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Sharon's Report on the day
Battle for Honours in Round Rotherham 50 Mile Race
Saturday, 8th December 2001
The 2001 staging of the Rowbothams Round Rotherham proved to be a success yet again with 123 walkers and runners and 15 relay teams setting out on what must be one of the best days that we have had in its 18 year running. Conditions were brilliant underfoot, the weather was fine and glorious and there was much anticipation as to who would win the various categories.
This year there was an international flavour as a team of Ukranian ultra distance specialists showed interest in competing (maybe they thought there was prize money on offer!!). There was much debate over whether they would appear but sure enough by midweek we received a call to say they were in the UK. However, although one of the Ukranian’s had won the London to Brighton race 2 years ago, they still faced tough English opposition from the likes of Andy Brooks (a previous RRR winner), Ian Anderson and Rotherham’s Kerry Booth. Unfortunately, for Andy he dropped out at Firbeck due to lack of fitness. Up front though, the pace was hot as one of the Ukranian’s – Andrei Kotsybka – was clinging like a leech to Ian Anderson until he saw the leading relay runners go flying past which spurred him into tagging on to them. This proved to be a bad move as one of the relay runners went astray towards the end with Andrei still in tow. Luckily for Andrei though he caught sight of Ian just before the finish, the pair sprinted to the door but it was Ian who was triumphant in putting his tag in the box before the Ukranian, both being timed at 6 hours 44 minutes, the second fastest time ever. Best performance by an RHAC runner went to Kerry Booth in 5th place. The ladies race wasn’t quite as exciting as the men’s but nevertheless produced a fine win for Sharon Gayter, also a previous RRR winner in a time of 8 hours 52 minutes, well over an hour in front of 2nd placed Shirley Hume who was also 2nd last year. RHAC won the team event with Kerry Booth, Phil Haigh and Mick Cochrane.
The relay attracted a record 15 entries, including 2 ladies and 4 mixed teams. Favourites to win the men’s event was RHAC as in previous years (alias ‘Men in Black’). Unfortunately, they found themselves trailing Kimberworth ‘A’ after the first 2 legs but fought back strongly to eventually win in an excellent time of 5 hours 24mins, just 4 minutes outside their course record set a few years earlier. Rotherham Ladies were also favourite to win their event but they, like the men also found themselves trailing Kimberworth Ladies after 2 legs. However, they went on to win in a fine time of 7 hours 3 minutes, just 5 minutes outside their course record set in 1997 by a team of 4 ladies. The mixed team race was won by Amazons and Swallows in a time of 7 hours 1 minute.
Sharon Burton
Trail Running Secretary
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