Royton run is a big success

DAVE EMANUEL . . . enjoyed the course

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A RECORD-BREAKING Royton Road Runner's annual club race, the Royton Trail, saw finishers exceed 300 for the first time in the event's 11-year history.

An impressive 322 entrants included 95 from Royton - by far the most from them for a club race in 2017.

The accolade for most unusual performance must go to Dave Emanuel (one hour, 11 minutes, 49 seconds). After several years of disappointing performances in the Trail race, coupled with an ongoing Achilles problems, he opted to be the tail-runner. Therefore, it was his first last-place race finish.

"I actually got to enjoy the course as well as the convivial company," he said.

There was no overall victor for the Road Runners this year.

Jen Bloor (36:36) was not quite able to make it three victories in successive years in the women's race. She had to settle for runners-up spot behind winner Sharon Johnson (36:10, Wilmslow RC).

However there was some consolation as Bloor led Royton to another success in the team event. She was ably supported by Sophie Wood (third woman, 37:15) and Janet Jobey (second FV40, 39:45).

That makes it an amazing seven wins in eight years, with contributions from 10 different athletes.

STRONG

The men's team were beaten into second place by an extremely strong Salford Harriers trio that included the race winner, Joe Bailey (29.28).

The Royton team were Rob James (second overall, 31:13), Chris Lowe (second V45, fifth overall, 32:31) and Jarrod Gritt (10th, 33:20).

Royton picked up a good share of the female veterans' prizes, courtesy of Diane Allingan (first FV55, 47:58), Val Kilburn (first FV45. 43:17) and Natalie Fitzpatrick (first FV35, 43:35).

In the men's, there was one award, thanks to Richard Cummins (first V50, 35:21).

Amongst the Royton finishers were three making their debut in a Club Championship race.

Samantha White was close to breaking the hour in 1:00:09, Elaine Whitehead clocked 58:03 and Jon Crooks - 'fresh' from the Scafell Marathon - in 42:24.

The Royton finshers were:

Angela Rogowskyj (1:08:56), Emma Bower (1:03:47), Nefa Nessa (1:02:54), Karen Stuttard (1:02:43), Sharon Dracup (1:01:23), Brian Swindells (59:40), Amanda Richardson (59:28), Judith Bradley (58:19), Bernadette Ball (57:59), Neil Bradley (56:29), Carol Robinson (55:29), Claire Timms (55:07), Chloe Clegg (54:14), Martina Naismith (53:23), Tracey Hall (52:57), Gail Shaw (51:42), Ian Dale (50:53), Jillian Heywood (50:50), Sue Heaney (2nd FV55, 49:33), George Meynell (49:32), Simon Howard (49:25), Jillian Hickson (49:18), Teresa Hollins (3rd FV60, 48:49), Chris Nicholson (48:44), Gary Marshall (48:21), Selina McLean (47:47), Lisa Cummins (47:35), Tony Kane (47:24), Robert Nixon (46:52), Clare Darraugh (46:48), Lee Higginbottom (46:46), Damian Mercer (46:28), Phil Austin (45:56), Paul Cooke (45:04), Martin Jones (44:56), Rochelle Evans (44:33), Helen Radcliffe (44:30), Gary Smith (44:22), Ray Williams (44:21), Paul Leech (44:05), Chris Eavers (44:00), Vikki Smith (2nd FV45, 43:59), John Higgins (43:41), Nick Mallon (42:50), Ronnie Quinn (42:49), Garry Bower (42:39), Mark Heaney (42:28), Bernie Cassidy (42:10), Andrew Chadwick (41:57), Mark Rigby (41:42), Stewart Jones (41:41), Steven Shaw (3rd V60, 41:21), Adrian Marshall (40:47), Rob Marsden (40:41), Andrew Schofield (39:59), John Williamson (39:52), Robert Kellett (39:38), David Crewe (39:02), Paul Anderson (38:59), Neil Brock (38:55 on his 50th Club Championship appearance), Paul Wolstenhulme (38:50), David Freer (38:24), Eamonn Nolan (38:19), Elliot Stone (37:50), Carl O'Callaghan (37:00), Michael Pickering (36:25), Robert Fairbanks (great to see him back racing again after injury, 36:16), Bernie Goodwin (36:02), Michael Wildbore (35:52), Owen Flage (35:35), Paul Ashton (35:30), Nick Cuff (35:24), Shaun Armstrong (35:11 in his last club race before heading off for an exciting adventure teaching abroad), Paul Bannister (35:05), Rob Battye (34:59), Shane Reading (3rd V40, 34:19) & Michael Fleming (34:10).