Rotherham to push for honours at Northern Road Relay Championship

Rotherham Harriers should be among the contenders at the Northern Road Relay Championships in Manchester this weekend.
Sophie Cowper of Rotherham HarriersSophie Cowper of Rotherham Harriers
Sophie Cowper of Rotherham Harriers

The Harriers have earned bronze medals for the last two years in the women's race, which features four stages.

Rotherham should push for honours again, although Sophie Cowper is the only runner remaining from last year's team with Samantha Hughes and Zara Knappy running for the B team and Jenny Blizard injured. Haley Carruthers, who was the second fastest British runner in the Great North Run last week, is on holiday.

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Natasha Hatswell will run the opening stage for Rotherham, followed by Nicola Devine, a recruit from Doncaster AC who will be making her road relay debut and adds to the tremendous depth at the club.

Steph Burns will take the third stage with Cowper again the anchor.

The Rotherham B team of Hughes, Knappy, Cyane Robinson and Hannah Holmes will be looking to repeat last year's result when they were first B team home.

Hallamshire crossed the line in sixth place last year but were disqualified for a registration infringement.

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If at full strength they could make an impact at the front end of the race while the Hallamshire men will be looking for a place in the top ten.

There are also three stage relays for under 17, under 15 and under 13 with teams from Hallamshire, City of Sheffield and Rotherham among the entries.

'¢ Thousands are expected to line up in Sheffield City centre for the third ASDA Foundation 10K on Sunday.

The event is Part of the Jane Tomlinson Run for All Series which raises a huge amount for many charities.

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Sheffield is an important venue for the Jane Tomlinson races and also hosts a half marathon earlier each year.

Sunday's race starts at 9:30am at Arundel Gate and proceeds on Charter Row, along Ecclesall Road before skirting Endcliffe Park.

The spectator friendly route continues along Riverdale Road and Endcliffe Vale Road passing close to the Botanical Gardens.

The runners go down Brocco Bank before returning to the City Centre finish.

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The winner last year was Liam Rabjohn from the Richmond and Zetland club in North Yorkshire in a time of 33:15 with Matt Hobbs (Hallamshire) the first local runner in third place.

Mountain running international Rebecca Robinson (Kendal) was the first woman.