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Ron does the distance at 70

Helen Johnson
30/ 9/2008

MORE than 460 runners took to the streets of Littleborough to celebrate the 70th birthday of one of the country’s most prolific long-distance runners.

Dr Ron Hill commemorated his milestone birthday with a five-kilometre run organised in his honour by Andy O’Sullivan.

Runners set off from Littleborough Square, opposite the Falcon Inn and ran along Church Street, Featherstall Road and New Road, before turning left into Smithy Bridge Road, running up the hill to Hollingworth Lake and back down to The Square.

Dr Hill completed the race in 26 minutes and two seconds. His sons, Stephen and Graham, chalked up times of 23 minutes 19 seconds and 19 minutes 37 seconds respectively.

Joint race winners were Ian Grime from Newham and Essex Beagles and Steve Vernon (Stockport), who crossed the line in 15 minutes and 27 seconds.

The most mature runner was 84-year-old Jack Kirk, who completed the run in 42 minutes 23 seconds, alongside former Observer editor Brian Beal.

Mr O’Sullivan said: "Ron called me the next day to say he had really enjoyed himself. It was a cracking do.  I’ve known him donkey’s years and we always do a run for him, but this one was particularly special. The atmosphere was wonderful, the Falcon must have been the busiest pub in the UK after everyone finished.  When you consider the problems in the world at the moment, the run was such a refreshing break. We had runners from clubs all over the country taking part."

Dr Hill, who lives in Hyde, Cheshire, has an illustrious history in the long-distance running field. He has run every day since December 1964, and in 1970 became the first British runner to win the Boston Marathon, in 2 hours, 10 minutes and 30 seconds

Over the years he set numerous national and world records and also picked up gold medals at the European Championships and the Commonwealth Games.

Dr Hill said: "It was an honour that 467 people turned out on a Thursday evening to take part. This time it was more of an occasion for me, rather than a competitive race.  I was quite amazed that the television crews turned up. It was quite flattering.  In 1962 I was one of nine runners on the England cross country team and, remarkably, four of us were there on the night. Myself and Gerry North were running, Colin Robinson was helping Andy and Brian Craig was planning to run, but he had a heart attack last month. He still came though."

Numerous hospices benefited from the run, including Springhill, Derian House, Rossendale and Pendleside, which all received donations, as did Rochdale Stroke Club, the Chernobyl Children’s project and St John’s Ambulance Service.

Observer reporter Helen Johnson ran in aid of Springhill Hospice. She is still collecting donations for our Can You Spare a Minute? campaign. If you would like to sponsor her, go to www.justgiving.com/runningreporterhelen.