Report by Martin Downham

The mighty 4 (in the heat):

The Maltby Memorial Race is the first of the 12 race KMR Series collectively organised by; Kimberworth Striders, Maltby Running Club and Rotherham Harriers & AC. To get amongst the prizes for the series at least 8 races need to be completed. It then gets a bit complicated.

Tonight’s Maltby Memorial Race was further complicated by the presence of previously not seen water springs on the planned route. This resulted in water flowing down the path making large sections very muddy and slippery. To avoid some of this, a short off trail diversion through a rather impressive section of wild garlic had been created.

Pre race estimates of the actual distance weren’t especially accurate and the final distance clocked in at 5.37km (with an elevation gain of 64m). As this was the first running of this revised course, we expected an additional section to add another mile or so, but this didn’t materialise. So we headed directly to the finish line over a very lumpy meadow, (and back to where we started).

This course offers a good mix of gravel, protruding trip hazards, a stepping stone river crossing and a lot of mud. I saw 2 fallers and 2 near misses. Ady risked everything and took a leg injury (in the name of greatness) by slipping off the trail into a tree. Ouch!

The pleasant mid-run surprise is running around Roche Abbey – an impressive ruin set in a valley landscaped by ‘Capability’ Brown in the 18th Century. English Heritage describe Roche Abbey as having one of the most complete ground plans of any English Cistercian monastery, laid out as excavated foundations. So it’s well worth a visit.

Thanks go out to the organisers and marshals who made this event happen. Post event refreshments (as it was hot) were also appreciated.

Striders results: