Collins blooms for host club at Bluebell race

The 500 runners who secured places were treated to perfect conditions with wall-to-wall sunshine and plenty of bluebells in flower along the route.

The race was won by Matthew Hallam of Valley Striders in 1:12:02 but the host club had the first lady in Lucy Collins and there were category wins for Aileen Baldwin (F65) and Judith Greenwood (F70).

First time race director Clayton Cutter and his team did a brilliant job. The reward for scaling the lung-busting and legendary Trooper Lane was water, jelly babies plus panoramic views from the top of Beacon Hill and a welcome downhill run to the finish with a “refreshing” river crossing on the way.

This year’s event was extra special as it marked the start of the Lions’ 30 th anniversary celebrations.

Thanks to a last minute course alteration, runners got extra value for their money with a bonus extra half mile on top of the advertised 10 miles.

There was a party atmosphere at the finish line, with a live band and bar, a bouncy castle for the children, and well-earned cakes and ice cream.

The race was in the Sowerby Bridge Snails Championship. The club’s first male home was Sean Suttle and the first female was Rebecca Pollard.

Chris Hanley, Terry Lamonby-Smith, Verity Garside, Brian Crowther and Jodie Smith head the club’s five divisions.

Lions results: Darren Young 1:19:13 (2 nd M45), Dan Marsden 1:23:27, Lucy Collins 1:24:30 (1 st Lady), Derek Parrington 1:26:55 (2 nd M50), Phillip Moyles 1:29:46, Mark Pigford 1:29:52, Andrew Earnshaw 1:33:30, Michael Barlow 1:34:22, Julie Field 1:35:11 (2 nd F45), David Culpan 1:38:25, Martin O’Brien 1:40:07, Stuart Clinton 1:41:05, Rachel Lumb 1:42:38 (2 nd F50), Aileen Baldwin 1:42:43 (1 st F65), Michelle Rogerson 1:44:55, Gareth Duckworth 1:45:02, Ian Hoskins 1:46:57, Jonathan Pybus 1:48:02, Gareth Webb 1:48:46, Moira Alderson 1:50:38, Angela Lee 1:54:46, Kevin Jaggar 1:58:36, Tony Pinnington 1:58:40, Holly Maddocks 1:59:33, Genevieve Thompson 2:01:35, Carol Gregson 2:03:07, Alison Audsley 2:03:49, Zoe Mallinson 2:07:36, Catherine O’Shaughnessy 2:11:16, Steve Boyer 2:12:00, Roger Smith 2:12:01, Debbie Hyde 2:14:50, Judith Greenwood 2:24:32 (1 st F70), Patricia Hallowell 2:24:35, Wendy Paulson 2:25:16, Julie Goddard 2:31:22, Manjit Ahiar 2:37:56, Gail Fawcett 2:43:03.

Snails results: 14, Sean Suttle 1:21:38; 27, Jonathan Moon 1:24:41; 53, Kyle Spencer 1:30:00; 56, Chris Hanley 1:30:22; 93, Richard Smith 1:37:00; 105, Kevin Carse 1:38:55; 133, Rob Hick 1:42:16; 147, Tom Oddy 1:43:47; 154, Chris Smart 1:44:33; 178, Mark Szefer 1:47:13; 211, Kieran Heaton 1:51:38; 231, Rebecca Pollard 1:54:05; 244, David Redhead 1:56:10; 374, Verity Garside 2:14:48; 391, Danielle Whitworth 2:17:25; 411, Nicky Brown 2:21:25; 413, Ella King 2:21:35; 426, Suzanne Fretwell 2:25:29; 454, Sandra Pinder 2:35:35; 455, Anne Molloy 2:35:35; 456, El Ogilive 2:35:35; 457, Amanda Aveyard 2:35:35; 460, Miriam Caldecott 2:36:03; 477, Samantha Wolstenholme 2:59:35; 478, Rick Ogilvie 3:00:44; 481, Amanda Goldthorpe 3:19:32; 482, Carol Whitworth 3:21:56.

Northowram Pumas results: Tim Brook 1:20:13, Luke Cranfield 1:20:44, Rick Ralph 1:22:46, Jude Roberts 1:27:43, Deke Banks 1:28:49, Andy Barnes 1:31:07, Diane Cooper 1:33:25, Chris Ellis 1:39:46, Jane Cole 1:41:41, Julie Bowman 1:42:29, Andrew Tudor 1:47:05, Matt Newton 1:48:02, Victoria Owen 1:50:38, Ally Canning 1:52:46, Jodie Knowles 1:57:32, Katrina Wood 2:00:02, Anna Ralph 2:07:44, Rachael Hawkins 2:10:01, Andrew Mellor 2:10:03.