Road Runners make their mark

MARATHON MAN . . . Steve Shaw

ROYTON Road Runners' latest run in their annual championship started from the home of the Lilywhites - Mossley Football Club.

The course, which starts with a steep downhill start that takes the breath away, undulates in and around the streets of Mossley and Greenfield.

The weather presented ideal running conditions, although it left the start from the football pitch a little slippery underfoot.

Despite the starter sounding muffled, the start, like the whole race was well-organised and enjoyable.

Forty-nine RRRs ran the event, yet it was a rare day for the club.

For the first time in a while, the club didn't claim nearly as many prizes as they normally do. Yet, the one category they did win was well-deserved.

Steve Shaw (46:35), one of the original RRRs, snapped up the MV60. It was great to see the marathon man taking part in what would usually be a warm-up for him. Shaw has completed well over 50 marathons in his time.

With one planned for Lisbon, Portugal, later on in the year, that figure doesn't look like stopping soon.

Jen Bloor (40:00) picked up a prize - a nice glass trophy - as second lady overall. Though, being a woman who knows what she wants, she gave the impression that she'd rather had got a voucher or - even better - cash.

Rob James (34:52, 4th overall) has finished first RRR in nine races this year and has therefore already retained the Club Champion trophy. James is a 'postie' and some at the club have tried to ring the Post Office to ask if they can make his rounds much, much longer.

All RRR finishers:

Rob James, 34:52, Chris Lowe, 37:11, Shane Reading, 38:11, Michael Fleming, 38:52, Jennifer Bloor, 40:00, Michael Wildbore, 41:15, David Emanuel, 41:43, Carl O'Callaghan, 41:44, David McBride, 42:05, Neil Brock, 42:40, Elliot Stone, 43:05, Paul Wolstenhulme, 43:31, David Crewe, 43:41, Andrew Schofield, 44:03, Matthew Kilburn, 45:09, Janet Jobey, 45:15, Jason Keast, 45:22, Adrian Marshall, 45:34, Steven Shaw, 46:35, Mark Heaney, 47:34, Andrew Chadwick, 47:53, Anne Jones, 47:55, Nick Mallon, 48:02, Valerie Kilburn, 48:07, Rochelle Evans, 48:14, Gary Smith, 48:44, Ian Dale, 48:54, Vikki Smith, 49:01, Paul Cooke, 50:08, Phil Austin, 50:26, Garry Bower, 50:27, Clare Darraugh, 50:32, Lee Higginbottom, 50:42, John Higgins, 50:48, Tony Kane, 51:05, Damian Mercer, 52:22, Jillian Hickson, 54:35, Martin Jones, 55:29, Gail Shaw, 55:31, Jillian Heywood, 55:34, Susan Heaney, 57:36, Stephen Jones, 57:59, Neil Bradley, 63:00, Bernadette Ball, 64:12, Judith Bradley, 67:22, Niparun Nessa, 69:12.