Rudd races clear of field at Tatton Park
THERE was no time for picking up chestnuts in Tatton Park as far as Stockport’s Louise Rudd was concerned in having an absolute conker of an outing at the annual Tatton 10 kilometre road race and there was no close opposition to be seen.
From the gun she was off on her exploits and finished the scenic parkland course in a brilliant time of 37 minutes exactly, to easily take not only the ladies’ crown but also serve up the first veteran’s spot in the process.
Rudd showed no mercy on the opposition and is still in flying form after winning a gold team medal for England recently at Tollcross Park, Glasgow at the British Masters’ cross country championships.
She ensured a full nineteen seconds between herself and second placed Gemma Connolly of Sutton / S Helens AC who stopped the clock in 37:19 and under the continued tutelage of Harriers’ senior coach Dave Turnbull will hopefully continue to impress during the winter.
It came up roses for Stockport’s triple jump team at the Northern open indoor meeting at Sheffield’s Institute of sport with no less than four girls in the top ten in the triple jump discipline with Katie Waterworth turning out easy winner in a massive 11:13 metres leap.
Waterworth was well supported by Emily Jarad (5th – 10:69), Amy Jackson (9th – 10:26) and Kim Pinkowski (10th in 9:98) and the opposition will no doubt take notice of the results board in a none too easy event which should make the going good for the young athletes track and field league during the 2017 summer season.
Paul Brooks, Stephen Crook and Nicholas Hicketts all from Stockport scooped up the senior men’s team prize in 12th, 14th and 15th finish positions respectively and all ran under 58 minutes on the undulating course at the 35th annual Preston 10 mile race and will have used it as a good test run for the forthcoming race over the same distance from Woodbank Park.
The Harriers’ annual general meeting has now taken place with two major retirements in the form of treasurer John Wharf and chairman Mike Durcan with the meeting showing their appreciation for their many years of loyal service between the two officers and events manager Mike Frost has agreed to take on the mantel of the chairmanship for the following twelve months with the new treasurer being Richard (Ben) Benson.
Two major events take place this coming weekend for longer distance athletes starting with the third of the Manchester cross country league competitions at Heaton Park on Saturday at midday and following on, on Sunday sees the Hoka One One Stockport 10 mile road race at 10:00 a.m. which also incorporates the Northern ten mile road racing championships starting from the Woodbank athletics facility and with an upper limit of 1,500 competitors.