Battle for Honours in Round Rotherham 50 Mile Race

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(Not with the skilled layout of The Advertiser, but it's all here!)

A total of 195 starters, nearly a quarter up on last year's figure, took to the start line at Manvers Waterfront Boat Club on Saturday morning, with some of the slower walks starting in the wee small hours.

The 50-mile route circumnavigated the borough, taking in checkpoints including Grange, Treeton, Harthill, Woodsetts, Firbeck, Maltby and Hooton Roberts before the finish back at Manvers.

Two familiar names were the first and second home as last year's runner-up, Rory Harris, clocked 6hrs 52 mins 14 secs to beat 2022 winner Kevin Hoult of Calder Valley Fell Runners, who crossed the line a distance back in 7hrs 3omins 535ec5.

Harris, unattached, thus reclaimed the crown he won in 2021 having finished second to Hoult by seven seconds last year.

First female was Lisa Walbridge of 100 Marathon Club in 8:38.41 while the highest-placed local competitor was Neil White of Rotherham Running Club in 9:29.14.

Worksop Harriers' mixed team beat their open/male team to the Relay title while Kimberworth Striders were the Female winners.

The awards for fastest Rotherham Harriers went to Lee Carratt (10:46.20) and Nils Hofmann (10:46.27).

With it being the 40th event, Pat Rowbotham, wife of the late Ralph Rowbotham, who founded it, helped out, serving food at the first checkpoint with June Harney, wife of Brian Harney from the organising committee. Ralph's son, Stephen, also took part, finishing just outside the top 20.

Plaques for ten and 20-year Round Rotherham completions went to Jayne Glynn (tenth) and to Julian Brown of Macclesfield Harriers (20th).

"The day went very well," said race secretary Sharon Burton. "People did suffer because of the heat but conditions underfoot were good, if a little bit softer, and the atmosphere back at the race centre was amazing."

He gave special thanks to everyone who helps make the Round Rotherham a success, including checkpoint volunteers and Sharon and fellow organisers Brian, Kevin and Henry.

TOP MEN: (left to right) runner-up Kevin Hoult, winner Rory TOP WOMEN: (left to right) runner-up Clare Glazebrook,
Harris, third-placed Lawrence Eccles. Pix: PETER DAVIES. winner Lisa Walbridge and third-placed Sarah Challans.

THE sun didn't make an appearance as forecast but Kimberworth Striders shone at the Round Rotherham Run.

The Ladies Relay team were the shining lights as they grabbed first place in the taxing circumnavigation of the borough.

Louise Stocks got the ball rolling at Manvers before handing over to Tina Med-lock at Grange Park. Amanda Wassell took charge at Treeton before Frances Coughlan continued from Harthill.

Nicola Smith was waiting at Woodsetts and headed off to Firbeck where Natalie Kaye took over to Maltby. Helen Colton then ran over to Hooton Roberts and Tina Bell ran back to Manvers.

The ladies posted 8:07.28 with a four-minute cushion over the chasing Bassettlaw Babes. The Men's Relay team took second place in their age category, with Johna-than Griffin, Chris Keeler, David Stocks, Liam Swift, Liam Rooney Michael Jell, Lee Rawson and Kevin Doyle timing 6:46.55

Craige Spencer took the Striders' first place in the gruelling Solo division timing 10:13.22 and Andrew Hedison was just behind with 10:17.43. Lauren Corcoran posted 11:39.15 and Louise Taylor 13:33.59

In the the Pairs division Joanne and Pat Rooney did alternate legs and came home in 8:05.12 Lee and Samantha Weatherall returned in 9:28.39

GRITTY duo Neil White and Stuart Frith were among the

heroes of the Round Rotherham Run.

Neil was first of the Rotherham Running Club solo runners home in 9:29.14 (MV4o 9th) in the 50-mile trail race while clubmate Stuart refused to let horrific blisters, painful feet, the dark and not knowing the end of the route stop him from crossing the finish line. He clocked 14:01.15 (MV60 16th).

RRC training partners Graham Dodd and Alicea Ledger pushed each other to the limits, finishing in 11:36.03 (MV60 4th) and 11:35:57 (second female open. "We think it was Graham, although he was covered in that much mud after a fall it was difficult to tell," joked RRC's Simon Hopkins. Lauren Beasley finished in 13:33:25 (fifth female open) while Rich Milns battled through illness, getting to 36 miles before having no option but to retire. Angela Wright ran her furthest distance yet, getting to 44.9 miles before listening to her body and retiring safely.

Against all odds, RRC had two relay teams reach the start line - Thunder and Lightning - as Paul Greenwood and Adelle Marsden took two legs for the teams to cover for illnesses and injuries. Lightning came eighth out 25 teams in the relay overall and fifth out of the mixed teams thanks to Neil Grocutt, Paul Greenwood, Jessica Dodds, Adelle Marsden, Joanne Rayner-Johnson, Robin Williamson and Karl Wooffindin. Thunder were 16th out of 25 teams overall and third of the ladies teams due to top efforts from Natalie Lowe, Laura Mann, Louise Siddall, Adelle Marsden, Fiona Earl, Maria Toumazou and Leanne Race.

Having taken part in the Rowbotham Round Rotherham 50 miles trail race since 2002 I was keen to go back again this year as it was the 40th time the event has been organised. I have completed the full distance as an individual runner eleven times and done bits of it a handful of times as part of a relay team.

At my second attempt at the full race in 2003 I finish 2nd, a year later I WON the race in a time of 7 hours and 7 minutes and then I was 3rd in 2004.

This year I was pleased to get clubmates from Dumfries Running Club to join me in a relay team. There are eight legs to this relay with varying distances from 3.6 miles to 9.7 miles.

I did legs 3 and 5 and as it totalled the half marathon distance while running on canal paths, crossing muddy fields, crossing stiles and using at least 30 gates I was delighted with my time of 2 hours 20 minutes. Michael McKean enjoyed taking part in this event for the first time doing the first and last legs. Sandy Shankland who has done the full thing once but probably has done the relay more than ten times did the short leg as he was carrying an injury but still did well with his contribution. Paul Hart - who has done the full distance quite a few times and finished 2nd in 2008 when he, myself and the late Peter Hill won the team prize - did more than his fair share of this year's relay doing three legs and about 18 miles in total.

As most teams had a full squad of eight runners we did well to finish 9th out of the 25 relay teams.

But more importantly we had a great time being away for a running related weekend and were well supported by our travelling mascot, Marian McPhail. We were very lucky to get warm dry weather while family and friends back in Scotland were getting washed away in floods.

We also got great support from many local runners and the host club Rotherham Harriers & A.C.

I hope to get back many more times as either an individual runner or as part of a relay.