Hampson set a scorching pace in a Frostbite League virtual race which attracted over 750 athletes!

After a concerted effort to get as many club members out as possible, Peterborough Nene Valley AC (PANVAC) athletes dominated the race filling 12 out of the first 14 positions. This helped the club to a comfortable win.

The league lived up to its name on a cold and icy weekend with first place going to a sure-footed Alex Hampson who ran a five mile course around Bourne in a rapid 24:50 which included a 4:54 last mile.

With virtual races all the rage and runners permanently on the look out for fast, traffic free courses, Teardrop Lake in Hampton is becoming increasingly popular.

Phil Martin and Alex Gibb finished second and third behind Hampson after running five laps of the lake.

There was ice on parts of the course as the pair ran together on Saturday lunchtime, but there were no slip ups with both PANVAC men completing the five miles in 25:30.

Martin Amos of Hunts AC split the PANVAC pack finishing fourth in a time of 26:12, but behind Amos it was the city club all the way with Benji Davis, Dom Watson, James Whitehead, Simon Fell and Kirk Brawn filling fifth to ninth positions.

Bushfield Jogger Martin Gichuhi was 10th in a time of 27:29.

The PANVAC procession then continued with John Pike, James McCrae, Kai Chilvers, and James Sadlier filling the next four positions.

PANVAC’s Maggie Skinner was the fastest lady with a 30:28 clocking and Kayleigh Draper of Yaxley Runners was the next local finishing eighth in 33:27.

Flo Leftley-Gynn of PANVAC finished 10th in 33:37. Emma Hankin, also of PANVAC, completed the club’s scoring team finishing two places further back.

Yaxley finished fifth team, and lead the local clubs in the overall standings occupying third place.

A further 140 runners competed in the junior virtual race run over a distance of 1.5 miles, making the combined turnout a very grand total of 751 athletes.

The race was won by Ciaran Burke of Hunts AC in a time of 8:19. Werrington’s Ethan Nottle finished sixth in 8:41 while ninth placed Elliot Long lead the PANVAC charge.

Hunts AC’s Eliza Mardon was the winning girl in 8:55 with Werrington sisters Erin and Olivia Walker second and third in 9:06 and 9:09 respectively.

PANVAC finished as third junior team with Werrington fourth. Werrington are the leading city team occupying fourth position overall.

The next virtual race is being staged on the weekend of February 13/14.

Current team standings:

Seniors - 1 Hunts AC 47pts, 2 Riverside Runners 41, 3 Yaxley 40, 4 Ely 37, 5 March 34, 6 C & C 33, 7 PANVAC 30, 8 Werrington 28, 9 PACTRAC 27, 10 Eye 23.

Juniors - 1 Hunts AC 45pts, 2 Riverside Runners 37, 3 C & C 36, 4 Werrington 35, 5 Thorney 33, 6 PANVAC 32, 7 Yaxley 27, 8 Ramsey 26.