Pace hots up in 10-miler
THE sun certainly shone on the righteous for the annual running of the Hoka One One Stockport 10-mile race which also incorporated the North of England championships.
The winner’s time was nearly 4 minutes quicker than in 2015 but the sub 50 minute mark was still not cracked.
Stockport’s Patrick Martin brought the race home in absolutely ideal race conditions and finished the circuitous and undulating course in just 50 minutes and 4 seconds and in the process completely wiped out the opposition with second placed Nigel Martin of Sale Harriers a full 2 minutes + behind him in 52:39.
The 2015 winner Jack Nixon finished in 6th spot in 53:55 which was only 7 seconds down on his winning time from the previous year.
Seventh Individual, James Scott – Buccleuch anchored Stockport to the winning team result (14 points) by finishing in a creditable 54:26 and was chased hard by Sale Harriers for 2nd team (19 points) whilst in the ladies event, Stockport made it a team win as well, with Hannah Richards, Jane Lawton and Linden Hiscock closing down for the gold medal (29 points) to 2nd team finishers Chorlton runners with 86 points on the board.
A thoroughly successful morning of sport ensued with a total of 957 runners completing the course.
A few did not finish but five had to be disqualified for wearing headphones which on health and safety grounds and with the amount of traffic these days contravenes the rules and makes it harder to make a safe environment for all concerned.
A big thank you goes to all the sponsors Hoka One One, the helpers and the marshals who gave of their time freely to make the event the annual success that it now is.
The previous day saw the completion of the 3rd Manchester cross country league event at Heaton Park with Stockport’s ladies team manager Alexis Dinsmor leading by example by winning the over 65s category with ease in 50:35.
She then went on to do the double the very next day in the ten-mile race to finish in 1:30:19 which gives over two hours and twenty minutes of back to back hard race running which many of her age group could not even contemplate.
At the other end of the age spectrum in the under 11’s cross country event, Stockport made it a one– two with Jasmine Read leading the race home and ably supported by Freya Murdoch who finished as runner-up and to complete the team was Rosie Philbin in 21st spot but unfortunately it was not enough in the team event with Salford Harriers taking group gold (21 points) to team Stockport’s total of 24 for the silver position.
Stockport’s Katy Whiteoak finished second in the ladies cross country race but won her junior ladies category which was incorporated into the main event in a time of 32:05, just getting in front of 3rd placed Ruth Jones of Salford (32:08) but the easy winner was Danielle Fegan of Sale Harriers who made an easy meal of the proceedings to clock a winning time of 31:28.
Jack Morris continued to put his marker down with a third straight win in the senior men’s event and all bets are off now as to whether he can cakewalk the complete cross country league series of five races at different venues.
There was a trio of third team finishes for Stockport’s under 13 girls, under 15 boys and under 17 ladies but the fight goes on to improve on performances with the next league event scheduled for the 14th of January at Kenworthy Woods, Northern Moor.
There were yet more races for long distance runners and no time for seasonal shopping at the Wilmslow festive 10 kilometre road race with Stockport’s Kevin Acton eclipsing his previous best to get a slightly belated 21st birthday present of 33:55 to position him 14th out of a record breaking 1200+ runners for this new event which is sure to become a firm favourite in the annual racing calendar.
Other long distance running has taken place but this time in Benidorm where supervet David Chadderton did the veteran cause full justice in winning easily the over 70s veteran prize in the annual half marathon in an amazing finish time of 1:37:11.
Such is his following that he’s starting to receive cult status with as many hits on Facebook as his age demands and has picked up the nickname of ‘Chadders’ for his efforts and more results like this will surely be seen in the new year and beyond.
With the shutters coming down for the Christmas break as regards most road and cross country events, now is the time to give consideration to the annual Boxing day 3 mile canter around the streets of Stockport.
It’s the annual Harriers’ festive fun run which this year departs at 11a.m on the usual course but from the Star and Garter public house at 61 Higher Hillgate instead of the now closed Waterloo hotel.
Further details of this and future new year races may be found at www. stockportharriers.co.uk and all athletes are urged to check closing dates for the various championships taking place in early 2017.