Club first for ace McBride

RUNNING: IAN McBride clinched the major honours as Royton Road Runners ended one of the club’s most successful seasons in the Derwent Water “10” road race in Keswick.

In perfect conditions, McBride finished seventh in a high-quality field to become Royton’s club champion for the first time. He beat defending champion Stuart Carroll by just one point over the 17-race season.

Carole Madden, who finished third, FV50, duly retained the title of Royton women’s champion.

Race prizes in Keswick were also won by Dave Phillips (first, V65), June Allingan (first, FV65) and Debbie Shaw (second FV45).

The destination of several other club trophies came down to this final race.

Carole Madden moved into third place in Group 1 behind Dave Hall and Russell Ingram, as well as edging out Barry Greaves and John Higgins for third place in the V50s.

Kirsty White pipped John Lambe into third place in Group 2 in her first season with the club, behind Shane Reading and John Sweeney.

The latter became only the second Royton Road Runner in the club's history to complete all races in the club championship season.

Diane Allingan clinched third place in Group 3, Richard Fiddling likewise in the V40s and Alan Bodell was second in the V45s.

And Dave Phillips retained his V60 title ahead of June Allingan and the injured George Meynell.

Stephen Jones, who had already clinched second place in Group 2, knocked an incredible 28 minutes off his 2010 time as he completed in 1:24:56.

Among the Royton finishers was V50 veteran Barry Greaves, racing just a week after recording a tremendous time of 3.14.08 in the Frankfurt Marathon, in which he finished 32rd in his age category.