Royton hail marathon man Stuart

ATHLETICS:

ROYTON Road Runners have heaped praise on reigning champion Stuart Carroll, who broke the club’s marathon record at the Virgin London Marathon.

The 40-year-old crossed the line after two hours, 50 minutes and five seconds.

It broke Ian Bishop’s record — set at January’s Gloucester Marathon — by three seconds.

Committee member David Emanuel said: “Stuart’s performance in the capital was fantastic, especially when you consider the warm conditions.

“The club marathon record has taken on a new meaning because there is now a lot of healthy competition.

“Since Stuart originally gained it in 2009, it has swapped hands between Dave Kershaw and Ian Bishop, before Stuart took it back in London.

“We expect the battle to continue because Ian McBride, who is going to win the club championship quite comfortably, is due to run a longer distance later this year.

“He has been consistently finishing first or second in the shorter races and we anticipate big things when he runs a marathon in 2011.

“The record is definitely under threat. It is all good for Royton because it pushes our members to do their best.”

Bishop was the next Royton runner to finish, clocking up a time of 2.52.25.

Emanuel himself achieved a new personal best in 3.05.09, followed by Mark Kelly in 3.09.08.

Kershaw, running his first marathon in more than a year, recorded 3.06.47, while Chris Eavers followed in 3.32.18 and Ged Navesey mustered 3.58.31.

In the womens’ category, Debbie Shaw finished in 3.34.25 and Teresa Hollins managed 4.08.91.

Elsewhere, McBride made it five successive wins in the Royton club championship, with victory in the Steve Rothwell four-mile road race in Rochdale.

And he continued his fine form with a second-place finish in the Fleetwood 10-mile road race.

Royton continue to set new attendance records at local events, with no less than 46 members taking part in the Vera Hirst 5k — more than 20-per-cent of the field.

The club welcome new runners of all standards aged 18 years and over.

For more information, visit www.roytonroadrunners.co.uk