July 2007 Shelton in the Spotlight is...
Andy Brooks
Andy joined the club in May, 1999, and in the same month won his first event with Striders, our inaugural Stumble from Ingleby. Little did we know at the time, but such challenges play right into Andy's strengths - running and drinking. As well as enjoying many such events since, Andy has become a top local and national runner in long distance off-road races, having won the 50 mile (yes, 50 miles, in December!) Round Rotherham race twice, the testing 28-ish mile Dovedale Dipper on three occasions and is reigning champion , since 2002, of the Peakland 35 mile event.
Andy's love of travel has enabled him to race in Outer Mongolia (you read that right, too!) where he was third overall and first 'foreigner' in an arduous 100K, as well as in Massannuten, USA, tackling the rugged 100 mile Mountain Marathon, again taking the 'top foreigner' spot. Needless to say, Andy holds club records in these distances, and he has also more recently won a prize for a top ten finish in a Canadian event as well as racing in New Zealand: having been to Australia twice, too, Andy might be thought of as being 'big down under'.
Closer to home, it is not unusual for Andy to compete in an evening fell race on his way home from work, and his knowledge of local countryside gave rise to his own races, the Brooksie's Bashes from Ticknall. These are now an integral part of the club's Headbanger series, won on five occasions by Andy himself since 2000.
A popular, unassuming Strider and former committee member, Andy will be sorely missed when he moves abroad with his wife Angela and daughters Laura and Jenny to work in Dubai for a few years. It might be a bit hot to run there, but Andy will undoubtedly find a way! Everyone at the club sends Andy and his family their very best wishes.