Michael Kenyon breaks the record at the Spire Ultra race around Chesterfield

Despite the occasionally muddy route conditions, Michael was able to open up a lead from the very start and continued to extend his advantage until he was over 30 minutes ahead of Penrith’s James Chapman and last year’s runner up Ben Harris from Retford.

Ladies’ winner Samantha Saunders (also Retford) had a much slighter advantage as she just managed to stay ahead of former winner Karen Nash (Preston) and Bristol’s Emily Gay who finished third. Sarah Sanderson (Dronfield) was the first home of the local ladies in fourth place with a time of 6:42.

The Spire Ultra, based largely on the Chesterfield Round Walk, is a 33 mile trail race that undertakes a clockwise loop over the rural surroundings starting and finishing at the excellent North Wingfield Community Resource Centre.