Mitchell an instant hit

First time racer Joshua Mitchell won the shorter event at today's Halifax Marathon and Half Marathon from Dean Clough.

The 21-year-old from Norwood Green, who is not a member of a club, sped home in one hour 25 minutes and 54 seconds.

That gave him victory by more than three minutes from seasoned Todmorden Harriers runner Robin Tuddenham (1.29.22) with unattached Darren Jenness (1.30.39) third.

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Mitchell was reputedly a reluctant entrant, put forward by his father.

Todmorden went one better in the women’s race, won by Sarah Glyde (1.43.39) from Rachel Cullen (unattached, 1.44.21) and Kezia Rooke (Halifax Harriers, 1.46.22).

Seventy six runners tackled a scenic. hilly 13-mile route which took runners to Pellon, Mixenden, Ogden, Bradshaw, Queensbury and Holmfield.

Forty runners did two laps of the course in the marathon and the winner was unattached Paul Booker in 3.24.19 from Todmorden’s Paul Alexander (3.31.52) and Patrick Babb (3.36.47).

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Rebecca Johnson made the long trip from Glasgow worthwhile by winning the women’s race in 3.27.41 and the Bellahouston Road Runners member was an excellent second overall.

She recently won the Huddersfield Marathon on another raid south and said she liked the “good beer, good food and good running routes” in this part of the world.

This was the third running of the event and second from Dean Clough. The first was from the Shay Stadium.

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