Flatley is record-breaker
Date published: 30 January 2009
SHIELD SUCCESS: Mick Flatley and Ginny Willey.
OLDHAM athlete Mick Flatley is Middleton Harriers’ road and fell race champion for a record fourth consecutive year.
The all-time club record feat of four wins in a row was matched by women’s champion Ginny Willey.
Flatley also had the honour of collecting a further award as the overall winner of the local Fell Racing Inter-Club Grand Prix Series.
Flatley and Willey, together with many of their club colleagues, gathered at the Ratcliffe Arms, Spotland, Rochdale for the annual presentation of trophies. Awards were presented by Harriers’ president Jack Kirk and chairman Roy Lee.
Championship placings were —
Men: 1, Mick Flatley; 2, John Sproson; 3, John Reilly; veteran 40, John Sproson; veteran 45, Graham Chesters; veteran 50, Paul Collinge; veteran 60, John Cox; veteran, 70 Derek Bury; veteran 75, Roy Lee.
Women: 1, Ginny Willey; 2, Kyrinda Hurst-Moore; 3, Teresa Hollins; veteran 35, Shirley Pennells; veteran 40, Kyrinda Hurst-Moore; veteran 45, Rose Rowson; veteran 50, Teresa Hollins; veteran 60, Christine Eckersley.
Clubman of the year and club woman of the year for behind-the-scenes support went to John Cox and Sue Taylor.
Meanwhile, Oldham and Royton Harriers’ Adam Howard had a superb run in the under-13 boys race at the North of England Cross Country Championships in St Helens.
The youngster finished second in 11 minutes 30 seconds, with team-mate Robert Smith in 21st in 12:19.
Jane Augsburger also did well in the under-17 event for girls, coming home in 28th (17:46), while Mike Smith was 48th (13:01) in the under-15 boys race.
In the under-20s, Mike Mannings ran 28:16 for 38th place, while Owen Flage was 169th in 42:46 in the senior men’s race, with Brian Schofield 400th in 49:28 and John Hudson 419th in 50:05.
