Reports on RRR 2011
Round Rotherham page, RHAC page, Full Results Page
Rotherham Advertiser, by Alan Coupe
KIMBERWORTH Striders took the bragging rights after the
increasingly prestigious Round Rotherham Run.
In the 29th running of the 50 mile challenge race, set up by the late Ralph
Rowbotham in 1983 and staged each year on a route following the boundary of the
town, Striders won both the men's and women's relays and saw Kevin Doyle claim
third place overall.
Since it was moved from its traditional December date into October, due to bad
weather which made the race too dangerous for several years, the entry has
steadily increased, making it one of the biggest challenge races in the country.
This year entries were up again with 350 runners, including one each from
Sweden, Norway and Poland, and 20 relay teams of eight tackling the testing
hills of South Yorkshire.
In bracing conditions, 121 walkers set out from Dearne Valley College followed
by the individual runners and the relay team first leg runners.
The last finishers finally made it back to Dearne Valley at 10.20pm, making it a
long day for the organisers but manfully staffed by a great bunch of willing
volunteers and the culmination of a full year's planning by race organiser
Sharon Burton.
The results were:
Men's Individual: 1. Ian Symington (Macclesfield Harriers) in six hours 47
minutes; 2. Ian Bishop (Royton Road Runners) 6:50; 3. Kevin Doyle (Kimberworth
Striders) 6:53
Ladies Invididual: 1. Helen Skelton (Mercia Fell Runners) in eight hours; 2.
Victoria Mousley (Accrington Road Runners) 8:25; 3. Karen Nash (Preston
Harriers) 8.30.
Relays: 1st Male Team: Kimberworth Striders in five hours 23 minutes.
1st Female Team: Kimberworth Striders, fourth place overall in 6:21.
1st Mixed: Wildhogs. sixth place overall in 6:32.
Sadly Ralph Rowbotham passed away suddenly just over a year ago but he is
commemorated by a trophy to the first Rotherham Harrier home, won this year by
Richard Howcroft in 41st place overall (8:51).
The Rowbotham family entered a team in tribute to Ralph with two members
(daughter Kim and her friend Mary) flying in from Chicago to make up the squad
of four. Ralph's son Steve and daughter-in-law Alana were the others.
Unfortunately the team got lost in Firbeck and, having completed an extra three
miles, finished up in 20th place in 8:56.
Harriers entered five teams, although the senior runners were competing in the
road relay finals, with the Rotherham ex-Snails the pick in seventh place
(6:42).
The oldest female entrant was 70-year-old grandmother of four from Brinsworth, Margaret
Littledyke who, aided and encouraged throughout by friends and fellow Rotherham
Ramblers Sharon Ellis and Ivor Wilson, successfully completed the course in 15
hours 20 minutes.
George Tom Hughes, aged 75, was probably the oldest finisher, in 15 hours 18 minutes, on his 18th outing
Pictures from the Rotherham Advertiser (from whom copies can be purchased), taken by Dave Poucher
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Athletics Weekly
to be added
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Comment from some satisfied customers (omitting the bits after the "However, " - but will be considered):
Take me to the Round Rotherham page, RHAC page, Full Results Page