ASICS Oulton Park Half Marathon & 10K race review

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    • The second ASICS Oulton Park Half Marathon & 10K took place last Sunday (8th March 2015) on the famous Oulton Park motor racing circuit in Cheshire. A total of 1,135 runners crossed the finish line, with many athletes taking on the challenge of both the 10K and the half marathon.

    The ASICS Oulton Park Half Marathon saw a large number of runners preparing for the ASICS Greater Manchester Marathon in Trafford on Sunday 19th April, as well as many club runners from the surrounding areas celebrating the start of the road running season. A lot of runners were also supporting Cancer Research UK, the Official Charity Partner for the ASICS Oulton Park Half Marathon & 10K.

    The ASICS Oulton Park 10K started at 10am with wet and windy conditions around the circuit. Timmy Davies claimed the men’s title in a time of 00:34:48, with runner up Simon Newton (Ackworth Road Runners) finishing in 00:35:37. Richard Spooner came third in 00:35:58. Heather Carter of Sandbach Striders was the fastest in the women’s field and secured the win in a time of 00:42:00, ahead of Georgia Bevan who finished in 00:43:09 and Nicola Hunter who came third in 00:46:22.

    The start horn for the ASICS Oulton Park Half Marathon sounded at 12.30pm, by which time the weather conditions ASICS OPHM 2015_starthad started to improve. Mark Swannell of Bolton Harriers secured the winning title in a time of 01:18:35, ahead of Chris Williams (Queensbury RC) who finished in 01:18:46 and David Parkin (Swinton RC) in 01:19:02. Gemma Connolly of Sutton/St Helens improved her fantastic performance from last year and shaved over 1.5 minutes off her 2014 time. Dominating the women’s field Connolly came in excellent overall 7th place in a time 01:21:35. Penny Ditchfield (Meltham AC) took second place in 01:27:20, ahead of Emma Wilkinson (Steel City Striders) who crossed the finish line in 01:29:38.

    Following his 10K wheelchair race win in 2014, Stuart Bloor of Crewe Athletics Club took on the half marathon distance this year and won in a time of 01:18:41.

    Results:

    ASICS Oulton Park 10K (3 laps)

    08/03/2015, Oulton Park Motor Racing Track, Cheshire

    MEN

    1. Timmy Davies, 00:34:48
    2. Simon Newton (Ackworth Road Runners), 00:35:37
    3. Richard Spooner, 00:35:58

    WOMEN

    1. Heather Carter (Sandbach Striders), 00:42:00
    2. Georgia Bevan, 00:43:09
    3. Nicola Hunter, 00:46:22

    ASICS Oulton Park Half Marathon (6 laps)

    08/03/2015, Oulton Park Motor Racing Track, Cheshire

    MEN

    1. Mark Swannell (Bolton Harriers), 01:18:35
    2. Chris Williams (Queensbury RC), 01:18:46
    3. David Parkin (Swinton RC), 01:19:02

    WOMEN

    1. Gemma Connolly (Sutton/St Helens), 01:21:35
    2. Penny Ditchfield (Meltham AC), 01:27:20
    3. Emma Wilkinson (Steel City Striders), 01:29:38

    Wheelchair half marathon race

    1. Stuart Bloor (Crewe Athletics Club), 01:18:41

    Chorlton Runners retained their title from last year by winning the Best Club Trophy for both male and female teams.

    The full results are available on www.xtramileevents.com/results/2015/

    The ASICS Oulton Park Half Marathon and 10K offers many unique features including a traffic free race track, super smooth tarmac and the finish straight on the pit line, guaranteeing a unique running experience.

    Race Director Simon Hill commented: “The second ASICS Oulton Park Half Marathon & 10K has been a great success and we have received fantastic feedback from the competitors. This is the perfect event for runners to start their road running season and the perfect training race for all spring marathons including the ASICS Greater Manchester Marathon on 19th April. I would like to express a big thank you to our title sponsor ASICS, to all the runners, and to everyone who contributed to the success of the event including the marshals and volunteers.”

    ASICS UK Marketing Manager, Cathy McGinnis, said: “Congratulations to all the runners and volunteers at the second ASICS Oulton Park Half Marathon and 10K. This is a great training event for the ASICS Greater Manchester Marathon event in 6 weeks time and will be a key event in the UK race calendar.  We look forward to growing the event and to supporting all the runners on their journey.”

    Kathryn Hurrell, Sports Team Manager at Cancer Research UK, added: “Cancer Research UK would like to say a huge thank you to all our runners who raced around the ASICS Oulton Park Half Marathon and 10k to raise vital funds for our research in the UK. Thanks to your support we are constantly challenging this disease and you are helping us to bring forward the day that all cancers are cured. Education however is also key – 40% of all cancers could be avoided through us all living a healthier lifestyle and with the backing of events like the ASICS Oulton Park Half Marathon & 10k more people will understand the importance of this. Many of you are also taking on the ASICS Greater Manchester Marathon so we look forward to seeing you again in a month’s time!”

    Go to www.xtramileevents.com for details about Xtra Mile Events or www.greatermanchestermarathon.com to sign up for the ASICS Greater Manchester.

    Keep up to date with the latest event news on social media;

    Facebook:  www.facebook.com/OultonParkHalfAnd10k

    Twitter: @oultonparkhalf

    Happy runners_ASICS OPHM10K

    Images from the ASICS Oulton Park Half Marathon & 10K can be downloaded here . 

    Images taken by Tim Waterworth Photography.