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ATHLETICS: Gleave achieves historical treble achieved with Syd Quirk walk win

Lorna Gleave (second from right) and family

More female athletes than ever run sub-90 minute times

Athletes braved the weather yesterday to take on the Syd Quirk Half Marathon. 

There were impressive displays in the women's category with no fewer than six sub-90 minute times, more than ever before.

In 10th place overall and winning the women's race was Christa Cain with a time of 1:18:42 - more than a minute faster than last year, and consolidates her place as one of only four women in the history of the event who have run under 80 minutes. 

The others are Sarah Webster, Gemma Astin and Brenda Walker. Nikki Arthur, Becci Pate, Kirsty Barber, Dawn Atherton and Becky Watterson were the others to achieve that, while Amber Carridge missed out by just two seconds and Hannah Ripley by eight seconds. 

Sam Jones retained his title in the men's race with a well-judged run, pulling clear of Mark Burman on the second lap and winning by almost two minutes. 

Mark's time of 1:14:04 was a personal best on the course, meanwhile Paul Atherton had quite a lonely race in third place but was as solid and consistent as ever.

In the walk, Neil Wade was dominant from start to finish in the walk, winning by well over four minutes.

There was a good battle for second place for much of the race. 

Stu Osborne set the pace on the first lap, but Dean Morgan walked a very strong second lap to catch and pass Stu in his first race since winning the Parish Walk. 

Lorna Gleave added a Syd Quirk women's win to her Parish Walk and End to End triumphs this year. It makes her the first competitor, male or female, ever to achieve that treble in the same year.

The ever-impressive Marie Jackson took second place a little over two minutes behind, and Jayne Farquhar came in third.

 

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