McBride’s new best leaves rivals trailing

ATHLETICS: A BUSY spell of middle-distance races for Royton Road Runners culminated in a record field of 205 for their own Royton Trail — and a new course record for club champion Ian McBride.

McBride’s win in a remarkable 28 minutes 49 seconds was nearly three minutes ahead of runner-up Mick Flatley (Middleton Harriers).

The men’s team of McBride, Stuart Carroll (third V40 in 32:35) and Chris Lowe (33:46) retained their title, while the club’s leading women — Becki Robinson (39:11), Kirsty White (first FV40 in 39:24) and Debbie Shaw (41:44) — regained the crown they last won in 2011.

The Royton Trail was hot on the heels of the Rochdale 10k, at which 52 Royton members competed.

McBride was victorious here too as he knocked almost a minute off his 2012 time to romp home in 32:16, one minute 41 seconds clear of the field.