Striders look to bounce back after an unexpected tragedy...
THE CONCLUSION of the Leicester Road Running League season for Desford Striders Running Club was totally overshadowed by an unexpected and tragic loss.
Club stalwart and run leader Stuart Hall, from Thornton, suffered a major stroke and very sadly passed away two days later on Wednesday, August 25, without having regained consciousness at the age of 55.
Stuart had been a member of Striders since 2018 after participating in the club’s very popular Couch to 5K programme, having returned to running after being a member of Birstall RC in his younger years.
Striders’ Chairman Andy Ball said: “Stuart’s tragic loss has hit everyone at the club extremely hard. He was a tremendously popular member and, since joining in 2018, had thrown himself wholeheartedly into Striders, not only as a regular and reliable race runner but also as a trained run leader, encouraging other runners in his totally inimitable style.
“He ran consistently after the first lockdown with a group of our lady members and they have been particularly badly affected by his very sudden and totally tragic passing.
“This led to him being named joint winner of the club’s Strider of the Year trophy in December 2020, an honour he was tremendously proud of, and a photograph of him with the shield was included by his family in the order of service at his funeral.
“Stuart was training to run the London Marathon and, despite having to devote time to his own training, still found time to lead groups of runners at our weekly club runs, doing so in Market Bosworth only a few days before suffering his stroke.”
The club was due to hold its annual Championship Race, open only to Striders, the day after Stuart passed away and, after much soul-searching by the committee, it was decided to go ahead.
“It was what Stuart would have wanted us to do and it was exactly what we all needed,” said Andy. “The race itself was keenly competitive and, afterwards, we had the chance to get together as a club and mourn his loss and share our thoughts.
“Stuart will be hugely missed by everyone at Desford Striders, not least for his sense of humour and never give in spirit. His trademark catchphrase cannot be repeated in print in full, but the shortened #JFDI for ‘Just Do It’ is now part of Striders’ folklore and will live on in his memory.”
At the request of Stuart’s family many Striders members lined the route for his funeral procession in early September, wearing club colours.
Turning to the truncated Leicester Road Running League season, there were some terrific performances by Striders’ runners in the final three races.
Generally agreed by everyone to be the toughest race of the season, 30 Striders took part in the Launde 6 on Sunday August 22. Run over an extremely challenging hilly sixmile course, starting and ending at the historic Launde Abbey, near Tilton-on-theHill, this was not a race for the faint-hearted.
First Strider home was James Dixon in an impressive 38:02 (38th overall), followed by the evergreen Richard Billington (40:28) and Nicky Whitehead (41:59). First lady home was Naomi Lunn (48:52), followed by Lisa Bettony (49:46) and the ever-improving Vicky Keenan (50:16).
Just a fortnight later, the focus switched to Striders’ home race, the Desford 5, which was being run over its traditional course for the very last time as a planned industrial development will soon see the Desford to Peckleton bridle path that provides both the start and finish of the race rerouted.
Inevitably this proved to be an emotional day for all involved, with 45 Striders taking part and the race being started by Stuart Hall’s two daughters, Isobel and Phoebe, following Andy Ball’s eloquent speech about his loss and a perfectly observed minute’s applause by the entire 450-strong field in his memory.
Kelvin Banbury (30:02) was first Strider home in 25th place overall, with Jamie Boot (31:28) just pipping Dave Yarnall (31:32) for second. In the ladies’ race, there was a joint first place for Fiona Oakes and Kelly Byrne, who recorded identical finish times of 36:56, with Anita Beeby exactly a minute behind.
The season drew to a close on Sunday September 26, with a brand new race, being run over an eight-mile course for the first time from Rotherby, taking in picturesque countryside and the villages of Gaddesby and Ashby Folville, near Melton Mowbray.
A team of 24 Striders was led home by Jamie Boot (49:52) in 33rd position overall, with James Dixon only ten seconds adrift in second (50:02) and Dave Yarnall third in 51:33. First Striders lady was Emily Newton (1:01:30), with Lisa Bettony second (1:05:49), closely followed by Khloe ElizaRonae (1:06:43).
Andy Ball added: “Inevitably, Stuart’s tragic loss has cast a huge shadow over 2021 but we are now totally determined to honour his memory. He was planning to run the London Marathon in aid of our charity of the year, Leicester Animal Aid, a cause very close to his heart, and we are planning numerous fundraising events in what is left of the year to boost their coffers.
“But before that, on Sunday, October 10, a huge number of Striders have committed to running a baton relay along a mile-long course for 5 hours and 15 minutes, the time Stuart was aiming to complete the London Marathon in.
“We will spend the day honouring a huge man who has left a huge hole at Desford Striders.”
Stuart’s Virgin Money Giving page has remained open since his death and the total currently stands at just short of £1,400. If you wish to donate please visit Virgin Money Giving | 2021 Virgin Money London Marathon.