July 2008

Late June - July 2008
What A Busy Month!

Waugh's Well that ends well, full Marks to Rossendale for lending a hand

picture by Ian Slater

(links below lead to picture galleries)

ROCHDALE HARRIERS have had a busy month competing in numerous races far and wide.

At Eddies Revenge fell race, newcomer John Lane lead the Rochdale squad home in only his second ever fellrace.

In the highly succesful sub-aqua Rochdale 10K Matt Proctor finished a fantastic fourth.

The Sale Sizzler series of 5k races are a perennial favourite with many of the athletes. This year is no exception, and in the first race Paul Leary lead the local pack home in 18 min 44 sec. Kris Robinson was down on his normal pace, clocking 20 min 18 sec, with Josefa Terim hot on his heels just 6 seconds behind.

Brenda Robinson felt on top of the world when she finished a 3 mile race in Switzerland, having ascended 3000ft to finish 9000ft above sea level. The course passed through snow fields along the way.

Rising star Jenny Brown achieved a hat trick of first Rochdale lady finishes. At the hilly, 3 mile John Metcalfe Memorial race she took second place overall in 21 min 06 sec. Next she ran her first fell race at Stoodley Pike, finishing in 28 min 25 sec, despite wearing road shoes on the difficult descent. Then in the Royton Trail race she was the first of the six Rochdale ladies who competed. She posted 44 min 13 sec.

Other excellent performances at the 5.5 mile Royton race include Ian Aitchison, winner of the male veteran 50 category in 36 min 33 sec. He was about 2 minutes ahead of Rochdale’s second fastest competitor, speedy Chris Hill. In the Ladies veteran 45 category, Chris Deasey won in 46 min 52 sec, while team mates Kay Hill Jill and Hutchison took the second and fourth slots respectively.

David Proctor trialled for the Olympic 1500m.ur harrieDavod Proctor

Four harriers dared to run the 17.5 mile and 4500ft Holme Moss fell race. This started at Holmefirth and took a figure of 8 route, including Crowden, Laddow Rocks and 1800ft Black hill along the way. First home for Rochdale was in-form John Armstrong, posting 3 hr 42 min 08 sec. Ultradistance runner Denis Lucas was next in 3:42:59 and winning the male veteran 65 category too. John Mayall was pleased with an exactly mid-pack finish in 3:44:44. Stephen Leak suffered shoe problems and followed not far behind in 3:49:48.

Kirstin Johnson organised a night out for the ladies. By all accounts the carboloading, hydration and floor-based aerobic exercises continued into the early hours.

The bog trotting section had an absolute field day at the Waugh’s Well Fell Race off Edenfield Road. The non-stop July rain created numerous bogs to trap the unlucky. The camaraderie between clubs showed through, with many runners helping extract each other from the quagmires rather than just taking advantage running past (see picture). Martin O'Reilly lead the 'Dale crew home in an impressive 40 min 09 sec.

BRING ON AUGUST!!!