THE final Booth Decorators League Cross Country race of this season took place on a cold and muddy Holmebrook Valley Park, near Chesterfield.
Despite injuries taking their toll, Ripley still managed to field 26 runners on the day, continuing the strong showing of all the other races this season.
Matt Bickerstaff once again showed his class, finishing third in a great time of 31.51 over the 4.5 mile course. Dean Taylor was hot on his heels in 12th spot in 33.18.
Karl Tietz and Cathy Cresswell also did well, managing to finish third in their respective age groups as well.
Eleanor Robinson outdid them on the day though, again taking first in the VL60 class. Other Ripley Runners were:
Andy Parkin (33rd, 35.49), Ian Duffin (40th, 36.22), Gary Brown (41st, 36.35), Ryan Ball (57th, 38.20), Martin Penny (65th, 39.15), Richard Phillis (70th, 39.40), Wayne Smithurst (82nd, 40.36), Dennis Holmes (100th, 41.58), Matt Beresford (101st, 41.58), Martin Harvey (111th, 42.41), Jerry Bateman (123rd, 43.51), Wayne Yearwood (125th, 43.58), Peter Collinge (127th, 44.10), Jo Howett (129th, 44.36), Esther Broughton (130th, 44.41), Carl Hopkinson (133rd, 45.00), Ryan Smith (136th, 45.33), Caroline Morris (51.32), Mike Corrigan (176th, 52.41), Alison Butlin (181st, 54.10), Antoinette Franco (196th, 66.34).
Ripley sent three runners to the 30k race in Lincolnshire. and Dean Taylor managed a good tenth place in 1.53.04.
Ron Ilsley came home in 87th and eighth in his age group.
The star of the show for Ripley though, was Steph Ilsley, who won her age group and, along with Ron Ilsley, took the trophy for the fastest combined time.
One of Ripley's more dedicated ultra runners, Anne Cook bravely took on the hilly Osmotherley trail marathon, which has over 4000ft of ascent.
She completed the course, which took in the sights of the North Yorkshire Moors, as she prepares for her testing 110-mile endurance race later in the year.
