The Manchester 24 Hour Run Against Homelessness, a group relay event of (roughly) 5km laps through the city in aid of the Greater Manchester Mayor's Charity, took place this week from 12pm Wednesday until 12pm Thursday. Radcliffe AC member Paul Stevens, having spent the past few weeks drumming up support for this important cause, stayed for the whole duration, completing 17 laps and a total of a whopping 91km. Paul was supported across various stages of the event by fellow members Stephen Crowe and Mark Taylor (6 laps), Steven Fawcett and Lucie Tighe (5 laps), Karen Doherty (4 laps), Simon Foulkes and Sarah Wilson (2 laps), Louise Shield, Caroline Malone, Laura Aiken and David Bartlett (1 lap). The total raised by the event currently stands at nearly £65,000.

 

Emma Wolstencroft and Laura Aiken also put in some seriously outstanding mileage this week at God’s Own Backyard Ultra in Leeds. Setting off at 8am Saturday, entrants ran a 4.167 mile loop every hour on the hour, needing to complete the ‘yard’ within the hour to move on to the next. Emma racked up an amazing 7 laps, a total of 29 miles, with Laura smashing out a phenomenal 12 laps before timing out on lap 13 having powered through 50.5 miles.

 

On the same day, Mark Garnertook on the challenge of The Tour of Pendle, an exceptionally tough 27km category AL fell race over Pendle Hill and the adjoining moorlands in the South West Pennines with 5,000 feet of climb, finishing in 4:22:33.

 

Three headed to Run Alton Towers 10k, with Dominic Parry back in 48:20, Rob Lister in 59:17 and Sara Parry in 1:21:58.

 

A trio of juniors also raced through the park for the Alton Towers junior 1.3km event, with Seth finishing in 5:47, Indie in 5:50 and Skyler in 8:10.

The Morecambe Festival of Running was held on Sunday with Daniel Hunt completing the 10 mile flat route with scenic views of the bay in 1:19:53 and John Szubert in 1:26:30.

 

Juniors William and Alexandra ran a one mile out and back Conwy Fun Run over Conwy bridge, accompanied by dad Paul Stevens. 

 

There was a brilliant turnout of 19 members at the final in the series of the Central Lancashire Grand Prix, the Last Drop 5km in Bromley Cross. Adrian Ashburn conquered this hilly trail race in 25:58, followed by Mark Garner (26:42), Lucie Tighe (26:51), Jack Connor (26:59), Dominic Parry (27:16), Chemane Thomas (27:36), Kath Biddle (27:38). Ethan Malone (27:46), Paula Abernathy (28:09), David Bartlett (29:10), Sheila Jones (1^st FV70) (30:08), David Schofield (32:49), Charlotte Holden (33:19), Elaine Bailey (36:05), Helen Kay (37:36), Tracy Wroe (39:57), Mike Scott (42:22), Sara Parry (42:43) and Andy Wheeler (43:21).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A busy week of racing started off with 12 members joining Sara Parry at Heaton Park to celebrate her tremendous milestone of 250 parkruns.

 

Having run parkrun with wife Sara, Dominic Parry then headed to the Steven Burke cycle hub for the Cragg Runner Sprint 5k, which he zoomed round in 21:46.

 

Lisa Riley and Laura Tracey completed the Lakeland Trails Dirty Double over over the weekend. The first race in this two day event was the 15k in Helvellyn on Saturday which Lisa finished in 2:02:48 and Laura in 2:14:00. On Sunday, the Ullswater route was cut short to 10k due to the weather, which did not put the pair off completing this event, donning brilliant suffragette costumes which won them the fancy dress competition. Laura finished in 1:28:42 and Lisa in 1:28:42, especially impressive given their costumes’ full length skirts, blouses and hats.

 

On Saturday Kath Biddle was over at the Richmond Park Half Marathon, a four lap course in London’s Royal Deer Park, finishing in 2:07:33.

