Royton stars faster than previous year

LOCAL ATHLETICS
ROYTON Road Runners topped the 45 club members who ran the Vera Hirst 5K in 2011 with a turn-out of 49 this year — 30-per-cent of the total field.

Nineteen Royton competitors improved their times from 12 months ago, with Bruce Whittam (18 minutes 38 seconds), Dave Freer (20:35) and Shane Reading (19:44) slicing around two seconds off each.

Steve Shaw registered 22:28.

Royton had 15 runners finishing inside 20 minutes, which put them all in the first 45 to cross the line.

Ian McBride recorded a stunning 15:50 — 30 seconds better off than in 2011.

Alan Bodell, in his first club road race of the year, was second club finisher and V45 race winner in an impressive 18:31.

After his impressive showing at the Southport Mad Dog 10K in February, Russell Ingham stepped up another level to be third Royton finisher in 18:32.

Whittam’s fine performance gave him second V45. Kirsty White (21:22) was first FV35 and fourth women overall, with Rochelle Evans (23:30) second in the same age category.

There was a clean sweep of prizes in the FV45 category for Debbie Fiddling (21:52), Debbie Shaw (21.56) and Sheila Waite (22:34).

Roy Miller gave up any race targets of his own to run round in 47:54 with V70 runner Brian Hurst.
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