The Stockport 10 – a great success

Report: Jane O'Hara -

This year’s Stockport 10 was held on Sunday 12 December and once again the ten-mile race was a tremendous success. Stockport Harriers welcomed almost 700 runners to the start at our track in Woodbank Park on a very frosty and bright morning, and as usual the atmosphere was described as friendly and welcoming. There was much praise for our supportive and encouraging marshals and for the overall organisation. The long-sleeved technical T-shirt and famously bizarre goody bag (this year the focus of an extensive YouTube teaser campaign) were also extremely well received by finishers.

The race saw a host of brilliant performances. The men’s race was won by Matthew Clowe of Staffordshire Moorlands AC in 50:34. Matthew, who has been training at altitude in Keny for the past six weeks, returned to the UK in great shape and smashed his personal best time by over a minute. This has taken him to the top of the runbritain rankings for 2010 in his under 23 age group. At the other end of the age groups, Stockport Harriers’ very own Frank Reilly crossed the line in 63:45 to finish first in the V65 category, which also sent him to the top of the runbritain rankings in the over 65 age group. Other Stockport men who turned in great performances included Paul Payne (second in the V40 category in 59:33), Richard Marlton (third V40 in 1:00:19) and James Scott-Buccleuch (fifth man overall in 55:31). James and fellow Stockport runners James Corden and Adrian Nutter were also the second team to finish. Altrincham & District took the men’s team prize.

The women’s race was won by Olivia Walwyn of City Of Norwich AC in 59:16. Stockport’s Sarah Lomas was second in 1:02:57 and Ruth Jenyon third in 1:04:42. In the LV40 category, Stockport’s Jayne Lawton was first in 1:08:30 and Sarah, Ruth and Jayne won the ladies’ team prize for Stockport. Helen Todd helped to make it a great day for Stockport ladies by coming first in the LV55 category in 1:18:35.

It also appears that a new world record was set at this year’s race. The record was set by Lee Riley, who covered the ten-mile distance in 73:10 carrying a 40lb backpack. Lee, who spent ten years in the armed forces, is aiming to run the London marathon in under four hours carrying his backback to set another world record and to raise funds for The Soldiers’ Charity. Well done to Lee and to everyone who ran this year’s Stockport 10, and a huge thank you to all the organisers, marshals, other helpers, supporters and sponsors. You all help to make this a truly special event and a highlight for runners from all over the North West and beyond.


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