Scarsbrook Takes Tight Win Whilst OWLS 1-2 Sees Edge on Top

There may have been another big running event taking place in the city of Leicester today, but the real competition (yes, we're biased!) took place in the quiet country lanes of south Leicestershire as Round 2 of the 2026 Leicestershire Road Running League season took place on the ever popular, but challenging, Kibworth 6 course. Despite fears that Friday night's deluge of rain had left large tracts of water blocking the course, Sunday morning brought clear skies, and more importantly clear roads, although the rain did return as a drizzle shortly into the race. The Kibworth 6 is one of two races that is hosted as a joint-effort between our clubs, with Roadhoggs and Fleckney & Kibworth taking the hosting honours today. It seems 2026 races need additional late drama, and whilst today wasn't quite as serious as the late Desford 5 change, a finish line alteration was required due to a broken gate at the school. Ever resourceful, an old Kibworth 6 finish line was dug out of the notebook, and racing continued as normal! It was a tight battle at the front of the field, but our reigning Mens Champion Matt Scarsbrook from Badgers showed championship form again and took the overall race win on his first race of the series this year, in 32:51 although he was pushed all of the way by OWLS' Simon Allen who finished eight seconds behind in 33:00. Our race 1 winner George Seymour (Wreake Runners), fresh from recording a 15:13 5k PB on Friday evening in Battersea Park, took a comfortable third place in 33:26. Sophie Edge, newly transferred to OWLS, came through the ladies field to take a win in 38:33, ahead of clubmate Ysabel Drewett who made it an OWLS 1-2 placing second in 38:56. Amy Pizzorno of Birstall RC once again showed fine form taking third in 39:08, and also taking the Vet Ladies race win in the process. Our Vet Mens race was won by Neil James, continuing a successful day for the OWLS, in 34:08, with Chris Horton of Badgers taking second in 34:40, and Martin Makin of Hermitage Harriers in third in 35:35. Following Pizzorno in the Vet Ladies race was Leah Phillips of OWLS in 42:50, who just pipped Nicki Nealon of Huncote Harriers who finished third in 42:53.

Young talent was also on show this morning with William King of Hinckley RC taking the U23M race win, and 14th outright, in 35:23, ahead of Charlie Allen from OWLS in 35:45. Clubmate Benjamin Higginbottom took third in 37:11. Wigston Phoenix's Aisha Howell took the U23F race win, finishing in 44:17 and 13th outright, and she was followed in by Stephanie Botterill (Desford Striders) in 46:07, and Jess Parker (OWLS) in 47:29. The draft results are available at this link.

Final results and updated tables will be published by next weekend. Any questions should be directed to lrrlresults@gmail.com as soon as practicably possible. Top 10 Men:-

1. Matt Scarsbrook (Badgers) - 32:51

2. Simon Allen (OWLS) - 33:00

3. George Seymour (Wreake Runners) - 33:26

4. Sam Martin (Poplar RC) - 33:45

5. Ben Darlow (West End Runners) - 34:00

6. Neil James (OWLS) - 34:08

7. Philip Cannon (Poplar RC) - 34:19

8. Luke Ingram (OWLS) - 34:26

9. Chris Horton (Badgers) - 34:40

10. Danny Warren (Badgers) - 34:49

Top 10 Females:-

1. Sophie Edge (OWLS) - 38:33

2. Ysabel Drewett (OWLS) - 38:56

3. Amy Pizzorno (Birstall RC) - 39:08

4. Charlie Nurse (West End Runners) - 39:20

5. Lizzie Borrajo (Wreake Runners) - 39:46

6. Grainne Whelehan (Wreake Runners) - 40:42

7. Anna Munday (Barrow Runners) - 40:44

8. Emily Parker (Ivanhoe Runners) - 41:28

9. Emily Hall (West End Runners) - 42:32

10. Leah Phillips (OWLS) - 42:50

Race Winners:-

Overall Men - Matt Scarsbrook (Badgers) - 32:51

Overall Females - Sophie Edge (OWLS) - 38:33

U23M - William King (Hinckley RC) - 35:23

U23F - Aisha Howell (Wigston Phoenix) - 44:17

VM40 - Martin Lewis (Barrow Runners) - 37:02

VF40 - Amy Pizzorno (Birstall RC) - 39:08

VM45 - Neil James (OWLS) - 34:08

VF45 - Laura Storer (Birstall RC) - 43:50

VM50 - Chris Horton (Badgers) - 34:40

VF50 - Philippa Pickering (West End Runners) - 45:29

VM55 - Chris Bell (Huncote Harriers) - 36:53

VF55 - Nicki Nealon (Huncote Harriers) - 42:53

VM60 - David Pearce (Roadhoggs) - 37:51

VF60 - Elisa Whittlestone (Birstall RC) - 45:16

VM65 - Hugh Potter (Huncote Harriers) - 45:11

VF65 - Linda Barbour (West End Runners) - 47:37

VM70 - Brian Moran (Desford Striders) - 50:42

VF70 - Jean Dalby (Squirrels) - 01:06:50

VM75 - Pete Meads (Wigston Phoenix) - 55:56