MARCH 8th 2010
For those travelling to Dent on Saturday 13th March - the club coach will be leaving Royton at 9am.
Tickets are still available for the Race Night on 20th March! It would be very helpful if all ticket & horse money could be paid as soon as possible, to give an idea of how many we'll be catering for. Also, as usual, it would be great if people could donate a raffle prize. [Mike Bowler]
There are very few places still available for the Chester Half Marathon on 16th May. It may still be possible to apply online, but only if you get in very quickly!
MARCH 7th 2010
Sad news reached us this week that Jamie & Carolyn Holdaway's daughter Kathyrn, born on Christmas Day, has passed away. The thoughts of everyone at RRR are with Jamie, Carolyn & their family at this difficult time.
FEBRUARY 23rd 2010
Three debutants were amongst 29 Royton Road Runners braving the snowy conditions to take part in the Great North West Half Marathon at Blackpool. This made RRR the best-represented club in this popular race. All three recorded good times, with Katie Cumkin coming home in 2hrs 2mins 12secs whilst Anne Jones & Joanne Clarke finished in 2:23:13 & 2:30:33 respectively. Mark Kelly, also running his first half marathon, completed the two-lap course in an impressive 1:35:27, while the slightly more experienced Dave Smith knocked a huge 16 minutes off his 2009 time in 1:41:17, just pipping Debbie Shaw (same time) in an exciting sprint for the line. Debbie was the second Royton lady to finish as Carole Madden continued her great start to the season, her time of 1:31:28 good enough for second place in the FV40 category. Other impressive age group performances were recorded by Teresa Hollins (2nd FV55 in 1:54:21), June Allingan (2nd FV60 in 2:23:23), Bernie Cassidy (3rd V50 in 1:24:40) & Chris Eavers (3rd V55 in 1:33:54), but it was club championship leader Stuart Carroll who led the Royton runners home, his time of 1:20:32 ensuring a top 20 finish. Other finishers were: David Emanuel (1:25:49), Bernie Goodwin (1:27:41), Colin Green (1:28:38), Bryan Lawton (1:29:08), Rob Kellett (1:31:01), Richard Fiddling (1:32:08), Bruce Whittam (1:33:43), Eamonn Nolan (1:35:57), Lewis Shaw (1:41:47), Martin Kay (1:42:13), Jeff Cordwell (1:47:37), Shane Reading (1:51:48), Val Kilburn (1:52:30), Julie Greenwood, Tony Hunking (both 2:01:31), Helen Knight (2:00:55) & Jenny Newell (2:09:15). Full results & positions can be seen on the 'Season Results' page - to view (and buy?) official race photos, click here or here.
FEBRUARY 21st 2010
No results yet available from today's Great North West Half Marathon - race instructions indicated that we should see them online by Tuesday. What we can say is that it was another excellent RRR turnout, despite the snow, with many a good 'shout-out' given by race commentator Andy O'Sullivan (although I'm sure I heard him claim to have spotted 'Jeff Goodwin' at the 6-mile mark). Stuart Carroll led the field home again in an impressive 80 mins, followed by Bernie Cassidy, David Emanuel, Bernie Goodwin & Colin Green (bravely battling through the pain of a recent car accident). Carole Madden produced another impressive performance, just outside 90 mins, while Mark Kelly finished his first half marathon in 95 mins. Other finishers (in no particular order) included Bryan Lawton, Rob Kellett, Richard Fiddling, Chris Eavers, Eamonn Nolan, Debbie Shaw, Dave Smith, Lewis Shaw & Jeff Cordwell...I'm sure there were more, but it started to get cold & I had to leave to find some warm clothes! Full race report to follow soon.
A further update on the Race Night on 20th March...in addition to the chance to be a jockey & bet on races, I understand that a mere £5 gives you the opportunity to be an owner - giving access to the exclusive 'member's enclosure', drinking champagne & enjoying other perks whilst the rest of the crowd looks on enviously. Please see Mike Bowler, Bernie Goodwin or Ray Shaw for tickets & further details.
FEBRUARY 16th 2010
More details of the Race Night on March 20th. All starts at 7.30pm at the Cricket Club - tickets just £3 including a potato pie supper. There will be a donation to a named charity (TBC). See Mike, Bernie or Ray for tickets. [Mike Bowler]
Entries are now open for the Chester Half Marathon on 16th May. Evidence from recent years is that this race fills up very quickly - so don't delay!
FEBRUARY 13th 2010
Joe Parkinson, assistant manager of JJB Sports in Rochdale, has been in touch to let us know of a new range of running products now being stocked in store (which can also be seen on their website). A 10% discount is available to club members on production of your England Athletics membership card. They are also offering, throughout February, £5/£10 vouchers for any spend over £30/£50 on all items.
