Race Reports 2026
SALE SIZZLER 1 - 19th JUNE 2026
This week saw the 1st of the 4 Sale Sizzler 5K races…best result of the 4 races to count in the club championship. Confusingly the race does not take place in Sale, but actually in Wythenshawe Park.
Wythenshawe Park is set in 109 hectares of open parkland in South Manchester, with historic & ornamental woodlands, herbaceous borders, formal bedding, open grassland, wildflower meadows…plus an athletics track. The park has 3 Grade-II Listed buildings located within its boundaries - North Lodge, the statue of Oliver Cromwell & Wythenshawe Hall. This hall was the home of the Tatton family for over 600 years & is now owned by the local council; along with the surrounding 250 acres of parkland it was given to the city by Lord & Lady Simon in 1926, to be enjoyed by the people of Manchester & beyond. Grade-II* listed, the hall underwent a major restoration project following an arson attack in 2016 & was officially re-opened in October 2022.
The Sale Sizzler series attracts some of the faster runners from across the area - this year's 1st race was won in a sub-15 minute time. There were 18 finishers from RRR, with plenty of others booked on the remaining 3 races on 3rd July, 17th July & 30th July.
1st RRR over the line was Rob James & the 1st RRR lady was Gail Shaw. Rob's time of 16:12 was one of fastest club championship 5Ks in our history; only 2 members have gone quicker, Ian McBride (15:50 in 2013) & Rob himself (15:53 in 2023).
All the RRR finishing times: Bernadette Ball (34:27), Gill Bardsley (32:34), Sharon Leach (31:48), Dave Bardsley (31:36), Elaine Brown (30:54), Ronnie Quinn (30:54), Jason Keast (28:58), Natali Brown (28:28), Kevin Hutchings (26:55), Simon Howard (25:20), Gary Smith (25:00), Mark Foran (24:31), Gail Shaw (23:44), Andy Hall (22:35), Andrew Ingham (21:41), Neil Brock (21:21), Adrian Brown (20:15) & Rob James (16:12).
Congratulations to Andy Hall on completing his 50th club race & to Bernadette Ball who claimed 1st FV70 prize.
Apologies no palindrome times on this occasion! [Kevin Hutchings]
COLSHAW HALL 10K - 14th JUNE 2026
I imagined that Colshaw Hall, one of Cheshire’s most iconic stately homes, was older than it is - but it was only built (in the ‘Tudor Revival’ style) in 1903 by Sir George Murray, a renowned industrialist of the time. The house, which was used as an auxiliary hospital in the First World War, now sits on a 300-acre estate in Over Peover (no sniggering at the back) currently owned by the Irlam family, who made their money in haulage - James Irlam & Sons Ltd was sold to Stobart Group in 2008. It seems to be something of a ‘rags-to-riches’ story - David Irlam apparently delivered milk to Colshaw Hall as a young boy, when helping out with his parents’ milk delivery & market gardening business. OK, maybe ‘comfortably-off-to-riches’…
Colshaw Hall is these days "one of the most luxurious and exclusive wedding venues in Cheshire", with beautiful gardens perfect for post-ceremony photos. It was (technically) also the venue for the 8th race in this year’s RRR club championship, although we only got a glimpse of the building itself; meanwhile the underfoot conditions suggested that the fields in which we parked & registered for the race are usually occupied by cows rather than wedding parties.
This was the 5th time the Colshaw Hall 10K has featured in the club championship since it’s first appearance in 2018. It’s barely the same race though – the new route was completely different to what I remember from my 2 previous visits. Maybe we did some of the same roads in the opposite direction? I’m not convinced that moving the start away from the main entrance was a complete success - it was very congested until we reached the road - but otherwise, in pretty much perfect conditions, it certainly lived up to the "super quick & super flat" description; plus the new start/finish location did mean there was a great atmosphere at the end as everyone gathered around the finish funnel. Apparently we still passed close to the Lovell Telescope at Jodrell Bank - but I missed it, must have been looking the other way (or, more likely, at my feet as usual).
Despite a few late injury withdrawals, including Martina Naismith (still present in the valuable 'chief photographer' role) & Elliot Stone (hence the need for an inferior stand-in race reporter), we still had an impressive 37 finishers, making us comfortably the best-represented club – the next best were the locals from South Cheshire Harriers (28) & Nantwich Running Club (27).
