Belper Rugby Rover 30KHere's how RW members rated this race in the past (137 votes). 2011 race reviewed by: jules_perox
 | | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 20% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 40% |
In short: ++O.M.G...brilliant though!++
In full: What a day for a race! Very hot, beautiful course. My first year of running it and I was a little worried at the idea of a race that needed a map! But I needn't have as the course was very well signed.
The mixed terrain aspect was excellent - fields, ploughed, rutted, grassed, corn! The woods were beautiful, tough with the rocky climb and descents mind, and the fern/ moor-type landscapes were especially, er, beautiful!
But. OMG its tough! Brilliantly tough!
But a great race, well marshalled, decent t-shirt, excellent value for money.
Time?Place? Who cares, I finished...just!
Many thanks to the organisers for a brilliant 'beautiful' torturous race!
I'll be back...
Date of review: August 22, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Andy Walker 8
| | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Another great Rugby Rover!
In full: This was my second year taking on the Rugby Rover and I had a few demons to get over. I took it nice and steady up the hills to save my legs for the final flat stint, it worked better than last year but still very tired legs at the end!
The race was excellently marshalled and signed, a nice friendly feel with a good mix of club runners and fun runners with good banter and conversation on the way round.
The bottlenecks at the start can't be helped, it is a shame a few of the farmers won't move herds away for the day and allow the bigger gates to be opened but it makes it a nice steady start.
I will defintely be back, 20mins quicker this year and just under 3hrs. Next year who knows!!
Date of review: August 22, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Monkey Feet
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 20% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Amazing views, very tough course
In full: I was uncertain how this would go having not done this distance/kind of terrain before. However everyone I spoke to (marshals, runners and walkers) was very friendly and supportive. I was part of a nice groups at the back encouraging each other around the course and I don't know that I've ever had such a cheer when I finished before. The grassy fields at the top were great to run on and the views amazing - my favourite bit! Just one area for improvement... if giving pre-registered runners a choice of t-shirt sizes please can you make sure that there are some left. Being a slower running I already have far too many extra-large t-shirts that go down to my knees!
Date of review: August 21, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Christopher Limmer
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 20% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: 4th Rugby Rover and as good as ever
In full: Another fine Sunday mornings run in a very picturesque part of the east midlands.
Unfortunately the weather man had to be right and it was a scorcher (by this summers standards anyways) and I was feeling it over the last five miles.
Having finally got under three hours i may well leave it a couple of years before taking it on again but i've enjoyed doing it the past four years.
With autumn marathons looming too it was a nice indication of what I can expect :)
Date of review: August 21, 2011
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2011 race reviewed by: Steve Pitt
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 20% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 40% |
In short: Lovely scenery...hard as nails!!
In full: A lovely place to run. The hills are pure evil. Loads of stiles to jump over, gates to open, fields to cross which does hamper you getting into any steady stride. It is a great venue and the Derbyshire countryside is glorious. If you like that then this is a great race for you. If you want a fast time, forget it. The race had a nice atmosphere and the marshalls were great and offered encouragement when the going got tough. The terrain is quite treacherous to say the least as I found out to my peril when I fell..Twice!!. I have some nice cuts, grazes and a very sore knee as a souvenir now. It's also very good value for money at £10 on the day for affiliated runners. The t-shirt is nice.I'm not sure if I'll do it again, purely because I doubt that I'll want to punish myself with the near 3000ft of elevation.
Date of review: August 21, 2011
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2010 race reviewed by: mouser12
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 20% |
In short: My first time but I loved it all. Great welcome home even for us slower runners towards the back. Not for the faint hearted but I will be back next year to improve my time. Thanks to the organisers for a great day.
Date of review: August 19, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: Donnasib
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Challenging course = a great sense of achievement at the finish!
In full: A pre marathon training run and I now feel that the marathon will be a piece of cake after this effort with the energy sapping fields, hills and endless stiles. I also manage to fall and hurt myself 3 miles in so found the rest of the race hard going with a bashed in knee. Great support and encouragement from fellow runners, especially when I fell. I think the last checkpoint was a little way from the finish, but i did notice that the majority of runners had come fully prepared with their own drinks/ energy bars. Beautiful scenery, although marred by the litter on the route, left by gel bar consumers. Come on guys, if you had space to store them, you had space to put the empty wrappers somewhere other than on the ground. Don't give us a bad name.
It was a great race, but too knackering for it to be a favourite!
Date of review: August 18, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: Matthew Jones 16
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Can't wait for next year . . .
In full: Not only is this a fantastic race but it is a great event. What is not to like . . a great course, changing and showers, a bar and food, somewhere to sit and watch the runners finish and some great prizes from Race Kit.
Stinky Feet, I have no idea where you are coming from. You gave quite a negative review about Mortimer Forest 10 as well . . .these are two great races. Mortimer Forest to is well worth a trip from Derbyshire . . .
I do 40 to 50 races a year all over the country and on different terrains. Whilst I'm trying to respect you opinion saying Derbyshire people lack friendliness to running visitors is not true. I love the camaraderie of runners particularity the low key fell runs, it's no different in Derbyshire to anywhere else.
Not a fell run? Who cares? Although I bet it meets the FRA criteria and it follows the course of two fell races.
One more thing "a nice change for the not so serious runner." This is not a fair comment, it's incorrect, condescending and insulting if anyone disagrees . . .just give it a try.
Date of review: August 18, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: Roland Hogg 2
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 20% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 20% |
In short: Derbyshire Tour Of Amber Valley. Guaranteed
In full: Agreed with most of the comments so far. Might Like to walk it in future, regarding the state of me after the race. Apreciated all the efforts of the signage. Well Done
Date of review: August 18, 2010
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2010 race reviewed by: Mike Cook
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Wonderful way to start a Sunday
Date of review: August 17, 2010
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