel City Trail 10 FB and Instagram pages for more details very soon. As always, all welcome, so please tell your mates!

Striders Results: