Last night’s Doncaster 5k saw some of 2016’s best ever Team Blizard performances with PBs for almost everyone in both races on a gloriously sunny evening for racing!

The organisers may as well rename the event Team Blizard’s 5k because our athletes dominated, particularly in the vet’s event.

Northern Vets AC’s Paul Marchant put in his quickest 5k performance in four years when he crossed the line third overall in 16:02, just seconds behind the victorious Olympian and all-round running legend, Anthony Whiteman.



Rotherham’s Ian Whyman ran his fastest ever time over the distance when he finished eighth overall in a shiny new 17:10 PB, proving his lactate threshold training has got him in the shape of his life, following his lifetime marathon best earlier in the year.



Our own Jenny Blizard is also in fine form once again, finishing first lady and just outside the top 10 overall in a huge season’s best of 17:32 - her fastest 5k in five years - ahead of fellow elite Team Blizard and Rotherham team mate, Fiona Davies, who ran an impressive 18:14 considering she hasn’t long been back in full training!



West Yorkshire Police Triathlon’s Ian Micklethwaite was fourth V45 in a fantastic 18:10, his fastest since 2013, just eight seconds ahead of V50 Jay Buxton, who ran a 22 second PB!



Wolds Vets’ Mick Casey impressed with a superb 20:14, excelling when winning the V65 category by a country (or Doncaster) mile, while fellow top vet, Gainsborough’s V60, Chris Inman, posted a strong 21:44, and Danum Harriers’ Paula Davies was in prize winning form when she clinched the second V45 prize with a 22:21 result, a PB if her official rankings page is anything to go by!

In the open race there was a familiar figure ahead of the field, as the dominant force of Anthony Whiteman sped to a winning 14:56!



First across the line for Team Blizard was Elite Team Blizard’s Dan Kestrel, running a glittering 15:26 PB and ninth overall, not far ahead of fellow Blizard athlete Arron Larkin, who clocked a speedy 15:32, smashing his lifetime best by nearly 30 seconds!

One of the most impressive runs of the night, however, came from Ilkley’s wonder kid, 16-year-old Cameron Reilly, who shot to an incredible 16:09 to knock nearly two and a half minutes off his best! He really is an exciting talent, so watch this space to see what he’s capable of over the coming months.



Continuing his purple patch of racing success was Team Blizard triathlete, GB age grouper James Nottingham, who showed his pure running speed when he ran a 32 second PB of 16:59!



Showing his determination to return to his promising best when posting a brilliant 18:20 PB was Chris Pye, who did well to hold off Gainsborough’s Jonathan Drake, who also impressed to clock 18:39, not long after returning to running after a long term injury.



Chris’s Team Blizard training partner and one of the group’s grittiest performers is Jo Goodier, who ran her fastest ever official 5k time of 18:46, again defying the odds having suffered with nerve pains since her Spring marathon.



Doncaster’s Martin Hookway is more accustomed to running all day long in his ultra pursuits, but proved he’s no stranger to speed as he ran a massive PB 19:06, annihilating his previous 19:40 best.

Proving he can race as well as paces, Sheffield’s Rob Jones ran his fastest 5k in 12 months when he posted a 19:13 result, while club mate Craige Spencer was never far behind in 19:37.



Pounding his way on the comeback trail in style was Activ8Tri’s Gary Long, who exceeded his expectations to run 20:15, despite hardly running for a year due to injury. Gary has persevered with physiotherapy rehab with Matthew Newton, and is now reaping the rewards.



Apparently now an under-20, in common with the V45 race winner(!), Stuart Bartley ran 20:33, just pipping Doncaster club mate Steve McAleavy who was just two seconds behind.

Also looking to be rounding into a great spell of form is Clowne's Gemma Scougal, whose 21:06 proves she's returning to the speeds that saw her post a strong 42:19 10k some four years ago!

Our favourite blogger and hard working triathlete, Michael Barnett, should be over the moon with his 23:17 result, just ten seconds shy of his best from last year and after a period of very little running!

We really couldn’t have asked for more Team Blizard, except do it all again even quicker next year!