Grimes shows rivals clean pair of heels

ATHLETICS:

SUCCESSFUL in 2008 and 2009, Ian Grimes made it a hat-trick of wins in the Royton Trail race at Tandle Hill Park.

A member of Newham and Essex Beagles, he crossed the line almost two minutes ahead of his nearest rival over the underlating, multi-terrain course.

A record 186 athletes lined up for the race organised by Royton Road Runners, but Grimes was just too good as he clocked an impressive 29 minutes 34 seconds for the 5.5-mile distance.

It was business as usual in the Royton Road Runners Club Championship with Stuart Carroll, who is already assured of the title, coming home 11th overall in 34:03 to bag maximum points for the 10th race in a row.

Mark Kelly continued his excellent form and clinched promotion from group two in 36:09 — an incredible 10 minutes faster than his effort of 12 months ago.

Eamonn Nolan also produced a fantastic run in 36:44, turning the tables on five club-mates who had finished ahead of him at the Rochdale 10K just a week earlier.

Royton’s Carole Madden (37:51) was pipped by Alison Sedman (Belle Vue Racers, 37:10) for the women’s title.

Runners from the host club also picked up another impressive haul of age-related prizes. They were —

Alan Bodell (1st V45); Carole Madden (1st FV50); Dave Phillips (1st V65); Teresa Hollins (1st FV55); Val Kilburn (1st FV40); Debbie Shaw (2nd FV45); Makelia Walton (2nd FV35); June Allingan (2nd FV60); John Higgins (3rd V55); Jeff Cordwell (3rd V60); George Meynell (3rd V65).

Meanwhile, Middleton Harriers, with three runners in the first 10 to finish, picked up the first men’s team prize, while it was a ‘home win’ for the women from Royton of Carole Madden, Debbie Shaw and Debbie Fiddling.