Reports on RRR 2010

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Rotherham Advertiser

Harald leads the way

 ... well almost. after getting lost and then clawing his way back to top spot in round-town race

 SPECIAL FEATURE - The Round Rotherham Run  

ORIENTEER Harald Aas had to settle for joint top spot in the big Round Rotherham Run - after getting lost during the 50-mile event.

The Norwegian held a 15-minute lead at the half-way mark in the 50-mile race, only to lose his advantage due to a navigational error.  He would have found it difficult to have done his Homework in advance because he only flew in from Oslo on Friday morning - but hardy Harald did make an impressive comeback.  

He made plenty of ground to catch Chester triathlete Duncan Harris and the two agreed to cross the finish line together. .

A record international field marked the 28th running of the ever-growing race, pioneered by the late Ralph Rowbotham.

Aas was well-known as a junior orienteer and earlier this year won the Ultrabirken in Norway, an event not much shorter then the Rotherham event.

In his defence, orienteers usually have very detailed maps prepared for the purpose, using any route between set points. The Rotherham Run has a fixed route which is not easy to follow at speed.

Harris, of City of Chester Triathlon club has been a leading contender in the Vasque series of  races for the UK Ultra-running Championships, organised by Run Further. The pair stopped the clock in six hours 29.35 minutes.

First lady home was vetrinary surgeon Kate Bailey, who has bounced back into distance running after long injury and ran a superb 7:38.02 in ninth place overall.

First local runner was Kevin Doyle of Kimberworth Striders and his eighth place in 7:34.52 also set up a team win for the club, with fine support from Chris Cotton (11th, 7:44.55) and Claire Spencer, whose 8:20.08 run for 20th place overall also saw her home as second lady.

First Rotherham Harrier home was Ian Brookes in 19th place in 8:11.57.

Weather was generally good but with heavy localised wintry showers making the paths rather muddy, progress was not always easy.

Sharon Burton and her large team of organisers coped brilliantly with astonishing spirit, considering that the event lasts from 4am to around midnight.

Alongside the long-distance race, the Round Rotherham Relay was also taking place and has become in itself a popular and well-contested event.

Though multiple stages are permitted to a runner, it is the challenge of getting eight stage . runners home which makes it exciting.

Rotherham won all sections last year and Kimberworth put in a determined effort this time around and their men's team, in the open event, were unstoppable on the day. They came home in 5:38.42 to finish first of the 15 teams taking part. The Striders' team was Liam Rooney, Dan Birkinshaw, Simon Hopkins, Zak Mellard, Steve Phillips, Phil Martin, Ben Rusling and Mark Gomersall.

Harriers lost all chance of catching them when Mick Marsters was injured on stage six and though they finished the distance it was outside the rules. Rotherham pride was rescued by RHAC 1.3 in the Mixed Team section and Ladies in Black in the Female Team section. The mixed team (John Spencer, Phil Eddison, Gary Ridgeway, Joanne Ridgeway, Lindsay Gray, Pete Humphries and Diane Spencer) ran superbly well to finish second overall-the highlight being Lindsay Gray's heroic two-stage contribution-as they held off Dumfries by almost five minutes.

Harriers' ladies (Nina Hague, Gill Taylor, Michelle Montiero, Lorriane Craib, Phillipa James, Gillian Neal, Eleanor Thomas and Olivia Neal) finished ninth overall, with a five-minutes advantage over Kimberworth.

• There were 276 starters and 247 finishers, aided by the involve­ment of Run Further.

•  The Vasque series organisers nominate 12 ultra events to be part of the year's series. Runners need to compete four events, one short (25-39 miles) one medium (40-49 miles) and one long event (over 50) plus one other of their choice.

•  The Rotherham Run was the final event in the 2010 series and as such resulted in an increased number of competitors who were of a high standard.

 
SO good he did it twice!
 
Veteran runner Ray Matthews' friends and colleagues were on hand to give him a send-off for a unique double last weekend.
 
Friday night saw the 69-year-old from Maltby tackle a solo run of the 50-mile Round Rotherham
course before returning at dawn on the Saturday morning for the official event and a chance to repeat the feat.
 
He therefore covered 100 miles in a 24-hour period, raising funds for the charity, Headway, in the process.
Ray is pictured above (centre) with his supporters.

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Athletics Weekly

to be added

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Poetic report on an earlier RRR by stalwart Barry Harrison, submitted this year in tribute to Ralph Rowbotham.

Comment from some satisfied customers (omitting the bits after the "However, " - but will be considered):

I took part in this years race and thoroughly enjoyed all aspects of the day. Apologies for being a little slow but I just wanted to express thanks to yourself, the organisation committee and the volunteers who manned the checkpoints so cheerfully. It is to your credit that you can arrange such a professional race, so well mapped and so steeped in history and statistics for such a reasonable entry fee. I will certainly be entering again next year and will be spreading positive reports about the race at every opportunity.  Alistair

Take me to the Round Rotherham page, RHAC page, Full Results Page