A Happy New Year to all our Readers

Reebock Challenge Series 14th December 2002

Saturday 14th December, the Roberts’ family journeyed north to Edinburgh for their second races in the Reebok Challenge Series. The races used Meadowbank Stadium as HQ, the course was around the adjacent Holyrood Park and the going was firm to good. Douglas Roberts was first to run, in the under 13 boys race, a circuit of 2.7K, he finished 17th in 8:08, 37 seconds behind the winner. Jessie was next to run, in the under 15 girls race, around a similar circuit of 3.3K long with an additional hilly section for good measure. Jessie finished 7th in 13:52, a little more than a minute behind the winner and Series leader Non Stanford and, despite only having run in two of the four races to date, is just one place out of the prizes in 11th place overall.

Round Rotherham 50 mile

On the same day, Neil Piper competed in The Round Rotherham - a 50 mile circuit of Rotherham for walkers, joggers and runners, with navigation skills required as it is mostly off-road. The event wasn’t made any easier by dense fog and very heavy going from the endless ploughed fields, making Kerry Booth’s winning time of 7 hours 6 minutes outstanding. Neil finished in 70th place in, what he says is “disgracefully slow”, a time of 13:53 - very creditable for a first-timer, more so for being one of 101 finishers from 123 starters.

Saltwell Road Races 22nd December 2002

Sunday 22nd December, the Roberts’ family had a little more company at the Saltwell Road Races. Douglas was again first away in the combined under 13 boys & girls race over 1½ miles and came home first in 10:09. Philip Fitzpatrick and Jessie Roberts ran in the combined under 15 boys & girls race over the same course in Saltwell Park. Philip finished 2nd in 9:55 and Jessie was 6th overall and 3rd girl in 10:21. Mr Roberts, Paul, competed in the 10K Road Race, a tough circuit down and through Team Valley, up Chowdene Bank and back to the Gateshead Leisure Centre, and was pleased to get under 40 minutes, finishing 34th in 38:52. Behind him, Ed Devlin (better known these days as Ed the Chef from his exploits on the television show Faking It) was 46th in 40:12 and Ian Hepworth was exactly 100th, ahead of another 78 runners in 45:21.

Loftus Poultry Run

Ken Harker and James Wardman elected to compete in the Loftus Poultry Run on the same day. This was the 19th edition of the traditional “something-more-than-seven-miles” multi-terrain race and attracted a full house. Ken ran well and won a £20 voucher from sponsors Northern Runner for 4th place, finishing in 45:38, less than 2 minutes behind winner Shaun O’Grady of New Marske Harriers. Conversely, this was not James Wardman’s day, this was a long, hard course and he finished a tired 17th in 48:29.

RZH Boxing Day Handicap 2002

There was a small turnout for the Boxing Day Handicap; a mere seven runners were prepared to suffer the cold, wet and very windy conditions. Jon Orange was fastest on the day, 9:28 for just under 2 miles along Sedbury Back Lane from Gilling West, 21 seconds slower than the course record he set in last year’s race. He was followed by James Wardman in 9:49, back in shape to turn-the-tables on Ken Harker, his training partner, who recorded 10:04. Chris Peacock finished in 10:50, Louise Jackson and Philip Fitzpatrick both beat their previous bests with 10:59 and 11:39 respectively, and Club Captain, Shaun Purkiss “jogged round” in about 12 minutes.

Jolly Holly Jog 29th December 2002

The Jolly Holly Jog and Fun Run was on Sunday 29th December from the Cricket Club at Ripon. The 10 am Fun Run wasn’t the advertised 2 miles given 16 year old Stuart Johnstone’s winning time of 6:58, but was none the less competitive for being a little shorter. Jessie Roberts was 4th overall and 1st girl, finishing in 8:01, with youngest brother, 8 year old Fergus, finishing 11th in 9:43. The Jog is another misnomer, advertised as a scenic multi-terrain course when in truth it is a serious 10K, well-liked by all as another full-house with entries closing weeks beforehand showed. Rickie Wilson of Scarborough considerably improved on his 37th place in the Poultry Run to win in 34:52; Paul Roberts of RZH finished 16th in 39:21 and Colin Sewell was 55th in 43:19.

New Years Eve Relays York Racecourse 2002

Lastly, thanks to Dave Paver of York Acorn & Nestle Rowntree AC, there were New Years Eve Relays at the Knavesmire, York Racecourse. Jessie and Fergus Roberts formed a team with N Jackson, another athlete from York, and came 7th out of 10 teams. Fergus was the youngest athlete to complete the 1½ mile leg, his time was 11:39; Jessie ran a 3 mile leg and finished in 20:29, the second fastest time by a girl on the day.