FEBRUARY 10th 2010
An early plug for the forthcoming RRR Race Night, which takes place on Saturday March 20th. Further details of start time, tickets, etc to follow shortly. [Mike Bowler]
FEBRUARY 7th 2010
The RRR club championship for 2010 kicked off with the usual excellent turnout for the Dewsbury 10K road race (click here for official race photos). Despite a few absences through injury, a total of 24 Royton runners took on the out-and-back course in the early morning cold, suffering the usual mental anguish (or maybe that's just me?) of seeing lots of faster runners running in the opposite direction after the halfway turn. On the evidence of the first race, this season's trophy winners are going to have to work harder than ever - 15 club members finished inside 45 minutes & at least three PBs were recorded (Stuart Carroll, first club runner home in 36mins 39secs, Chris Eavers in 41:39, Mark Kelly beating his previous best by 3mins 45secs in 43:05), while Carole Madden became early favourite for the Ladies' title, her time of 40:17 good enough to win third prize in the FV45 category. Bernie Cassidy was second club runner home, putting last year's injury problems behind him to finish as second V50 in 38:18, while Dave Phillips started his annual trophy collection by winning the V65 category in 43:13. Other finishers were: David Emanuel (38:51), Richard Fiddling (39:08), Bernie Goodwin (39:58), John Higgins (40:13), Stuart Hulme, Rob Kellett, Bryan Lawton (all 40:18), Eamonn Nolan (42:23), Bruce Whittam (43:38), Dave Smith (46:01), Shane Reading (46:19), Rose Rowson (46:57), Dean Burgess, Ronnie Quinn (both 47:01), John Lambe (49:00), Valerie Kilburn (50:49), Paula May (56:07) & Liz Phillips (59:27). Full results & positions can be seen on the 'Season Results' page. It's going to be an interesting year! [David Emanuel]
Congratulations from all at Royton Road Runners to James Holdaway & wife Carolyn on the birth of their daughter Kathryn, born at 11am on Christmas Day. [Ray Shaw]
We've received a message from a UK registered charity called Off The Street Kids (OTSK), founded in 2008 "to provide support for marginalised children and young people in South Africa". The charity is trying to get a team together to run the 2011 London Marathon, but without guaranteed placed their aim is to get as many people as possible to enter the ballot this April as individuals on their behalf. To find out more, click here for details from the charity website.
JANUARY 31st 2010
Details have been received of this year's Ed Prickett Memorial Relays, which take place at Nottingham University on Saturday 6th March. There are races for men's teams (of four) & women's teams (of three), with each leg just over two miles. Click here for an entry form if you're interested!
And another one...the Haigh Hall Relays (Haigh Hall, Wigan) take place on Saturday 13th March - teams of four on a 3.75 mile course. Click here for an entry form.
The Oldham Chronicle has advised that they'd be happy to include pictures alongside future articles on RRR races. So if you ever take any photos at races, or have photos taken, please can you email me the best one or two (to fellsiders@talktalk.net) as soon as possible after the race, so that I can submit them with the race report. Thanks! [David Emanuel]
JANUARY 30th 2010
Yet more evidence on the interweb of the impact that RRR had at the Gloucester Marathon! Brian Moore found this in a blog on the Realbuzz.com website: "There was a gang of [Ian Casey's] fellow club members there running in his memory - about 20 strong - Royton Road Runners. What an EXCELLENT bunch of people they were too. I do love a real good northern accent and they had it in spades. Everything they said was just so funny! A lovely team of people who were great fun."
The Bolton 10K takes place on 25th April - organised by a colleague of our club chairman, so well worth supporting! Click here for an entry form.
JANUARY 27th 2010
A sizeable RRR contingent of runners & supporters took the long journey to Gloucester for the marathon on Sunday 24th January, in memory of club member Ian Casey, who sadly collapsed & died whilst taking part in the race last year. The 17 club members taking part - all bar four of whom completed the full 26.2 miles - ran in three packs, and pride of place goes to Julie Greenwood, who completed her first marathon (accompanied all the way by Tony Hunking) in an impressive time of 4hrs 50mins 51secs. It was a fitting tribute to Ian - including a collective gathering at the fateful point after 15.5 miles - as evidenced by some very nice comments on the Runner's World forum ("good to see the large entourage of Royston Runners, specifically there in memory of their colleague Ian Casey..."; "hooked up with the guys from Royton from about 2 miles. I have to say thanks to them. What a great bunch of lads and a true honor running a marathon with them all..."; "we ran with Royston for a few miles and followed them close behind. Great bunch of guys (we were the 2 women - one in yellow vest, one with pink headband)..."). On this evidence, it's probably time we accepted the inevitable & changed the club name to 'Royston Road Runners'. Although traffic-related issues almost threatened to spoil the day, this was soon forgotten by those of us fortunate enough to witness John Higgins's party trick (I would give more details, but this is a family website). For the record: in addition to Julie, Tony & John, other finishers were Bryan Lawton, Colin Green, Bernard Cassidy, Stuart Carroll, David Emanuel, Bernie Goodwin, Chris Eavers, Barry Greaves, Dave Phillips & John Kane, while Dave Kershaw, Owen Flage, Bruce Whittam & Shiela Waite ran most of the course. For full results, click here. [David Emanuel]
JANUARY 17th 2010
Don't forget the club AGM coming up at 8pm on Thursday 21st January at Royton Cricket Club. Potato/cheese & onion pie with mushy peas have been ordered. To help with the catering, please let me know if you will NOT be attending. Look forward to seeing everyone there now that the snow has cleared! [Ray Shaw]
There's a new marathon being introduced in Chester this year, taking place on Bank Holiday Monday 31st May. Apparently a 'fast PB course'...but they almost all seem to say that. Click here for more details. [Brian Moore]
JANUARY 16th 2010
Just received an email from the Two Crosses organiser to say the event has been cancelled due to the weather. Provisional revised date is 21st March, but yet to be confirmed. [Dave Smith]
Entry forms are now available for this year's Dentdale Run on 13th March - not only part of the Club Championship, but a major social event of the year! You can enter online via the Runner's World website, or click here for an entry form. [David Emanuel]
For anyone looking for a new challenge for 2010...the Lakeland 100 & Lakeland 50 (that's miles, by the way) are described as "the most spectacular long distance trail races which have ever taken place within the UK". Taking place on the weekend of July 23-25 & including 6300m & 3100m of ascent respectively, the organisers estimate that, with more than 200 competitors already signed-up, the event is likely to be full prior to the closing date. Click here for more details. [David Emanuel]
Don't forget the club AGM coming up this week - Thursday 21st, 8pm at the cricket club.
Click here for Jun-Dec 2009 news archive.
Click here for Jan-May 2009 news archive.
Click here for 2008 news archive.
