A CONTINGENT from Sleaford Town Runners, led by club chairman Pat Riches, travelled to Pride Park Stadium, home of Championship side Derby County FC at the weekend for the second annual England Athletics East Midlands Awards Evening.

The event was compered by BBC journalist Andrew James, with special guest Iwan Thomas, Olympic silver medallist and former European 400 metre champion.

The awards evening recognises contributions and achievements of clubs, officials, coaches and volunteers throughout the East Midlands region.

Sleaford Town Runners were one of five clubs from the region who gained Clubmark status within the last 12 months. They were once again presented with the Clubmark certificate and champagne.

The club was also nominated, with five other running clubs, for the 'Off Road Club of the Year 2008' award. Town Runners made the final short list of three only to miss out to Wreake Runners from Leicestershire but, far from being disappointed, the Sleaford club were delighted to have made it into the final three.

lFive club members travelled to Great Ponton, near Grantham, to compete in the Ponton Plod, a cross country challenge offering two courses of either 17 miles or 27 miles.

Dave Taylor and Dave Raynes took on the 27-mile course, with Taylor finishing in 4hrs 59 mins, while Raynes struggled to keep his pace going over the last four miles and came home in 5.14 mins.

In the 17 mile event were Dave Tilley, Mark Sands and Chris Smith. They took a wrong turn and ended up running an extra three miles but Dave and Mark still managed to finish fourth and fifth respectfully in 2.37, while Chris came home 18th in 3.04.

l Stephen Brear competed in the Anglesey Marathon and had to dig deep in warm conditions to record a time of 5.11.24.