 

Six members braved the very cold, wet and windy Windmill Remembrance Day 10k through Lytham St Anne’s, with another solid performance despite the weather from Sheila Jones (2^nd FV65+) in 49:55. Other results included Lisa Antrobus (50:18), Alison Howarth (52:13), Karen Doherty (54:48), David Bartlett (56:23) and Tracy Wroe (1:01:18)

 

 

Closer to home and a lot less rainy, the latest race in the club’s championship took place at the Burrs Community Run, a free 5k and 2k event held every Sunday at 9:30am, meeting at the showground of Burrs Country Park, held by the Sunnywood Project, open to runners of all ages and abilities.

 

The Sunnywood Project is a non-profit outdoor education and events provider combining arts and nature to promote a love of the great outdoors through a variety of events, conservation and educational programmes stimulating a mentally and physically healthy lifestyle for those living in Bury and surrounding areas.

 

In the 5k distance, Khama Banda took first overall in an incredible time of 18:08, with Steven Fawcett finishing second in an also impressive 19:41, followed by Neil Swithenbank (20:59), Chris Mihalyi (21:52), Dominic Parry (22:42), Donna Cartwright (22:47), Mark Taylor (22:58), Paul Stevens (22:59), Adrian Ashburn (23:56), Lucie Tighe (24:27), John Szubert (24:49), Ethan Malone (25:38), Charlene Leyden (26:05), Paula Abernathy (26:27), junior Indie (26:47), Sarah Wilson (27:30), junior Oliver (27:51), Charlotte Holden (28:35), Stephen Crowe (28:57), Niamh Warr (31:50), Peter Warr (31:50), Helen Kay (32:07), Elaine Bailey (32:10), Mike Scott (37:23), Sara Parry (38:51) and Andy Wheeler (40:48).

 

Juniors William, Isla, Connie, Skyler, Alexandra and Benjamin also took part in the 2k.

 

 

 

 

 

Donna Cartwright, Radcliffe AC Chairperson, writes following the 13 Arches race on Saturday - “Our annual trail half marathon was once again a fantastic success for the club! With 155 runners taking on the route through Philips Park, Outwood Nature Trail, Hurst Woods, Drinkwater Park, and Prestwich Clough, all were treated to the beauty of our local area.

None of this would have been possible without the incredible efforts of our club members who volunteered as marshals and supported in so many other vital roles.
It’s truly wonderful to host such a well organised and highly regarded event that attracts runners from far and wide.”

 

Stephen Crowe celebrated the impressive milestone of 200 parkruns at Coronation Park, Swadlincote, finishing the 3-lap course in 29:09.

 

Donna Cartwright rounded out her very busy weekend over in Northwich for the Delamere Forest Trail Half Marathon, conquering the fantastic undulating course in 2:01:08

 

On Sunday, Kath Biddle took part in the Wooler Trail Half Marathon, a challenging trail running race of closer to 14 miles through the heart of the Northumberland National Park, known for its stunning views and significant elevation gain, in a time of 2:58:57. 

 

Daniel Hunt picked up a brilliant PB of 1:47:36 at the Lancaster Half Marathon.

 

The penultimate Central Lancashire Grand Prix fixture was also held on the same day, The Gin Pit 5 Mile Trail Race, with 18 Radcliffe members taking part in the annual mud fest. Mark Taylor was the first from the club to complete the challenging swamp-like course, finishing in an outstanding time of 40:09, followed by Adrian Ashburn (40:29), Dominic Parry (41:13), Jack Connor (42:07), Lucie Tighe (42:18), Chemane Thomas (43:24), Ethan Malone (43:38),  Lisa Antrobus (43:52), Sheila Jones (45:08), Laura Aiken (46:29), Karen Doherty (47:22), David Schofield (50:05), Elaine Bailey (50:30), Helen Kay (56:59), Tracy Wroe (58:33), Sara Parry (1:07:38), Bev Quinton (1:08:57) and Andy Wheeler (1:09:21).