All the RRR finishing times in full: Stacey Douglas (1:24:02), Chris Sharp (1:09:59), Danielle Webb (1:09:58), Angela Rogowskyj (1:09:45), Gill Bardsley (1:06:53), Richard Douglas (1:05:39), Susan Heaney (1:04:27), Elaine Brown (1:03:58), Ronnie Quinn (1:03:06), Dave Bardsley (1:02:22), Amanda Richardson (1:01:23), Howard Mills (58:26), Claire Timms (58:24), Natali Brown (58:17), Bryony Jones (58:17), Sam Wright (57:08), Peter Webb (52:43), David Lever (52:28), Stephen Rogowskyj (52:22), Bernard Cassidy (52:20), Katherine Brierley (50:36), Suzanne Darke (50:06), Mark Heaney (50:01), Mark Foran (49:10), Andy Hall (48:11), Gail Shaw (47:17), David Emanuel (46:41), Adrian Brown (44:54), Mark Baxendale (43:57), John Hendrick (43:36), Neil Brock (43:18), Andrew Ingham (43:10), Bernard Goodwin (42:30), Andrew Rogers (39:43), Brett Spivey (38:02), James Henderson (35:19) & Rob James (33:33).
The high-quality field – GB star Jonny Mellor was beaten into 2nd place by Ethiopian Omar Ahmed’s new course record of 29:18, while Aldershot’s Louise Small won the women’s race in a remarkable 32:36 – made all the prize categories extremely competitive, but a couple of RRRs came very close to victory! Howard Mills finished 2nd MV75, just a minute behind the winner, while Men’s Captain James Henderson similarly finished runner-up in the MV50 category. Rob James produced another outstanding run to be 1st RRR across the line, in 47th place overall, while our 1st female finisher Gail Shaw ran her best 10K of the year for 4th FV60.
This was a significant race for Dave Bardsley & Andrew Ingham, the latest club members to join the '50 Club'. Dave’s journey to this milestone started with a Cowm 5K event in 2018, while Andrew has rushed to 50 races after making his debut in RRR colours at The Royton Trail in 2022. A special mention too for Richard Douglas, who couldn’t have reached 10 club races much quicker having completed all bar 3 club events since he made his debut at the RRR Track 5K last September & is ever-present alongside Stacey & others this year.
It was great to see Angela Rogowskyj & Susan Heaney back in action, both competing in their first club races of 2026.
I don’t know how many readers share Elliot’s fascination (obsession?) with palindromic race times, but those who do will be overjoyed. Not only did Katherine Brierley finish in a gun time of 51:15, but Rob James was given both a gun & chip time of 33:33 – a palindrome plus!
We’re currently in a busy period of club races, which continues with the 1st of this year’s Sale Sizzlers this Thursday 18th June. At the time of writing there are still 10 places available for the race, so if you're quick you can still enter here. A reminder that each member’s best time across the 4 Sizzler 5K races counts towards club championship points - whether you run just one, all 4, or somewhere inbetween. Away from racing, we also have the annual Dawn to Dusk Challenge next Sunday 21st June – there are still plenty of slots available for the 4.5-mile loop from the Hopwood Arms, particularly in the evening, so if you’re not yet booked to take part please check Carl O’Callaghan’s post on the RRR Members Only Facebook page. [David Emanuel]
JUBILEE BRIDGE HALF MARATHON - 7th JUNE 2026
A trivia question: in what year was the Silver Jubilee Bridge in Runcorn first opened? Did you say 1977? Well you’d be wrong - it was actually 1961 (when it was given the accurate but much less glamorous name 'Runcorn-Widnes Bridge'). It was this very bridge that hosted the 7th RRR club race of the year.
A total of 24 club members took part, with 8 of those having completed every club race so far this season. Keep an eye on Dave E, Brett, Martina, Natali, Howard, Stacey & Rick Douglas, John Hendrick throughout the year to see how many of them can complete the full set.
As for the conditions, it was one of those days where the wind somehow managed to be against you in both directions. The course itself was a tough one. Although much of it followed long former dock roads, there were also several sharp climbs over bridges (surprisingly) to sap the legs.
The Silver Jubilee Bridge was an impressive sight, especially when crossing it in both directions. With a span of 330 metres & a height of 87 metres, it certainly dominated the outward journey. On the return leg, however, it became a real test as the incline kicked in. At one point I found myself counting the giant nuts in the iron girders just to distract myself on the run to the finish — it was riveting in more ways than one!
Now onto the results, starting with all the RRR finishing times: Stacey Douglas (3:08:02), Richard Douglas (2:37:17), Martina Naismith (2:34:52), Dave Bardsley (2:26:57), Howard Mills (2:16:19), Natali Brown (2:15:45), Claire Timms (2:15:00), Rachel Chadwick (2:08:23), David Lever (2:07:57), Matthew Cartner (2:07:19), Kevin Hutchings (2:04:30), Suzanne Darke (1:58:03), Gary Smith (1:55:41), Neil Brock (1:47:59), Gail Shaw (1:47:15), Mark Phelan (1:45:37), David Emanuel (1:39:57), Andrew Ingham (1:39:55), Bernard Goodwin (1:39:02), John Hendrick (1:38:54), Adrian Brown (1:34:39), Andrew Rogers (1:30:06), Brett Spivey (1:28:41) & Rob James (1:15:02).
