February 10 Round Up

RADCLIFFE AC's Anna Lupton continued her good form when she was third woman in the first race of the English fell championships at weekend.
Despite tough conditions after snow and contending with bog under foot Lupton covered the Noonstone's nine mile course from Todmorden, climbing 2,300 feet in just 83mins 29secs. She was only four seconds behind her nearest rival.  Lupton now has valuable points in the fell championship which covers six races throughout the season of varying lengths. 
Saturday's event attracted a top class field of 423 runners.
And the club had success on the roads with two veteran runners receiving prizes at weekend for their performances during last season in the Central Lancs Grand Prix. Runners had to complete six races out of nine and vet-50 Adrian Harris took first in his age category along with Eileen Royle who was top vet-60.
The presentation was held at the Lostock 6 road race in Bolton, the first in this season's grand prix and first in Radcliffe's own road race championships. Fourteen runners from Radcliffe turned out for the event and Royle was top vet 60 once again. Robin Shiels led the local runners home, 47th in a strong field of 329 runners. He was followed by Steve Hamer (V50); Mark Hamer (V50): Yasmin Parapia: George Critchley (V50) who has been struggling with an injury: Jim Sutcliffe (V40); Kath Davies
(V40) Mark Murphy: Royle: Denise Kay (V40) Bill Armstrong (V60) trying his hand at racing after a long lay-off: Sheila Jones (V50): Angela Bell
(V40) and Melanie Ridgewell.
And there was a bit of husband and wife rivalry on the fells when Donna and Mark Cartwright got in some early season racing  with the Ilkley Moor Fell Race in Yorkshire .In the five mile event, with 1,260 feet of climbing an unexpected snow, there was only five seconds separating them!
Author - Sheila McNulty


RADCLIFFE AC's women are showing their early form after winning a fell race at weekend and gaining top placings in cross country.
Anna Lupton was first woman in Sunday's Winter Hill Fell Race for the second year running covering the tough 11 miles in a great time of 1hr 45mins 14secs. Starting from Rivington it is described as a "beast" of a race climbing 2,750 feet. Lupton beat last year's time by four minutes and was less than two minutes outside the course record. She showed she had not lost her form since her great run as first British woman home after she was selected to take part in a 42km mountain challenge in Austria in October.
In the South East Lancs Cross Country League's event at Lilford Park, Leigh, on Saturday Donna Cartwright finished a fine second out of 47 women, putting her second overall in the league series.  The event was the last of four in the series. Paula Abernethy finished sixth overall and first vet-40 in the series and Rachael Ellison equal 11th.  The women were the series top team.
Among the men veteran Adrian Harris has had a great season and finished ninth overall in the series and third vet-50.
At Saturday's event Cartwright was followed home by Radcliffe's Abernethy, Anne Marie Rampley (V40), Rachael Ellison, Kath Davies (V40) Denise Kay (V40) and Angela Bell (V40).
Behind Harris among 84 runners were Kevin McGilvray (V55) David Abernethy (V40), Mark Cartwright (V40) Mark Murphy and Jim Sutcliffe (V40).
On Saturday night it was time to relax for 40 members, family and friends, who met for a meal at the China Lounge in Whitefield to celebrate three birthdays and say a fond farewell to Paula and David Abernethy, who are to spend three years working in Singapore. After the meal they were presented with the club trophies they would have received at the annual presentation next month. Paula was first vet-40 in the club road running series this season and first in her age category  in cross country and David was the club's first vet-40 in cross country runs.Author - Sheila McNulty



RADCLIFFE 10 MILE RESULTS (07/02/10)


RADCLIFFE AC's new 10-mile multi-terrain race was a resounding success with 247 runners taking part.
First place among the men went to Ben Riddell, an ex Radcliffe club member now competing for Salford who led all the way and
 clocked 56mins 57secs and top woman was Belle Vue Racers' Alison Sedman (V45) who ran 1hr 10mins 24secs.
The Sunday race started in Sion Street, Radcliffe and went down the local nature trail, Hurst Wood and Phillips Park before
 returning along the trail and wood area. It replaced the club's popular 12 miler which had to be scrapped because of a 
collapsed bridge.
 Radcliffe member Kevin McGilvray did a creditable time of 1 12. 41, coming first vet-55 and 59th overall just beating Mike Cunliffe who completed in 1.13.45. Kath Davies (V45)
 and  Eileen Royle from Radcliffe also ran with Royle taking the over 60 prize.
The event finished on the Nellie Halstead track in Cam's Lane, named after the town's former Olympic medallist and the 
race HQ was at Radcliffe Cricket Club.
The club also has a new 3 Day Challenge in July which includes the 5.5 mile Bull Hill Fell Race on Holcombe moor on July 8,
 a cross country event the following night from the local Giant Seat Scout campsite and on the following day a five-mile
 multi-terrain race with the HQ at the cricket club. The races can be entered together or separately and the club are hoping 
with good prizes on offer they will attract a big field.Author - Sheila McNulty



Let me know if anyone else raced over February to be included