Rob regains title in Royton 7k Trail
ASUPERB performance by Rob James of Royton Road Runners gave the host club victory in the 12th annual Royton 7k Trail race earlier this month.
Rob crossed the finish line almost a minute clear of Michael Mannings of Oldham & Royton Harriers, with Billy McCartney (Salford Harriers) a further 38 seconds back in third place.
Rob thus regained the title he won in 2016.
The Royton Trail, now in its twelfth year, is a challenging multi-terrain event in and around Tandle Hill Country Park organised and hosted by the Royton Road Runners (RRR) club.
The race attracts participants from many local running clubs and this year some 270 over 240 runners of all abilities were arrived keen to run tackle on the country lanes, and woodland paths – with some steeper gradients – that go through Tandle Hill in the green-belt of land between Oldham Rochdale.
The recent very hot and and dry weather had turned slightly cooler cooler for the eveningon the day, making for ideal running conditions.
The individual and team placings are always competitively fought.
This year RRR Rob James was the race winner and men’s champion, with Michael Mannings of Oldham & Royton Harriers (O & R H) second.
A hard-fought women’s race was won by Kay Welsby of Rochdale Harriers, with Rachel Emmott (O & R HOldham & Royton) in second and Jill Butterworth (Rochdale) third.
The men’s team prize prize, awarded to the club with the three highest best-placed three club runners, saw Royton’s (Rob James, Jarrod Gritt and, Michael Wildbore) narrowly beat the Salford Harriers trio of (Billy McCartney, Glyn Billington and, Ian Grime,) reversing last year’s result and giving Royton victory for the first time since 2015.
The ladies’ trio from one of the areas other local clubs Rochdale Harriers, through ( Kay Welsby, Jill Butterworth and, Susie Hirst), claimed werthe women’se the ladies team champions award for the first time, breaking a longrunning streak by the host club.
There were prizes of Ggift vouchers provided byfrom th thee race sponsors ‘Up and Running Oldham’ were presented at the end by the Club President June Alligan to all these and allthe other the other age category winners.
No matter what your race positionwhere competitors finished in the race, there were enough sandwiches were laid on for everyone to enjoy with to have with yourtheir post-race refreshment in the Tandle Hill Tavern afterwards, and among the the many positive comments, was this one from runner Mick Harwood was typical: “I found it tough going, but in a very good way, it felt like a real community thing. Everyone was buzzing and very smiley. I’m glad that I made the effort!”