A huge well done to Howard Mills, who secured the club's only win with victory in the MV75 category. There were also impressive 2nd-place age category finishes from Rob James (MV35 & 2nd in the race overall), Gail Shaw (FV60 & 1st RRR female) & Dave Emanuel (MV60). Excellent running all round.
Congratulations also go to Natali Brown, who completed her 50th RRR club race. Most members will already know Nat, but behind the scenes she does a huge amount to organise & support club events. If you are attending this year’s Ale Train, Pub Walk or Summer BBQ, chances are Nat will be responsible for making it happen. Thank you, Nat, for everything you do to support & promote RRR.
Well done too to Matthew Cartner on completing his 10th club race & a warm welcome to David Lever who finished his very 1st race as an RRR.
There was even a palindrome time to celebrate — thanks to John Hendrick, whose gun time of 1:39:31 ticked that box nicely.
Next up is the Colshaw Hall 10K, taking place this Sunday & promising a much faster course. See you there! [Elliot Stone]
100 CLUB RACES - WHERE DID THE TIME GO?
Bernadette & I were truly nonplussed at David E's post that she had reached the milestone of 100 club races after running the Radclyffe Track 5K on 6th May. Not bad for someone who doesn't live in Oldham or go out on training nights. I passed my own 100 club races last year, so she isn't that far behind me.
We couldn't place what her 1st race was, but Dave E (the go-to guy for this kind of information) said that it was 2016's Southport Mad Dog 10K. B now remembers being sand-blasted on a windy day. I didn't run that race so must have been doing a fell race. How gallant of me so early in our relationship!
We think B started her RRR running journey on the cross-country circuit [earliest race I can find is an 'unattached' appearance in a Red Rose Cross-Country League race at Leigh in October 2015 - ed]. She went from solo runs on the Bolton pavements to negotiating mud, long grass & tree roots, up & down over rough ground.
We have occasionally run in different races on the same day, but not often. As well as being club races they are social occasions for us, a chance to have a catch-up with the RRR runners we've got to know over the past 10 years or so.
All the coupled-up RRRs probably have the same conversations we do: we compare our previous times for the races & try not to obsess over them; we constantly discuss whether we should enter a particular race, with the main factor being whether we are fit enough or injured (between us we have had a lot of injuries - like all runners!); we plan our weekends away & holidays by 1st referring to the kitchen calendar & the dates on the RRR racecard; we choose whether to run or marshal Bolton parkrun depending on whether there is a club race the next day.
We often find ourselves telling others that we are 'club runners'. A lot of people then ask whereabouts Royton is!
I sometimes share photos that Google dredges up on my phone of B in her RRR vest & if the race name isn't on the bib, then she reckons the year by what her hair was doing at the time (length, colour, fringe or no fringe). As B's SIM card got wiped on her new phone I can't do the same with any photos she might have taken of me!
We enjoy returning to 'our club' for the quiz & presentation nights & stuff always happens that we have a chuckle or gossip about. The most recent was the Worden Park 10K (B’s 101st) when she & June rushed the prize-giving table & scooped 'their' prize bottles of wine. We can only assume that they did actually win their respective age categories.
Bernadette can make a toast with her wine glass to the next 100! [Gary Smith]
WORDEN PARK 10K - 17th MAY 2026
Worden Park in Leyland hosted the 6th race of the 2026 RRR club championship - its debut in the series - as 47 RRR runners turned out in force to represent the club.
The course was largely contained within the park, with a few brief road sections. It proved to be a challenging route, with the hill on the trail section testing many runners & disrupting race rhythm. Conditions added to the challenge - a curious mix of cold shadows, warm sunshine & intermittent rain kept everyone guessing throughout.
There’s plenty to celebrate from this race, so let’s get straight to it. Starting with a very special mention for Bernie Cassidy, who became just the 4th RRR to complete 200 club runs. As one of our founder members, Bernie has been part of the club for 23 years. That’s longer than many of our children have been alive, but not as long as Bernie’s shorts have been around! Rumour has it that even Pheidippides once tried to borrow those shorts for a quick errand to Marathon. Jokes aside, Bernie’s consistency, commitment & longevity are truly remarkable. Huge congratulations from everyone at RRR.
At the sharp end of the race, Rob James was 1st home for RRR - not to mention 1st in the race overall - in an impressive 33:59. He was followed by Michael Fleming (who also claimed the MV45 category prize) & Jack Millar. These outstanding performances secured the overall men's team prize for RRR.
In the women’s race, Maisie Wainwright once again led the way, finishing strongly in 40:35. She was followed by Rochelle Reading, whose performance earned her 1st place in the FV50 category. Further age category successes came from Neil Brock (MV60), Gail Shaw (FV60), Howard Mills (MV75), Bernadette Ball (FV70) & June Allingan (FV80). Congratulations to all on these excellent achievements.
