Siggers on right track but Atkins runs out of steam at Race The Train

Kenilworth Runners were again out in force for the Race The Train event, with five having the honour of beating the Talyllyn railway on its journey through the Welsh countryside and back into the station at Tywyn.
By The Newsroom
Published 23rd Aug 2013, 12:25 BST
Matt DyerMatt Dyer
Matt Dyer

More than 1,000 runners battled the wet conditions during the main event - the 14-mile Rotary Challenge - with heavy rain and wind hampering progress on the fields and off-road trails.

This year’s journey time was 1hr 48min 7sec, with Kenilworth’s Jimmy Atkins coming in an agonising 20 seconds after the train had pulled back into the station.

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However, there was better news for clubmate Andrew Siggers, who finished seventh overall in a superb time of 1:25:42 before cheering on his wife Rachel to an equally impressive 1:57.00.

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Mick Williams was the second runner home for Kenilworth, using the knowledge gained from more than 20 previous duels with the train to beat it by more than six minutes.

Marc Curtis ran well to finish in 1:42:38, with debutant Matt Dyer (1:42:56) and Richard Steel (1:43:12) completing the successful quintet.

Dyer’s sister Claire was also making her first appearance, coming home in 2:09:28 to pip her dad and former Kenilworth member Terry by more than two minutes.

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The overall winner was Andy Jones from Stockport Harriers in 1:18:43, just 28 seconds outside the course record, with Sarah Ridehalgh (Accrington Road Runners) leading the ladies home in 1:39:07.

Opting for something different, Kenilworth’s Pete Matthews decided to run the 10k morning race as well as the main event.

Matthew finished in 42.18 for seventh place - a time which would have seen him in the top three in past years - before pacing partner Marie Voice to 1:59:44 in the Rotary Challenge.

Simon Newton (Barnsley AC) clocked 38:22 to win the 10k.

Eight-year-old Melanie Gould, daughter of Kenilworth men’s team captain Phil, demonstrated her running pedigree by completing the 3.5 mile Tynllwynhen challenge in 25:43.

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The Leamington C&AC runner finisher four seconds clear of her mum Laura.

Rotary Challenge results: Andrew Siggers (1:25:41); Michael Williams (1:41:37); Marc Curtis (1:42:38); Matt Dyer (1:42:56); Richard Steel (1:43:12); Jimmy Atkins (1:48:15); Rachael Siggers (1:57:00); Marie Ann Voice (1:59:38); Pete Matthews (1:59:31); Sarah Habib (2:05:51); Claire Dyer (2:09:28); Rod Goodwin (2:14:46).