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Kelly leads home the Lions

6/ 9/2008

EIGHTEEN Rochdale Harriers turned out for this year’s Littleborough Lions 5K charity road race.

The course took its usual painful route, heading up a slight incline from Littleborough towards Rochdale, left and up the steep Smithy Bridge Road, then alongside Hollingworth Lake and back down to the finish.

The race was won by 17-year-old Joe Kelly of Rossendale Harriers in 16 mins 30 secs.

He was pushed all the way in a close knit leading pack by Paul Backhouse of East Cheshire (16.37) and regular veteran Rob Jackson of Horwich (16.46).

Rochdale’s Ian Aitchison ran extremely well to clock 18 mins 33 secs and finish eighth.

In second and third places for the Rochdale men’s team were Ian Stainthorpe (19.12) and increasingly speedy Jon Lane (pictured extreme right, 19.29).

Anna Blomfield (pictured, 76) ran a personal best time on this course to take the position of second lady finisher in an impressive 21 mins 01 secs.

Ladies’ captain Kirstin Johnson was next for Rochdale (22.40) followed by her marathon training partner Kay Hill (24.12).

Further down the pack a fascinating battle developed between Lorraine Leary (pictured, 75) and Joanne Walsh (pictured, 52).

In training Leary is generally ahead of Walsh, but when it comes to racing the positions often reverse. This 5km was no exception, and Joanne finished 26 seconds in front of Lorraine.

Results for Rochdale Harriers were:

8 Ian Aitchinson 18.33; 13 Ian Stainthorpe 19.12; 19 Jon Lane 19.29; 20 Christopher Hill 20.11; 21 Nigel Shaw 20.29; 22 Anna Blomfield 21.01; 25 Mark Walker 21.22; 26 Andy O'Sullivan 21.25; 34 Kirstin Johnson 22.40; 45 Kay Hill 24.12; 48 Christine Deasey 24.30; 57 Joanne Walsh 26.45; 60 Lorraine Leary 27.11; 65 Pauline Cooper 28.29; 72 Suzanne Cunningham 35.30; 73 Christine Dillon 40.19; 74 Andrea Finnerty 40.20; 76 Lillian Parr 41.46.