There were also significant club milestones to celebrate, as Nicky Hall reached her 50th RRR race while Alison Cresswell completed her 25th in club colours - well done to both runners. A warm welcome also goes to Danielle & Peter Webb, who both completed their 1st-ever RRR event - we hope it’s the 1st of many!
Finally, while there were no palindrome times this time round, we did enjoy some pleasing numerical symmetry courtesy of John Fay (47:47) & Gary Smith (50:50).
All the RRR finishing times: June Allingan (1:25:57), Stacey Douglas (1:25:13), Richard Douglas (1:15:13), Danielle Webb (1:13:05), Bernadette Ball (1:12:32), Alison Cresswell (1:11:56), Gill Bardsley (1:10:56), Sharon Leach (1:04:52), Ronnie Quinn (1:04:21), Nicky Hall (1:03:30), Alison Royle (1:01:18), Howard Mills (1:01:09), Dave Bardsley (1:01:07), Joanne Egerton (1:00:44), Natali Brown (1:00:39), Martina Naismith (1:00:39), Amanda Richardson (1:00:11), Claire Timms (59:49), Sam Wright (58:33), Peter Webb (55:50), Kevin Hutchings (53:05), Bernard Cassidy (52:12), Katherine Brierley (51:28), Suzanne Darke (51:24), Gary Smith (50:50), Ben Lawton (50:43), Mark Foran (50:42), Chris Nicholson (49:27), Gail Shaw (48:39), Bryan Lawton (48:14), Mark Baxendale (48:01), John Fay (47:47), James Bowling (46:56), Rochelle Reading (46:06), John Hendrick (45:32), David Emanuel (45:01), Andy Hall (44:49), Andrew Ingham (44:33), Neil Brock (44:29), Francois Clavaud (40:52), Elliot Stone (40:41), Maisie Wainwright (40:35), Brett Spivey (37:49), Shane Reading (37:42), Jack Millar (37:06), MIchael Fleming (36:15) & Rob James (33:59).
Next up is the Jubilee Bridge Half Marathon on 7th June. Let’s hope it’s not over troubled water! See you there.
[Elliot Stone]
RRR TRACK 5K - 6th MAY 2026
Race 5 of the 2026 club championship series returned to the familiar surroundings of the Radclyffe track & delivered a record-breaking night. A fantastic 71 runners took part, all proudly representing RRR, making it the largest turnout for this event since it began in 2022.
Even better, we welcomed a strong group of 1st-time racers: Ashley Browne, Catherine Walker, Courage Ruwanza, Daniel Tindall, Holly Graham, Joanne Egerton & Noah Lewis were all making their debuts in a club event. A big welcome to the club - you picked a tough race to start with!
I wonder how many of us have given thought to why we run around the track in an anticlockwise direction? Well, let me put you out of your undoubted befuddlement. In the early modern Olympics, starting with Athens in 1896, athletes actually raced in a clockwise direction. However, many runners began to report discomfort & even pain while racing that way. Scientists were put on the case & soon found that human blood flows in a pattern that resembles anticlockwise circulation. Going even further, on an atomic level, electrons move around the nucleus in such a way; the moon orbits the earth in that direction; even the solar system spins around the centre of the galaxy that way. So next time you do a track run, feel pleased that you are in harmony with the universe - even if your legs disagree.
Talking of cosmic happenings, let’s now focus on the galactical performances & results.
At the front, Rob James once again led the field with authority, but the competition is closing in, with Jack Miller & Michael Fleming matching times & applying pressure.
In the women’s race, Maisie Wainwright led the way, closely followed by Holly Graham. Special credit to Maisie, who stepped in as a sub-20 pacer, helping Holly dip under that barrier with just 2 seconds to spare. Other beneficiaries of Maisie’s pacemaking were Elliot Stone & Bernie Goodwin. Maybe this could be the start of others pacemaking in future races – we shall wait & see.
