This Saturday, 12 Radcliffe AC members were up and out early to head over to Hebden Bridge for The Hebden. Held by the 12th Halifax Sea Scouts, this challenging event with a choice of either 15 or 22 miles of seemingly endless climbs and difficult terrain took runners through a beautiful scenic route for a fantastic morning out. Kath Biddle and Karen Doherty were the first to finish the 15 mile, 930m of elevation option in 4:08:47, along with Stephen Crowe (4:15:03), Kathryn Davies (4:27:00) and Sheila McNulty (4:27:00). Taking on the full 22 miles and 1330m of elevation, Ian Swan was the first of the club to tackle the challenge in 4:17:58, followed by Mark Garner (4:44:01), Andrew O’Donnell (5:08:24) and Laura Aiken, Lucie Tighe, Paul Stevens and Mark Taylor who all finished in 7:07:14.

Junior Lexi took on her first parkrun at Preston this Saturday, finishing in a very impressive 26 minutes. Well done Lexi!

John Szubert also celebrated his 100 th parkrun at Fountains Abbey with a PB of 23:42!

Kath Biddle, having taken a very brief hiatus from her usual antics, was back at it this weekend with another double. Following the previous day’s gruelling climbs at the Hebden, Kath was out at the Four Villages Half Marathon, a gently rolling countryside road race starting in Helsby, running through Dunham on the Hill, Mouldsworth, Manley and Alvanley which she completed in 2:07:39.

Meanwhile, 18 members were over at the East Lancashire Hospice 10k, a multi-terrain race in Great Harwood, Lancashire which raises funds to help keep Hospice services running and providing care to patients and their families, with influencer Alistair Almond in attendance to cut the run’s ribbon. Steven Fawcett sped back to the finish in only 39:02 (2 nd M45) , followed by Neil Swithenbank (43:27), Dominic Parry (47:00), Daniel Hunt (47:14), Nathan Walker (51:05), Paul Benson (52:16), John Szubert (52:43), Laura Tracey (52:56), Sheila Jones (1 st F70) (53:49), David Bartlett (54:12), Lisa Antrobus (55:21), Katherine Swithenbank (57:33), Sarah Wilson (59:59), Wayne Holden (1:02:04), Helen Kay (1:09:58), Tracy Wroe (1:12:31), Elaine Bailey (1:02:11), Caroline Malone (1:12:31) and Sara Parry (1:19:01).

The event also hosted a 2k fun run, which was cut short to just over 1k on the day.
Junior Seth was the third overall in only 5:12, Indie was the second female in 6:24

and Lola was the third female in 6:40. Freddie also finished in 5:52, George in 6:46,
Skyler in 7:24 and Lewis in 7:34.

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In an uncharacteristically silent week of racing, Radcliffe AC members began their training despite the icy conditions, hitting the roads and trails (mostly!) carefully.

Whilst there were cancellations at many events this week, 21 also braved the cold at various parkrun locations across the North West on Saturday.

Six hit Clarence Park – Rob Lister (24:27), Chris Mihalyi (25:45), Sheila Jones (29:24), Karen Doherty (29:35), Kath Davies (30:37) and Elaine Bailey (33:26).  Five took on Heaton’s alternative winter course – 3 laps up the aptly named ‘angina hill – Alex Field (26:00), Dominic Parry (26:08), Kath Biddle (28:16), Sheila McNulty (38:07) and Sara Parry (42:18). Four headed to Worsley Woods – Lucie Tighe (25:10), Mark Taylor (25:10), Oliver (27:24) and Ian Swan (29:47). Woodbank – Daniel Hunt (25:12), Isla (37:57) and John Szubert (37:58). Alderley Edge – Bev Quinton (42:25). Preston – Stephen Crowe (30:41). Stretford – Tracy Wroe (36:25).

Radcliffe members Hit the Trail

Trails and Ales returned this New Year’s Eve, a tough 7-mile course through Rivington with significant elevation, including climbs up Two Lads and to the Pigeon Tower. Mark Taylor crossed the finish line to the sound of a bagpiper in 1:12:58 and Lucie Tighe in 1:15:53.

Many attended New Year’s Day special event parkruns, with 10 at Heaton Park – Khama Banda (17:49), Dominic Parry (23:46), Jack Connor (23:54), Sheila Jones (24:26), Alex Field (24:34), Adam Wills (25:51), Lucie Tighe (28:57), Mark Taylor (28:57), Paul Stevens (28:58) and Sara Parry (39:13). Alexandra – Tracy Wroe (33:19). Bramhall Park – Elaine Bailey (33:57). Bromley – Alex Pullan (27:35). Cliffe Castle – Daniel Hunt (27:51) and John Szubert (29:23). Sale Water – Bev Quinton (41:33) and Michael Scott (41:41). South Manchester – Helen Kay (31:10). Watergrove – Stephen Crowe (32:05). Wepre – Kath Biddle (28:34).

Having already both completed a parkrun earlier in the day, two then raced the Clowbridge 5k, a challenging two lap course around Clowbridge Reservoir off the Pennine Bridleway. Daniel Hunt was back in 25:01 and John Szubert in 25:49.

On Saturday, members headed for the second parkrun of the week, with most again at Heaton Park – Rob Lister (22:59), Dominic Parry (23:14), Adam Wills (25:19), Alex Field (25:50), Sheila Jones (25:59), Sheila McNulty and Sara Parry (39:19). Claisebrook Cove, Australia – Ken Smith (29:06). Clarence – Ian Swan (22:02), Daniel Hunt (24:24), Kathryn Davies (30:16), Oliver (31:03), Tracy Wroe (39:12), John Szubert (39:16) and Michael Scott (41:50). Darlington South Park – Helen Kay (32:16). Hyndburn – Elaine Bailey (33:26) and Bev Quinton (44:08). Pontrefact – Kath Biddle (25:28). Riddlesdown – Alex Pullan (29:39). Worden – Stephen Crowe (28:40).

On Sunday, Kath Biddle took on the XMiles Adventure Coast Southport Half Marathon, a two lap course with views of the coast, along the Promenade, under the pier, around the Marine Lake and Kings Gardens and across the Marine Lake Bridge, which she completed in 2:08:31. Mark Williams also ran the one lap 10k option in 44:15 and Natalie Hitchen in 1:13:04.       

Sunday also saw the first of the Club’s Championship races, Hit the Trail, a 5-mile route around Reddish Vale. Chris Mihalyi  was the first back for club in 39:40, followed by Paul Stevens (41:38), Daniel Hunt (42:31), Chemane Thomas (43:55), Jack Connor (44:17), Ethan Malone (45:48), John Szubert (49:15), Karen Doherty (49:26), Sheila Jones (1^st FV70) (49:52), Laura Aiken (51:47), Kathryn Davies (51:48), Charlotte Holden (52:42), David Bartlett (52:44), Katherine Swithenbank (52:52) and Caroline Malone (1:05:49).