Flying Scott storms to another comfortable win at Folksworth

The first three home in the Folksworth 15. From the left they are Steve Robinson (2nd), Aaron Scott (1st) and James Mogridge (3rd).

Staged over two hilly seven-and-a-half mile laps, the race is an ideal way for athletes looking to run a spring marathon to check their fitness, and as such is always full up within days of the entries opening.

Scott is preparing for April’s Virgin London Marathon where he hopes to improve on last year’s 22nd place finish, and he took the testing course in his stride winning in a time of 1:20.37 which was just over two minutes down on his 2014 course record of 1:18.18.

The Notts AC man from Stamford ran the first five miles with his training partner Robinson before accelerating to his target marathon pace for the remaining 10 miles and gaining a lead of over two minutes by the finish.

Afterwards the 28 year-old admitted that the race hadn’t gone entirely to plan.

He said: “The problem was on each lap the hilliest and toughest section was into the wind, which made the ‘steady’ harder than planned and then miles nine to 13 were tough.

“I will go for the course record again one day. I just need to find a day with no wind.”

Robinson of Peterborough AC, who is also London Marathon bound, comfortably held on to the runners-up spot with a 1:22.57 clocking.

Tracey McCartney takes on some refreshment.

Peterborough athletes also took third and fourth place through James Mogridge of host club Yaxley, and Bushfield Jogger Phil Martin.

The ladies race boasted a high quality field with Bedford Harrier and England veteran international Gill Fullen first across the line in 1:36.27, at the age of 51.

Suzie West of Eye Community Runners, a talented recent addition to the Peterborough running scene, had a fine race finishing second in a time of 1:38.04.

Emily Foran of Sleaford took third place and local athletes Lisa Marriott of Ramsey Road Runners and Nene Valley Harrier Tracy McCartney placed fifth and sixth.

In an unusually strong field, there were nine ladies among the top 50 finishers.

Other local prize winners included triathlete Paul Lunn, who was first over 40, Jim Morris of Stamford Striders, who took the over 50 prize, and Eye’s Terry Fone, who was the first over 70 in an impressive 1:58.36.