Sunday 28th March: SEVEN runners from Radcliffe AC took to the hills on Sunday when they competed in the Lad's Leap Fell Race at Woodhead, Glossop. Donna Cartwright clocked 69mins 9secs over the 5.9 mile course putting her fourth woman and 71st overall out of 150 runners. The Radcliffe group was led home by vet-55 Kevin McGilvray in a fine time of 66.33, coming 58th overall. McGilvray was followed in by Steve Hamer (V50) in 74.49: Mark Cartwright (V40) in 80. 41, struggling round the course after he twisted his ankle warming up: Anne Marie Rampley (V40) 80.50: John Young (V60) 82.58 and Mark Murphy 88.15. The event took in 1,700 feet of climbing and was the first in the Run the Moors league which includes nine races throughout the season.
Combining swimming 400m, cycling 10.8 Miles and running 5K, Vince Ashton and Jim Sutcliffe took part in the Ribby Hall Triathlon as solo entries at the weekend as well. Vince finished 118th and Jim 140th out of 157 competitors.(Webmaster-Must practice my swimming more!)
The previous weekend the Cartwrights kept running in the family when mum Donna came second in the Muddy March Hare 6km cross country race at Moses Gate Park and daughter Jenna took part in the fun run. Author - Sheila McNulty
Sunday 22nd March: It was a busy Sunday for Radcliffe AC with seven members running the Ultrafit St Anne's 10 Mile road race at Lytham, seven completing an East Lancs Long Distance Walkers Association multi-terrain event, and four taking part in the Catforth duathlon.
At Lytham, Tony Holt (M45) was first home among the Radcliffe contingent in 1hr 11mins 43secs, closely followed by improving vet-50 Mark Emmett in 1 .12. 59.
Next home was another vet-50 Steve Hamer in 1. 14. 19, despite suffering calf problems, followed by Rachel Armfield in 1 24. 30: Denise Kay (V40) 1. 30. 56: Sheila Jones (V50) 1 32. 40 and Angela Bell (V40) 1 38. 04.
The superbly organised LDWA event, the Two Crosses, started from Tottington and covered either an 18 or 25 mile circuit on local moorland. In sunny conditions Anna Lupton completed the 25 in a great time of 3hrs 34mins. Peter McNulty and wife Sheila also ran the 25 and Mark Cartwright, Rachael Ellison, Anne Marie Rampley and Kevin McGilvray completed the 18.
In the Catforth Duathlon at Preston Neil Kirby and Adrian Harris were first relay team and John Kirkham and Yasmin Parapia sixth, after completing a 5k run 20k bike ride and a further 5k run.
Author - Sheila McNulty Sunday 13th March: Donna Cartwright and Steve Hamer took part in the annual Roddlesworth roller, aptly named because the course rolls up and down a wooded park.
They were both suffering from the previous night's boozy presentation nite! but Steve was very pleased to finish inside a minute behind Donna!
Donna Cartwright 42 min 38secs
Steve Hamer 43 min 35 secs!
Think if we'd both been fitter .................
Also Adrian Harris and Mike Cunliffe both took part in the Trimple 20 road race at Lancaster last week end as part of their marathon training. Ady finished in a respectable 2hrs 11min dead ! Mike ran a pb for the distance in 2hr 36min 8secs! With that time in mind and if
all goes right on the day he is hoping for a sub 3hr 30min London marathon finish.
I wish him well! Author Steve Hamer
RADCLIFFE AC's women have been rewarded for a successful cross country season with plenty of trophies. Not only did they take the top team prize and second veterans' team prize in the South East Lancs Cross Cross League Donna Cartwright finished second overall after four races in the series. Paula Abernethy was first vet-40 and Kath Davies first vet 45. The prizes had been passed on by the league and chairman Mark Emmett made the presentations at Monday's club night. And there are more trophies to come for members on Saturday when Radcliffe holds its own annual prize night at Radcliffe Cricket Club. On the fells Mark Cartwright took on the tough Lakeland terrain when he competed in the Black Combe Fell Race. Covering eight miles and 3,400 feet of climbing Mark completed the course in a creditable 1hr 53mins 45secs. But not to be outdone wife Donna raced the following day coming first woman in the Alexander Park 5km road race in Moss Side! Author - Sheila McNulty
Also, Shelley and Ian Harris did the Alexandra Park 5 k Sunday 7th March with Donna. They are in training for the Manchester 10k in May, both got 36 mins dead!
Let me know if anyone else raced over March to be included