SINFIN RUNNING CLUB

Chris joined the club in 1984

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Prior to running Chris used to play football. One day one of the football club bet him that he couldn't do a marathon. He took up this challenge, spent two months training and then ran the 1982 Robin Hood Marathon finishing in a time of 3hrs 29mins.

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Chris has had many roles within the club 

Team Captain 1987-1990

Committee member 1984-88 and then 1998-2022

Chairman 2002-2022

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PB's

5K - 19.20 - Long Eaton parkrun 2014

5M - 27.30 - Nottingham 5 - 1991

10K - 34.34 - Newton Solney - Late 80's

Half Marahon - 1hr 14mins - 1986

Marathon - 2hrs 47mins

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​Memories from Chris

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Within a few years of setting  up our club produced some remarkable runners – some who went on to win local / East Midland races.

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The first trophy was the Todays Runner Cross Country League at Holme Pierrepont. This was a National title as we were representing the East Midlands, having won the Sunday league. This is the same Sunday XC league we participated in until recently.

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The club also won the Redmayne summer league which was a number of 10k’s put on by local clubs.

We had a number of under 18’s that could run a 10k in under 36 minutes. Wayne Francis, Gary Supple, Adam Weeks, Carl Handford, Bill Cossey and Dougie Dickinson. Dougie had a sister named Laura? Who was also a fast runner.

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In one 10k race that SRC took part in we had 18 members running under 36 minute times.

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Some notable achievements were Pete Yeomans winning the Worksop half marathon in around 1hr 6 minutes and Tim Bishop winning the Bury 20 miler with a time of just under 1hr 48 minutes.

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We had quite a few members who could run a Half marathon under 1hr 15 minutes.

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1988 – Majorca was the first Sinfin trip abroad when 7/8 families (including children) went to run in either the full marathon or the half in October. All stayed at the same hotel in Palma Nova.

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On arriving at the hotel we had a race to see who could get into the pool first. Can’t remember who won but l certainly remember the water temperature was freezing cold and most of us jumped in and out in one go! It was that cold it took your breath away.

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The club took a double decker bus to Chatsworth with about 45 members on, at this time the club had a large family base. If mum and dad were running so we’re the kids. The reason we were at Chatsworth was to participate in a 10k race around the horse trials event course, which meant going over the jumps and through the water. It was a great day, glorious sunshine, picnics, BBQ and family rounders and football.

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Other notable events were going to the English National XC championships, hiring a coach to take us all as we had children, ladies and men all running. It was 9 miles for the men and 9 runners with 6 to score. The men's race had nearly 3000 running, a large field and trying to find a park big enough was difficult for EAAC. One year it was held at Newark and we had a double decker bus from derby city council driven by our own driver Tommy Potter who ran in the race. Tom was a top runner and a great laugh. I still see him out and about, him driving the bus and me on a run. I get a pip of the horn and Tommy will shout something like ‘are you still running or you are slowing up!

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Another funny moment was when some of us went to run the London Marathon and Dave Yeomans wanted to push a wheelchair with a dummy of Ronald Reagan in it. However, Chris Brasher wouldn’t allow it so Dave gaffa taped it to his back and ran the race.  The next day on page 3 of the Daily Express is a picture of Dave under the headline Ronald Reagan run’s the London Marathon!

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The club used to organise a Fun Run, a 5 Mile Race and a 10k Race but over time this just evolved into the one race the Sinfin Classic 10k. Over the years it has been staged at Sinfin, Alvaston and Boulton and Elvaston Country Park but now it’s evolved to the Sinfin 5 and held in Sinfin.

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