Newark Striders visit Retford, Cambridge, Northamptonshire, Inverness and Cheshire in action-packed fortnight

Newark Striders have enjoyed an action-packed fortnight of racing with members competing up and down the country as they build up to a busy summer.

Fourteen Striders made the short journey up the A1 to the Retford Half Marathon where a number of personal bests were recorded.

Mark Jackson was the first to finish, crossing the line in 1-23-40 (pb), followed by Joe Pogson (1-32-22 pb), Nige Driscoll (1-34-39), Gary Tasker (1-39-14) and Cate Driscoll (1-42-05).

Steve White (1-44-00) and Graham Welsh (1-45-02 pb) followed the pack, with Notts AAA championship runner Peter Davis finished third in his respective category in 1-45-52.

Steven Padgett (1-48-24), Niceeta Padgett (1-49-53 pb) and Beverley Hancock 1-56-01 were next in and there was a big club cheer and even bigger smiles from Leanda Roddis (2-14-37) and Sean Morgan (2-14-38), as they sprinted in at the end of their first half marathon.

Gemma Latham completed the 13.1 miles in 2-45-00.

Five Striders travelled in the opposite direction to the Cambridge Half Marathon.

First to finish, and also completing his first half marathon, was Phil Brown in 1-55-51.

Andy Sirrs was next in 2-07-23, then Tracey Partridge (2-21-21), Lesley Butlin (2-23-13) and Heather Green (2-27-37).

In Cheshire, Jean-Louis Balestra finished 15th as he ran five laps of the Oulton Park motor racing circuit in 1-26-53.

Noel (1-7-38) and Nicole Henderson (1-31-40) ran the Norton nine-mile race in South Yorkshire.

Steve Martin travelled to North Northamptonshire for the Oundle 20 mile race, which he completed in 2-56-41.

Sebrina Judge was in the Highlands of Scotland for the Inverness Half Marathon, crossing the line in 2-21-41.

Closer to home, Jean-Louis Balestra finished 21st in the Burghley 7, with a time of 44-29.