Buttery opens up year with a bang (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Buttery opens up year with a bang

9:02am Thursday 5th January 2012 in Athletics By Gary York, Sports reporter

THERE are plenty of opportunities for athletes across the county to blow off the New Year cobwebs and bring in 2012 with a bang – not least the very popular Joe Salt Awakener Race at Whitworth.

Organised by Andy O’Sullivan, the 4.2mile multi-terrain race is regarded as a little gem in the region, with scenic views across Cowm reservoir, and as usual attracted a huge number of East Lancashire runners from the 109 entrants that took part on Sunday.

Rossendale Harriers turned out the most numbers, but also on show were representatives from Darwen Dashers, Accrington Road Runers and Clayton-le-Moors Harriers among others.

Making the most of his opportunity was race winner, Andy Buttery of Rossendale, the 41-year-old winning by a minute over Warrington AC’s Dominic Mahon in a time of 24 minutes and 16 seconds.

Blackburn Harriers’ 13-year-old Elizabeth Greenwood continues to enhance her growing reputation as one of our region’s top young long running stars by leading home the females in 27:10, just 22 seconds clear of closest challenger Bev Jenkins, the vet40 winner from Salford Harriers & AC.

At least one quarter of the entrants eclipsed the 30-minute mark in a race that traditionally enjoys a blisteringly fast finish after completing two laps of the reservoir.

Buttery’s Rossendale club-mate Ashley Holt was fourth at the finish, in a time of 25:42 while Chorley AC’s Michael Chalfont (25:56) came in sixth overall and finished second to Buttery in the vet 40 category.

Graham Morris was the second vet 45 and seventh overall in 25:58, one place ahead of Clayton’s Dominic Howell (26:36).

Deborah Gowans of Accrington Road Runners came home in 17th, but landed the vet 45 title with a time of 28:52.

Other finishers include Rossendale duo Andrew Lee and David Murphy in 19th and 21st respectively, with Darwen Dasher Jonathan Stubbs in 32nd.

In the female’s juniors section, it was Greenwood that led the way, but 17-year-old Helena Leathley (30:29) of Clayton, Hannah Williams, 15, (32:18) of Hyndburn and Rossendale’s Shona Monks (36:26) were not too far behind.

In other age categories, Janine Fallon of Darwen Dashers took the vet 35 section in 39:48, just one second ahead of her nearest rival Loran Tayloe of Rossendale Harriers.

Clayton’s Christine Leathley was the top over 60 runner, in a time of 45:28.