All the finishing times: June Allingan (46:26), Stacey Douglas (40:58), Bernadette Ball (35:00), Alison Cresswell (33:45), Gill Bardsley (32:51), Sarah Fitton (32:42), Chris Sharp (32:38), Paul Cooke (31:12), Richard Douglas (30:40), Lauren Lewis (30:11), Alison Royle (30:10), Nicky Hall (30:01), Amanda Richardson (29:16), Martina Naismith (29:14), Natali Brown (29:12), Billie Chamberlain (29:12), Howard Mills (28:40), Joanne Egerton (28:38), Catherine Walker (28:36), Claire Timms (28:01), Ronnie Quinn (27:39), Ian Floyd (27:06), Adam Stirling (25:52), Bernard Cassidy (25:40), Owen Flage (25:33), Matthew Cartner (25:23), Katherine Brierley (25:21), Stephen Rogowskyj (25:14), Gary Smith (24:56), Simon Howard (24:26), Dave Watt (24:23), Mark Foran (23:56), Trish Callan (23:54), Dave Peart (23:42), Gail Shaw (23:41), Mark Heaney (23:11), Ashley Browne (23:00), Bryan Lawton (22:51), Rochelle Reading (22:27), John Hendrick (22:22), Martin Kent (22:21), Chris Nicholson (22:19), Daniel Tindall (22:06), Barry Greaves (22:02), James Bowling (22:00), David Emanuel (21:59), John Fay (21:54), Neil Brock (21:50), Carl O'Callaghan (21:31), Oliver Pozegic (21:29), Andrew Ingham (21:21), Andy Hall (21:19), Lee Earnshaw (20:15), Francois Clavaud (20:15), Bernard Goodwin (20:00), Holly Graham (19:58), Maisie Wainwright (19:47), Elliot Stone (19:40), James Moulton (19:33), Adrian Brown (19:20), Noah Levins (19:08), Ryan Frost (18:48), Courage Ruwanza (18:46), Andrew Rogers (18:35), Shane Reading (18:22), Brett Spivey (18:06), William Wall (17:34), James Henderson (17:30), Michael Fleming (17:21), Jack Millar (17:21) & Rob James (16:17).
Interestingly, the most populated 'minute' group was the 22-minute section, with an astonishing 9 runners finishing in that bracket. Those sprint finishes must have been really painful!
There were 2 outstanding 'milestones' achieved on the night. Bernadette Ball reached her 100th RRR club race & the legend that is June Allingan completed her 175th (no age jokes this time!). Outstanding commitment from both - huge congratulations.
Finally, a nod to the satisfying world of palindrome times - Adam Stirling ran 25:52 & John Hendrick 22:22. Always good to end on a bit of numerical perfection. [Elliot Stone]
WILMSLOW HALF MARATHON - 22nd MARCH 2026
The 4th race of the club championship season saw a return to the grandly-named Wilmslow Running Festival to tackle the half marathon. I didn’t do this race last year but did run it in 2023, though I had no recollection of the route whatsoever. As Elliot mentioned in his Hale 10K report, there were plenty of potholes to negotiate on this course as well.
There were 45 RRR finishers, which is the best we've had in the 5 years that Wilmslow has featured in the club championship, beating the 42 in 2014 & 2019 and a big increase on the 33 we had in 2025. We were the 2nd-best represented club, beaten only by Chorlton Runners (53 finishers).
The 1st RRR over the line was Rob James (1:14:06), while 1st RRR female was Maisie Wainwright in 1:30:23.
Special mention must go to Lauren Lewis, Billie Chamberlain & Rachel Chadwick, all of whom completed their 1st half marathon. Very well done ladies, a brilliant effort.
There were also PBs for Nicky Hall, Rick Douglas (by 15 minutes!), Chris Sharp, Sam Tattersall, Matt Cartner, Andrew Ingham & Lee Earnshaw - congratulations to all.
All the RRR finishing times: Stacey Douglas (3:04:21), Chris Sharp (2:46:40), Samantha Tattersall (2:35:17), Richard Douglas (2:31:32), Amanda Richardson (2:30:48), Elaine Brown (2:25:22), Lauren Lewis (2:23:53), Peter Boulton (2:20:36), Bernard Cassidy (2:20:09), Nicky Hall (2:20:02), Billie Chamberlain (2:18:42), Kevin Hutchings (2:18:40), Howard Mills (2:17:37), Martina Naismith (2:16:14), Natali Brown (2:16:13), Dave Bardsley (2:14:49), Susan Levins (2:12:01), Rachel Chadwick (2:08:49), Matthew Cartner (2:02:19), Dave Watt (2:02:16), John Hendrick (2:02:14), Simon Howard (2:00:48), Suzanne Darke (1:55:52), Chloe Wagster (1:52:24), Trish Callan (1:49:06), Mark Baxendale (1:48:47), Martin Kent (1:48:33), Andy Hall (1:47:37), John Fay (1:46:24), Gail Shaw (1:44:12), Mark Phelan (1:43:24), Andrew Ingham (1:41:11), David Emanuel (1:38:49), Neil Brock (1:38:26), Bernard Goodwin (1:37:05), Adrian Brown (1:36:49), Lee Earnshaw (1:31:16), Maisie Wainwright (1:30:23), Martin Thompson (1:27:32), Andrew Rogers (1:26:14), William Wall (1:26:03), Brett Spivey (1:23:02), Jack Millar (1:22:35), James Henderson (1:18:33) & Rob James (1:14:06).
A pair of RRRs reached club milestones - congratulations to both Mark Baxendale & Howard Mills on completing their 25th club race. Sorry, but no palindromes this time! [Kevin Hutchings]
TAMESIDE 5K - 7th MARCH 2026
The Tameside 5K was the 3rd race in the 2026 RRR Club Championship series. Although the 4pm start time will not have suited everyone, the event still attracted 55 entries from the club, with 44 runners taking part on the day. The appeal of a reasonably-priced local race, activities for children & the chance of a personal best clearly proved popular.
