Road Runners celebrate their 20th anniversary with... a run!

On Sunday week, February 19, Royton Road Runners will be celebrating 20 years since the formation of the running club with a run around the Royton trail route.

The run will set off from Royton Cricket Club at 10.30am, and the club will then host a celebration event at Royton Cricket Club from midday

Initially founded in 2003 with a total of 27 runners, a brave 10 runners met in cold wintry conditions for their first ever group run from Royton Cricket Club.

Since the club's formation, Royton Road Runners has gone from strength to strength, partaking in 17 road races as part of its annual club championship.

From February 2003, the running club has taken part in an average of 17 road races per year, which has totalled just under 316 Road Races .

This amazing total does not, however, include marathons, fell races and cross country events which have been a frequent events on the fixture list since the club was formed.

Club member Bernard Goodwin, who was at the very first club training session, has run a staggering total of 244 races in the green, yellow and white Royton Road Runners team vest.

As well as hosting the annual Royton Trail 10K race, club members regularly partake in races in the cross country and fell running leagues.

In recent years, club members have regularly organised Saturday morning away days at various park runs throughout the northwest.

This year, Royton team members will be travelling to take part in the Benidorm 10K and one club runner will be travelling to the middle east to take place in the Palestine marathon

Club President Bryan Lawton said: "We are looking forward to our anniversary run, it should be a great day and we are hoping to welcome current and ex members.

"I’m hoping that on the day we can get together as many of the members who appeared in our first ever official club photograph (above) and recreate it, extra wrinkles and all!

"Runners of all abilities are welcome and we are looking forward to sharing food, memories and maybe one or two drinks in the club house after the pack run."

The club now has 136 members who meet on a Monday and Thursday night and has a range of groups that cater for new runners, social runners or the more competitive runner.

For more enquires about this event, or to join Royton Road runners, please look at the Royton Road Runners Facebook page or the club website: www.roytonroadrunners.co.uk

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