Drama and comebacks highlight action-packed Rosemary Mazzone Memorial races

Northern AC’s revamped and rescheduled Northern 10 road race included a half-marathon for the first time in the event’s history on Saturday.

A crisp autumn morning greeted a bumper combined field of 170 for the event, renamed the Rosemary Mazzone Memorial after a long-time stalwart committee member of the club.

Delayed from its traditional May date because of new half-marathon course measurements, the fixture provided spectacular racing across three distinct disciplines: a half-marathon run, a 10-mile run and a 10-mile walk.

It all started from Mooragh Park, sprinting into Parliament Square before heading in the reverse direction along the TT course towards Sulby.

At Sulby bridge the route split, with the 10-mile competitors heading towards St Jude’s on the traditional route, while the half-marathon runners headed to Sulby crossroads, where the course turned right onto Clenagh Road. At Sandygate, it turned right again onto Jurby Road for the return to Ramsey.

The half-marathon got underway at 8.15 with immediate drama as pre-race favourite James Read missed the official start gun by 1min 38sec.

Facing a considerable handicap, he immediately launched a relentless counter-attack. Four miles into the race at Kerrowmoar he had already sliced through the field to fourth position.

He swept past leading female Crista Cain and set his sights firmly on Liam Parker in second spot.

Meanwhile, a fierce battle was brewing in the women's field, with Western AC’s Dawn Atherton and Kirsty Barber locked in a tight duel for second, separated by only a few seconds.

By St Jude's, with fewer than four miles remaining, Read had seized second place and was closing down long-time leader, Mark Burman, setting up an exciting finale.

Ultimately, Burman held on to take a fine victory in 1hr 14min 45sec, with the heroic Read only 25s adrift and Parker third at a further 1m 34s.

Cain won the women’s race in fourth spot with a time of 1:17.20, followed by Atherton and Barber in sixth and seventh, behind Paul Sykes.

Phil Knox dictated the pace in the 10-mile run, leading the field through Sulby ahead of James Sayle, with Andy McKnight holding third and Nik Cain hot on their heels.

The women' race saw Joanne Schade establish a commanding lead, followed by Erika Lockley and Emily Mylchreest.

The drama had intensified by the third water station on the long run back into Ramsey, where Mylchreest locked her sights on Lockley. Cheered on by her parents who were marshalling at the Vollan descent, she pushed hard on North Shore Promenade, but Lockley dug deep to defend her number two spot.

Ahead of them, Schade claimed a dominant victory in 1h 07m 22s, with Lockley holding onto second place in 1:08. 54, some 20s ahead of Mylchreest.

The 10-mile walkers took to the course at 8.30, when Neil Wade stamped his authority on the race from the very first stride, leading the pack out of Mooragh Park.

He was pursued closely by top female Rachael Greham.

By Glen Duff depot, the race structure had completely solidified. Stewart Jones had carved out a comfortable gap in second place overall, ahead of second-placed female Sophie Watterson-Jones.

The latter had successfully gapped third-placed female Jayne Farquhar, who had third-placed male Travis Petrie breathing right down her neck.

Wade took a comprehensive victory in 1:23.38, while Greham secured the women's title with an excellent time of 1:33.26.

Following the gruelling efforts in the chilly autumn air, competitors gathered at the Ramsey Rugby Club for well-earned refreshments and the formal presentation, where custom finishers' medals were awarded to all who completed the course.

Organisers extended a vote of thanks to the extensive team of volunteer marshals who lined the courses, noting that without their vital support, staging this community event would simply not be possible.

The presentation of awards was made by Rosemary Mazzone’s son Ali.

Northern AC Half-Marathon: 1, Mark Burman 1hr 14min 45sec; 2, James Read 1:15.10; 3, Liam Parker 1:16.44; 4, Christa Cain 1:17.20; 5, Paul Sykes 1:22.06; 6, Dawn Atherton 1:25.28; 7, Kirsty Barber 1:26.15; 8, Richard Highfield 1:29.09; 9, Stuart Christian 1:29.39; 10, Ben Grainger 1:29.43; 11, Oscar Christian 1:29.47; 12, Raymond Whitfield 1:37.26; 13, Tonton Bangero 1;39.31; 14, Paul McGilvray 1:39.34; 15, Kristian Edwards 1:40.46; 16, Anna Kirk 1:42.56; 17, Nick Moffitt 1:43.16; 18, Carrie Kelly 1:44.20; 19, Andy Skelly 1:44.21; 20, Caroline West 1:45.06. There were 44 finishers.

10-mile run: 1, Phil Knox 59m 09s; 2, James Sayle 59.50; 3, Andy McKnight 1:02.43; 4, Nik Cain 1:04.21; 5, Kevin Harding 1:04.55; 6, Nick Corlett 1:05.25; 7, Rob Monk 1:05.25; 8, Jonathan Pugh 1:06.12; 9, Joanne Schade 1:07.22; 10, Will Corkill 1:08.13; 11, Benjamin Lees 1:08.39; 12, Scott Baker 1:08.48; 13, Kevin Deakes 1:08.49; 14, Erika Lockley 1:08.54; 15, Ollie Lockley 1:08.54; 16, Emily Mylchreest 1:09.14; 17, Jack Okell 1:09.16; 18, Tufty Nash 1:11.07; 19, Michael Faid 1:11.33; 20, Ben Smaller 1:11.40. 83 finishers.

One-mile Walk: 1, Neil Wade 1:23.38; 2, Rachael Greham 1:33.26; 3, Stewart Jones 1:39.42; 4, Sophie Watterson-Jones 1:42.32; 5, Jayne Farquhar 1:46.50; 6, Travis Petrie 1:46.51; 7, Lynsey Woods 1:55.53; 8, Barbara Watt 2:04.28; 9=, Maria Tramontana and Julie Tramontana 2:04.42; 11, Owen Seal 2:04.46; 12, Kellie Jauncey 2:13.32; 13, Gerard Hall 2:13.41; 14, Mkubwa Mahzei Ziad 2:15.37; 15, Mark Rea 2:21.04. 25 finishers.

Full results can be found at - https://my.raceresult.com/424512/results