The venue, East Cheshire Harriers’ athletics track, offered good parking facilities & an excellent circuit for warming-up. A DJ provided dance music & running favourites to spur runners on around the bend of the cycle track, which had a noticeable camber similar to a road course. Whether this helped or hindered performance is debatable, judging by the occasional aircraft‑style arm movements from those warming-up!
The afternoon began with a family run at 3.30pm, in which Rochelle & Shane Reading’s children were taking part. This was followed by the 5K races, which were split into separate heats based on predicted finishing times.
Race D – 4.00pm (over 25 minutes)
The 1st 5K race was aimed at runners with predicted times over 25 minutes. The young lad from Settle Harriers at the front appeared to be in the wrong race as he followed the lead cyclist well ahead of the rest of the field. There were some excellent RRR performances, including a close battle between Natali Brown & Martina Naismith, with Natali recording her fastest time in 3 years. There was also some husband‑&‑wife rivalry between Stacey & Richard Douglas, along with many other mini‑battles throughout the race. Martin Kent, one of our newer members, found himself towards the front & could easily have competed in the next heat. Afterwards June Allingan, amazing as ever at the age of 82, was interviewed by the Local Runners Podcast as part of their celebration of International Women's Day.
Race C – 5.00pm (20–25 minutes)
The next race featured runners with predicted times between 20 & 25 minutes, although many were reluctant to commit to a time beforehand. The track proved ideal for warming-up, whether jogging or striding, as Owen Flage demonstrated along the edge. Some helpful advice was shared by the 4pm runners regarding the timing - this was 'gun time' to 'finishing chip time', with no mat at the start, so getting near the front was key. The leaders quickly established themselves, while the rest of us battled to hold pace over the full 5 laps. Katherine Brierley put in an early sprint after 4 laps & then had to maintain it all the way to the finish – well done! It was difficult to see exactly what was happening further up the field, as I was focused on using the music on the bend to help lift the pace.
Race B – 5.30pm (18–20 minutes)
Race B looked much more like a traditional race, with great performances from Maisie Wainwright (fastest female RRR on the day) & Shane Reading. There was a good atmosphere on the bend, with plenty of encouragement from supporters.
Race A – 6.00pm (fastest runners)
The final race featured the fastest runners & a wide spread of both ability & age. James Henderson (quickest RRR overall), Michael Fleming, Jack Millar, Brett Spivey & Luke Lawson-Healey all competed strongly, with James securing 2nd V50 & Brett completing his 75th race for RRR.
All the RRR times, including a perfectly-balanced 21:12 from Carl O’Callaghan: June Allingan (39:46), Stacey Douglas (38:11), Bernadette Ball (34:14), Sharon Leach (31:10), Richard Douglas (30:08), Lauren Lewis (29:55), Alison Royle (29:27), Sharon Dracup (29:16), Nicky Hall (29:12), Elaine Brown (29:07), Howard Mills (28:48), Natali Brown (28:43), Martina Naismith (28:43), Billie Chamberlain (28:36), Dave Bardsley (28:31), Ronnie Quinn (28:13), Claire Timms (28:05), Bernard Cassidy (26:20), Owen Flage (25:40), Stephen Rogowskyj (24:37), Matthew Cartner (24:35), Suzanne Darke (24:12), Katherine Brierley (24:03), Mark Foran (23:39), Gail Shaw (22:56), Martin Kent (22:55), Rochelle Reading (22:40), John Hendrick (22:03), Neil Brock (21:29), David Emanuel (21:28), Barry Greaves (21:19), Carl O’Callaghan (21:12), Andy Hall (21:04), Oliver Pozegic (19:56), James Moulton (19:06), Ryan Frost (19:03), Francois Clavaud (18:52), Maisie Wainwright (18:30), Shane Reading (17:54), Brett Spivey (17:46), Luke Lawson‑Healey (17:30), Jack Millar (17:18), Michael Fleming (17:13) & James Henderson (17:00).
The prize-giving took place at 7.00pm, which I unfortunately missed, but hope this report captures the atmosphere & enjoyment of the day. The RRRs who picked up awards were Maisie Wainwright (3rd Female), Barry Greaves (1st MV65), Ronnie Quinn (1st MV70) & June Allingan (1st FV80).
A special mention also goes to Angela Rogowskyj, who provided cakes for the runners which were very much appreciated. [Suzanne Darke]
HALE 10K - 15th FEBRUARY 2026
The lovely village of Hale hosted the 2nd race in the 2026 RRR Championship - the 2nd time the club has taken on this event. The name Hale may mean 'shelter', but the 53 RRRs gathered at the start might dispute that definition. The wind was very much up & at ’em.
