Royton too hot to handle

the winning women’s team: Jennifer Bloor (2nd left), Jane Augsburger and Tawnia Norman receive their prize from RRR president June Allingan (left).

RUNNING: THE annual Royton Trail broke all records in Tandle Hill Country Park — including the temperature — as this challenging multi-terrain race took place in sweltering conditions.

In the ninth year of the event, hosted by Royton Road Runners, 292 entries beat the previous record.

The home club supplied 104 of the finishers - the first time more than 100 Royton athletes have competed together in a race. They were joined by a large party from the Royton Road Runners Run England group.

Two entrants from Salford Harriers dominated the race: the winner by some distance was Joe Bailey (30 minutes 19 seconds), with his club-mate Billy McCartney following him home more than three minutes behind.

Royton’s first finisher was Phil Marsden, who ran an excellent 33:49 for third place. Marsden was joined by Rob Battye (fourth, 34:45) and Dave Peart, who was returning to form after an injury-plagued year to finish seventh (first V45) in 35:27.

That meant Royton claimed the men’s team prize for the third time in four years.

The Royton women were also triumphant for the fifth time in six years. Jennifer Bloor (first woman, 38:27), Jane Augsburger (fourth woman, 41:10) and Tawnia Norman (ninth woman, 43:39) — had previously been part of a winning team at the Royton Trail.

The same applied to the victorious male trio.