Red Rose XC and Oldham Half Marathon, October 2024

The second race in the Red Rose Cross Country League was held at Burnley’s Townley Park on Saturday 26th October where Rochdale Harriers had 20 runners competing throughout the day’s races.

Conditions on the day featured clear, sunny, Autumnal skies with virtually no mud around the grassy grounds of the historic Towneley Hall.

First up, in the Under 13 Girls race, Lily Hirst finished 10th in a time of 10:18 around a two lap 2.7km route.

Next in the Under 15 Boys race, Ben Hadfield ran home in 14:16 for 6th place around a 4km circuit. Around the same route in the Under 15 Girls race Lottie Peacocke was 9th in a time of 16:42.

125 ladies lined up for the three looped 5.8km route with Juliet Smith first Harrier home in 27th and a time of 23:35.

Zara Hirst followed closely in 28th with a time of 23:35, with Susie Hirst next back in 59th after 26:03. Danielle Dignan clocked 26:29 in 71st place and Jenny Ransome was 73rd after 26:35. Unfortunately, Corina Haynes wasn’t wearing the correct race number so didn’t feature in the official results but still had a good training run out!

The men’s Vet 70 race also followed the same 5.8km route as the ladies race and the evergreen Ian Holloway finished 2nd in 31:13.

The Senior Men’s race was a three lap looped course of 9.8km with 169 runners taking their marks. Jonny Lawlor was the first Rochdale vest back, completing the circuit in 39:55 for 86th place. Pete Butterworth followed in 107th after 42:09 with Michael Jackson 112th in a time of 42:36.

Kurtis Vincent was 122nd after 43:55, Nick Walsh 126th in 44:02, Ian Aitchison 133rd with 44:44 and Neil Hirst 140th stopping the clock after 45:25.

Peter Levers finished 146th after 46:32, Matt Cox 154th in a time of 49:20 and Ray Dalby 157th after 50:24. Unfortunately a recent ankle niggle hadn’t fully cleared for Danny Bennett who elected to drop out on the last loop and look to race another day when injury free.

On Sunday 27th October Oldham’s half marathon returned in what is without doubt one of the toughest 13.1 mile races in the country, as the route visits the Saddleworth hills of Delph, Dobcross and Uppermill before returning to Oldham Centre via Lees.

Eight Rochdale Harriers made the short journey down the A627 to join 365 others for the race with Kristian Price best placed in 28th in a time of 1:31:33.

Paul Garside followed in 48th place after 1:38:12 with Ian Dale next back in 55th, a time of 1:40:11 and was rewarded with 1st in the Vet60 category.

Running a double race weekend, Pete Butterworth clocked 1:45:01 for 86th place. Dave Bull was 202nd with 1:58:45, Louise Eadsforth 269th in 2:10:49. Neil Eaton 292nd after 2:15:40 and Gary Marshall 296th in a time of 2:17:28.