The course begins at Ashey Hall, then winds through Hale village & the back lanes of Ashley before returning to the hall for the finish. Conditions were tough, with punishing headwinds on exposed sections & more than a few potholes to negotiate. You’d think those Premiership footballers might be able to sort the roads out, wouldn’t you?
Onto the racing. A special mention goes to Brett Spivey for being 1st…to arrive. Having forgotten to enter, he turned up 2 1/2 hours early to secure a place. Ironically he was handed an 'elite' entry, suggesting a predicted finish of around 32 minutes. Sadly, that target proved elusive & for a few days after the race he remained officially without a time!
1st home for RRR was Jarrod Gritt in an impressive 34:24, marking his 1st RRR race since 2024. Close behind was Rob James, followed by the ever-improving Jack Millar. Shane Reading was 4th RRR home & also secured 2nd place in the MV50 age category. Our Premiership competition is already shaping up to be fiercely contested this year.
Maisie Wainwright led the RRR women home with a strong run in 39:13. Next was Rochelle Reading, followed by Katherine Brierley - her consistent track training clearly paying dividends. As reliable as rain, June Allingan claimed the FV80 prize once again. Who can stop this phenomenon? At the other end of the age spectrum, Henry Tattersall took part in the 3K event, finishing in 19:27 and proudly collecting his medal. A quick bit of arithmetic suggests there’s roughly 150 years between June & Henry — give or take!
All the RRR finishing times: June Allingan (1:23:31), Stacey Douglas (1:19:47), Bernadette Ball (1:14:34), Alison Cresswell (1:11:06), Gill Bardsley (1:09:13), Samantha Tattersall (1:07:55), Ronnie Quinn (1:07:36), Elaine Brown (1:05:06), Sharon Leach (1:03:50), Sharon Dracup (1:03:27), Richard Douglas (1:03:18), Howard Mills (1:03:08), Diane Johnson (1:03:00), Natali Brown (1:02:29), Martina Naismith (1:02:20), Nicky Hall (1:01:34), Billie Chamberlain (1:01:19), Amanda Richardson (1:00:46), Dave Bardsley (59:17), Claire Timms (59:12), Sam Wright (57:44), Rachel Chadwick (56:07), Stephen Rogowskyj (54:21), Anne Marie Lord (54:13), Gary Smith (53:08), Andrew Naismith (53:06), Bernard Cassidy (52:25), Katherine Brierley (52:16), Mark Heaney (52:15), Simon Howard (52:06), Mark Foran (50:30), Dave Watt (49:13), John Hendrick (49:10), Martin Kent (48:10), Rochelle Reading (46:58), Ray Williams (46:40), Mark Phelan (46:37), David Emanuel (44:35), Bernard Goodwin (43:50), Andrew Ingham (43:36), Adrian Brown (43:07), Francois Clavaud (41:09), Ryan Frost (40:32), James Moulton (40:08), Elliot Stone (40:07), Andrew Rogers (39:23), Maisie Wainwright (39:13), Luke Lawson-Healey (38:11), Brett Spivey (37:40), Shane Reading (37:23), Jack Millar (36:51), Rob James (34:41) & Jarrod Gritt (34:24).
A pair of RRRs reached club milestones - congratulations to Gill Bardsley & Stacey Douglas on completing their 10th club race. Finally, the palindrome returns. After missing from the previous race, Bernie Cassidy produced a beautifully symmetrical 52:25.
Next up: the Tameside 5K on 7th March - a quick one. See you there. [Elliot Stone]
STOCKPORT DAFFODIL 10K - 25th JANUARY 2026
Welcome! Welcome! Welcome!
Welcome to you if you are a new member of Royton Road Runners. Welcome to you if this was your 1st time running the 'Daffodil' 10K (it’s the club’s 3rd time). Plus, of course, welcome back to you if you are one of those crazy people who turn up year-in, year-out!
It was great to see so many RRRs at the 1st race of our 2026 Club Championship. 84 entrants started the race & 83 made it over the finishing line (bad luck Neil). This is an incredible start to the season, our best total since we had the same number at the Dewsbury 10K in 2020 – just before Covid. Dave E found that 31 of our finishers at the 'Daff' also finished that race at Dewsbury 6 years ago. In addition, Neil Brock was also running yesterday but pulled out with an injury, Mark Kelly (having relocated across the Welsh border) was here running for Denbigh Harriers & Stewart Jones was supporting Karen & Bryony. All these repeat appearances show the enjoyment being a member of such a fine team brings.
