The Belvoir Challenge is always a popular pre-London Marathon race, as it gives competitors the chance to test themselves over a pleasant but very muddy cross-country course for a distance of either 15 or 26 miles. Ivanhoe Runners were therefore there in numbers on the Saturday morning, with six doing the full distance and thirteen the 15 miles .

First home over the 26 mile route was Ivor Davies, having a great run to clock 3 hours 37 minutes 50 seconds and finish a brilliant 7th male overall. He pipped Stuart Douglas who always relishes this event, finishing in 3.45.33 for an excellent 10th place. Tim Sturla also had a cracking run as he finished with a time of 4.40.37 for 46th place, while Murray Needham was 65th in 5.06.45. Two Ivanhoe ladies contested the long distance, as both are London-bound, and they both ran well. Laura Graves had a superb run to finish 17th lady in 5.19.19, while Catherine Massie was 24th lady in 6.03.12.

In the 15 miler, Andrew Jeyes had a storming run to finish in just over 2.05, a great run in the conditions. Brain Kendrick was 65th male as he finished in 2.20.54, ahead of Sean Wileman 119th in 2.36.41 and Keith Baron 123rd in 2.39.42. Brian Gough ran 4.21.27 for 245th place, and it was great that Tom Shepherd had a run out for 285th place in 5.00.39.

The ladies had a strong presence with a team of seven taking part, led home by Jane Wilde and Karen Dewis in 78th and 79th, clocking 3.18.18 and 3.18.22 respectively. Emily Starkie (87th, 3.23.34), Alison Allford (88th, 3.23.36) and Nancy Bennion (90th, 3.25.48) finished in close order, as did Mary Gough and Debbie Reed who were 138th (4.21.31) and 139th (4.21.36). The event proved a useful day out with all the runners gaining confidence from their performances ahead of spring marathons.