Athletics: Green sets new Rollick record (From Gazette Series)

Gareth Green wins Thornbury RC's Riverbank Rollick

8:30am Friday 20th January 2012 in Thornbury Sport

GARETH Green won the Riverbank Rollick in a record time for the new course.

Over 300 runners were tempted out into the winter sunshine to run a muddy nine-mile course from Thornbury to Oldbury, along the bank of the Severn and back via Littleton.

Green of San Domenico Road Runners, Cardiff, finished in 55:56 to beat Anthony Glover of Westbury Harriers (56:19) and third-placed Stephen Rose of Team Bath AC (56:30).

The ladies’ record for the new course was also broken, with Lucy Richen of Westbury Harriers winning in 63:35.

The second lady was Liz Wiggins of Weston AC in 64:55 , and third was Westbury’s Sophie Voller in 66:07.

The men’s team event was won by Westbury Harriers, with Southville Running Club second with those two teams in reverse positions for the ladies team event.

With many Thornbury Running club members involved in marshalling, timekeeping, and catering, they did well to take third place in both the men’s and ladies’ teams.

Thornbury’s Clare Watt ran a superb race to finish as the first lady over-45 and 115th overall in 1:13:42, followed by Jo Plumbley (128th, 1:14:27) and Becky McInnes (145th, 1:15:52).

Of the Thornbury men, Rob Cowlard showed he is still on form, finishing in eighth place overall in 59:52, and easily beating club captain Rob Watkins, who was 20th in 1.03:07.

Completing the team were Jim Godden (29th in 1.04:21) and Rob Hopkins (54th, 1.07:30).

Other Thornbury competitors Vic Harding, Colin Symington, Pete Mainstone, Judy Mills, Selina Davies, Liz Dix, Steve Dimond, John Grimsey and Jerry Clothier, who had to retire with a hamstring injury, ensured that a good number of sky blue and red club vests were in evidence.

A large group of Hogweeds also took on the race.

Jarek Motyka was first home for the club in 1.00:24, for ninth position overall.

Shane Toogood was next home in 1.08:07, followed by Nigel Burford (1.08:45), just ahead of Bruce Sellers (1.10:50), Mark Clements (1.11:40), Dave Stott (1.12:09) and Alan Wilcox in 1.13:09.

Laura Buet (1.18:47) was the club’s first lady home, closely followed by Neil Paice (1.19:18), Jo Wilson (1.19:41) and Paul Buckley (1.22:19).

Ian Dickson (1.23:47) was next home and also first MV65. He was closely followed home by Martin Cook (1.24:18).

Zoe Harley (1.28:04), Hayley Brock (1.29:03), Rob Smith (1.29:08), Katie Pinnington (1.29:14), Julie Froggatt (1.38:48) and Claire Searle (1.38:49) were the other Hogweed finishers.

After the race, tea, coffee and cakes were on offer with requests for donations to PROPS, Thornbury Running Club’s nominated charity for 2012. This Bristol-based charity provides a range of life enhancing opportunities for young people with learning difficulties.

Also raising money for charity, Thornbury’s Colin Symington completed the Rollick in 1.19:52, the first of his year of fundraising challenges to raise money for the Royal Marines Charitable Trust fund.

Full results of the Rollick and more details about Thornbury Running Club can be found on the website, thornburyrunningclub.co.uk

* Two Thornbury Runners took part in the Kymin Winter Fell Race.

Wilf Burke finished 27th in 36:54 and Dave Andrews, running for his first-claim team of Chepstow, in 100th place in 52:03.

* Hogweed Trotter Stuart Wilkie ran the 5k park run in 20:06, finishing ahead of Alan Wilcox in 21:57.