The Stockport Daffodil 10K takes place in the salubrious suburb of Hazel Grove. It was known as Bullock Smithy until 1836, when the villagers wisely adopted Hazel Grove as a more poetic name. The race itself is perhaps most notable for mostly taking place on the A555 Airport Link Road. For drivers this road being temporarily closed is quite the norm, but for runners it makes for an unusual chance to race on what is normally a busy stretch of road closed to pedestrians. Talking of pedestrians, there certainly was a lack of any 'pedestrian pace' in the RRR performances as everyone seemed eager to get the year off to a flying start. As it’s the 1st race of the year we will go through the results in chronological order. However, I do try to cover as many RRRs as I can throughout the year regardless of times. So, if you have any stories or landmarks that you feel are worth mentioning in a report, please let me know.
The 1st 3 RRRs home were Rob James (35:40), Jack Millar (36:38) & James Henderson (37:00), good enough to claim 2nd place in the men’s team event behind Stockport Harriers. Additionally, James picked up the MV50 individual prize. A very notable mention for the 4th placed RRR, Shane Reading, who completed his 200th RRR club race – some feat indeed.
Our 1st female finisher was Maisie Wainwright in 39:24, just 7 seconds outside the PB she set at the Hale 10K last year & good enough for 3rd place female overall. A fantastic achievement considering the size of the field (1800+). It was also Maisie’s 25th club race. Even better though, Maisie was part of the 1st-placed female team along with Rochelle Reading (47:56) and Gail Shaw (48:42). Well done all!
For those unfamiliar with these race reports you will become familiar with seeing the name of a club legend, June Allingan, popping up regularly throughout the year. Continuing last year’s theme, she once again claimed the FV80 prize in a time of (1:24:51). Spectacular.
All the RRR finishers: Dave Leyland (1:31:53), June Allingan (1:24:51), Stacey Douglas (1:18:35), Bernadette Ball (1:17:04), Gill Bardsley (1:13:11), Chris Sharp (1:12:19), Alison Cresswell (1:11:20), Lisa Wilson (1:09:16), Samantha Tattersall (1:08:24), Richard Douglas (1:06:25), Joanne Lawton (1:06:19), Jason Keast (1:05:44), Dave Bardsley (1:05:22), Howard Mills (1:05:14), Natali Brown (1:05:08), Paul Cooke (1:04:28), Elaine Brown (1:04:16), Billie Chamberlain (1:04:10), Karen Jones (1:04:07), Christopher Eavers (1:03:41), Lauren Lewis (1:03:37), Alison Royle (1:02:58), Nicky Hall (1:02:44), Martina Naismith (1:02:33), Claire Timms (1:02:19), Gareth McCaffery (1:01:53), Amanda Richardson (1:01:16), Bryony Jones (1:00:42), Rebecca Owen (1:00:23), Kirsty Agnew (58:06), Susan Levins (58:04), Sam Wright (58:00), Rachel Chadwick (57:56), Kevin Hutchings (57:21), James Wright (56:23), Owen Flage (56:20), Anne Marie Lord (55:27), Matthew Cartner (54:44), Stephen Rogowskyj (54:42), Katherine Brierley (54:24), Jonathan Green (53:06), Simon Howard (52:50), Suzanne Darke (52:44), Bernard Cassidy (52:43), Scarlet Wheeldon (52:34), Gary Smith (51:38), Dave Peart (51:19), Mark Foran (50:18), Bryony Rogers (50:12), Martin Kent (49:23), Trish Callan (49:20), John Hendrick (49:04), Bryan Lawton (48:57), Gail Shaw (48:42), Rochelle Reading (47:56), Ray Williams (47:44), Mark Duncan (47:02), Mark Phelan (46:51), John Fay (46:37), James Bowling (46:17), Andy Hall (46:01), Adrian Brown (45:43), Mark Baxendale (45:13), David Emanuel (45:06), Oliver Pozegic (44:50), Will Lewis (44:43), Carl O'Callaghan (44:41), Bernard Goodwin (43:46), Andrew Ingham (43:22), Francois Clavaud (42:21), James Moulton (41:40), Elliot Stone (41:18), Luke Lawson-Healey (41:02), William Wall (40:27), Andrew Rogers (39:49), Maisie Wainwright (39:24), Martin Thompson (39:15), Brett Spivey (38:53), Michael Fleming (37:50), Shane Reading (37:31), James Henderson (37:00), Jack Millar (36:38) & Rob James (35:40).
Well done to Samantha Tattersall & Mark Foran for reaching their 25th RRR race. Johnathan Green also deserves a pat on the back for reaching his 10th. Last, but not least, congratulations to the large number who completed their 1st club race with us, namely Will Lewis, John Hendrick, Martin Kent, Scarlet Wheeldon, Susan Levins, Rebecca Owen, Lauren Lewis & Chris Sharp. Welcome all & good luck for the future.
Sadly, there were no palindromic times in this race (fingers crossed for Hale) but Bryan Lawton & John Hendrick both finished with the synchronous chip time of 48:57 despite finishing 1min 44secs apart at the finishing line!
Our next club race is the Hale 10K – a good one for PBs. See you there! [Elliot Stone]
