Bury AC Women Take Top Prize at Rivington

Easter Saturday saw nine members of Bury AC compete in the iconic Rivington Pike Fell Race organised by Horwich RMI Harriers. The junior races were first away and they doubled as selection races for the Greater Manchester fell racing team for the Inter Counties event later on in the year. Running in the under 14s category Isla Taylor ran brilliantly to place 2^nd overall, with teammate Nina Boodhun a little further down the field in 9th. For the under 16s Heidi Wilkinson continued her excellent form to place 4^th overall and 1^st Greater Manchester finisher.

Isla, Nina and Heidi at the start

In the senior race, that also incorporated the under 18s competition, Ben Coop ran strongly to place 9^th, covering the tough 5.2km up and down course in 18.23. Sophie Whittaker demonstrated that she is returning to fine form by placing 3^rd woman in 21.43. She was supported by under 18s Lucy Dent and Emma Stansfield who placed 1^st and 2^nd respectively in their age category in times of 25.02 and 25.11 respectively. The trio won the women’s team trophy. Further down the field Bury’s coaching coordinator Ian Warrington paced his partner Sarah Withers on the course, crossing the line 36.19.

Also on the Saturday Ethan Statham tested himself in the traditionally fast Alexandra Parkrun in Moss Side. He was rewarded with a personal best equalling time of 16.39 to place 7^th over-all. At the Clarence Parkrun in Bury, Paul Marshall was fastest on the day with 20.50, whilst at Heaton Park there was another win for Rachel Marshall in the women’s category with 20.50 with James Brown in 4^th with 16.26 and Conor Wilkinson 8^th in 18.04.

The following day Trafford AC staged one of their popular medal meetings that saw three members of the club competing. Under 20  sprinter Luke Drinnan took 3^rd in his 100m heat in a new PB of 11.85 before smashing his PB over 200m with a victory in 24.09. In the same age group Leah Osunkoya placed 6^th in her 400m heat setting a new PB of 67.51 in the process, her first time sub 70. Under 12 Seb Hunt placed 3^rd in his 150m heat in a PB of 22.89 and then set another lifetime best of 1.53.73 placing 5^th in the 600m.