Everyone’s a winner!

TOP three . . . the first women home were Katherine Fitzpatrick (centre), Gaynor Keane (left) and Stephanie Ilsley

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Runners find tough Milltown to Moors run lives up to its reputation
SUPPORTERS ined the streets cheer on the 500 runners in this year’s Milltown to Moors half-marathon yesterday.

The run is notoriously one of the toughest in the half-marathon calender, taking runners into the Saddleworth hills from the start and finish in Oldham town centre.

Commonwealth Games athlete Andi Jones was first to cross the finish line for the second year in a row in 1 hour, 9 minutes.

Andi, who turned 35 last week, said: “I like to win! I like running in Oldham and people were out cheering.”

Runner-up was accountant James Savage (31) who finished in 1 hour 16 minutes: “I’m happy to come second. I knew it was going to be hilly, but it was really, really hilly! I stopped looking out for Andy after two miles, I lost view of him after one-and-a-half miles.”

John Dance (38) came third with a time of one hour 17 minutes.

Katherine Fitzpatrick (26) was the first woman home in 1hour, 31minutes. She said: “I’m happy. That was the toughest half-marathon I’ve done. The crowd was great, we got a lot of support.”

When asked if she will participate next year, she said: “I will think about it in six months — wait until my legs have recovered! I was told it was hilly but I didn’t expect it to be that hilly!”

Gaynor Keane (38) of Saddleworth Runners, was the second woman to cross the finish line and third was Stephanie Ilsley (52), of Belper Harriers.