Connor helps Rossy team to fine finish
ATHLETICS STEVE DUXBURY AFTER qualifying at Sport City Manchester a fortnight ago Rossendale’s senior men’s team headed down to Sutton Park, Birmingham, on Saturday for the English Road Running Association’s 6 stage championships.
Unfortunately Rob Webb pulled out with a niggle but Connor Richardson was available at short notice and made his debut in the senior A team and didn’t disappoint as he anchored them to finish in 37th place from a total of 82 teams and also second Lancashire club, just a few seconds behind Blackburn Harriers.
Swansea Harriers ran out as comfortable winners thanks to Dewi Griffiths’ fastest leg of the day but it was Rossendale’s best result for a few years and at 1hr 55mins 27secs, almost two minutes quicker than last year at Sutton Park.
Veteran Chris Fell, led off on the competitive first leg clocking 18mins 35secs for the 5.88 kilometre course before handing over to the in-form Grant Cunliffe who crossed the line after 18mins 29secs in 35th position.
Joe Johnston, suffering the effects of a cold, and not showing the best of form at the moment dropped a couple of places after finishing in 19mins 35secs. Matty Harris, off a ● ● Grant Cunliffe great track season clocked 19mins 26secs before handing over to Stephen Corbishley who crossed the line in 19mins 37secs.
The pressure was on for Connor Richardson but the Warwick University student, who dipped under two minutes for 800 metres for the first time in July, gained a place to bring the team home after 19mins 45secs.
Callum Davidson would have been in the team at Sutton Park but was on England duty for the U23 mountain running team for the Smarna Gora race in Slovenia. The race, which climbs 710 metres in 10 kilometres, was the final event in the World Mountain Running Association’s World Cup and Callum had a great race finishing in 21st position from 101.
Callum, who only turned 20 in June, was also seventh U23 and drew praise from England manager Neil Wilkinson. He said: “The team all gained valuable experience of racing against the world’s best mountain runners and this will help motivate them to prepare for next year’s summer season.”