Ribble Valley 10k, Clitheroe, 30 December

2018 was rounded out with a pair of course records at the annual Ribble Valley 10k, which takes place in Lancashire between Christmas and New Year and never fails to deliver quick times. Marc Scott (coach: Jerry Schumacher; club: Richmond & Zetland) set his stall out very early, pushing the pace to romp home in 28.58, with a winning margin of over 20 seconds.

Despite just missing his personal best, Scott revised the course record by 12 seconds, with previous holder Jonny Mellor (Steve Vernon; Liverpool) second on the day in 29.19. Rounding out the men’s podium was GB U23 international and local lad Patrick Dever (Andy Bibby; Preston), who broke the 30 minute barrier for the first time with an impressive 29.24 run.

In the women’s race Beth Potter (Mick Woods; Shaftesbury Barnet) revised her 10km road personal best by almost a minute as she took down Helen Clitheroe’s 14 year-old course record. Breaking the tape in 32.07, Potter also ended the year second on the Power of 10 rankings. Chasing her all the way was Jess Judd (Mick Judd), the Blackburn Harrier crossing the line in 32.42, her debut run good for fifth on the 2018 Power of 10 rankings.

David Devine (Anthony Clarke; Liverpool) was also in good form, the T13 athlete finishing 16^th overall in 30.51, a mere 13 seconds down on his lifetime best.

Results: https://www.runbritainrankings.com/results/results.aspx?meetingid=254490

Corrida de Houilles, Houilles, France, 30 December

A handful of Brits made the short hop across the channel to make the most of some fast racing to end the year, with Dewi Griffiths (Kevin Evans; Swansea) rewarded for some aggressive running. Pushing the pace through the opening 5km, the Welshman did pay the price a little in the latter stages but dug deep to cross the line in 28.49, a big season’s best. Just one place and two seconds back in 13^th was Luke Traynor (Robert Hawkins; Giffnock North), whilst Kieran Clements (Shaftesbury Barnet) set a personal best of 29.15 in 16^th.

Results: https://www.runbritainrankings.com/results/results.aspx?meetingid=274117

54th San Silvestre Vallecana, Madrid, Spain, 31 December

Lily Partridge (self; Aldershot, Farnham & District) cracked the top 10 in a world class field out in Spain, with the women’s race won by Brigid Kosgei in 29.54. Returning to action for the first time since the Great North Run, the AFD athlete was just eight seconds outside her season’s best as she crossed the line in 33.35, with Sonia Samuels (self; Sale Harriers Manchester) 14^th in 34.04.

Results: https://www.sansilvestrevallecana.com/internacional/clasificaciones

Dulwich parkrun, London, 29 December

Alex Yee (Kenneth Pike; Kent) showed he is in great form despite only competing in a brace of low key events this winter, as he stormed to an outstanding 13.57 time at the Dulwich parkrun just before New Year, winning by way over a minute.

Results: http://www.parkrun.org.uk/dulwich/results/weeklyresults/?runSeqNumber=357