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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Last Updated on 24 October, 2011 00:13:40
By
Henry Marston

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