On a very cold and wintry Sunday morning 173 competitors completed the 25th running of the Roddlesworth Roller 6 mile multi terrain race starting in Abbey Village. There was even a little snow to be seen at the high point of the course!
The 173 included 24 Red Rose Road Runners running in the third leg of the club Grand Prix competition. This is a year long handicap competition so every runner has an equal chance of glory.
The pick of the club finishers must be the ladies team of Debbie Kirkman 6th lady 2nd lady 40 in 45.19, Anne Wallworth 12th lady 2nd v50 in 47.21 and Paula Plowman 19th lady in 50.09 who won the team prize and the lady v60 runners Joan Gouldthorpe and Carol Douglas who were 1st and 2nd in that age group in times of 52.03 and 52.44.
Julie Thorley ran well for 31st lady in a time of 53.01 followed by Sal Cape and Yvonne Johnson finishing together in 55.55 and 55.56 in 39th 40th. Newcomer Shelley Regan completed the race in 61.22
In the male category, Ken Addison was 1st home for the club in 11th place 3rd v50, his time was 38.49. Ben Donoghue and the fast improving Dave Maudsley came next in 15th and 16th place with times of 39.24 and 39.36. The three made up the 1st club team in 4th place.
Philip Butler 21th 40.06, came home next. Along with Addison and Maudsley he made up the 3rd place veterans team.
Cliff Utting had a good race finishing 69th and 2nd v60 in 45.49.
Other male finishers were Fred Lynch 32nd 41.07, Anthony Murphy 35th 42.23, Geoff Howarth 46th 43.41, Stuart Cann 51st 44.10, Philip Davidson 54th 44.28, Tony Thorley 68th 45.47, Frank Nightingale 80th 47.24, Barry Wheeler 107th 51.20, George Fletcher 125th 54.27, Roger Johnson 128th 54.45 and Allan Howard 142nd 57.13.
This year the race only had 10 year age groups for the runners so age group places were well earned!