Runners back under starter's orders for Rowbotham Round Rotherham race

ATHLETES go under starter's orders in the Rowbotham Round Rotherham 50-Mile Trail Race tomorrow for the first time in two years.

The event, called off in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, starts and finishes at Manvers Waterfront Boat Club.

Slower walkers go out at 4am, walkers and joggers at 6am and runners at 7am.

There are check points at Grange, Treeton, Harthill, Woodsetts, Firbeck, Maltby and Hooton.

Ben Hague has won the last two races and in 2019 took 17 minutes off Chris Parkes' long-standing record and became the first runner to finish in under six hours, clocking 5:57.18. The women's race was won by newcomer Sabrina Vergee in 7:47. 41. She was sixth overall.

We'll have pictures and a report in next week's Advertiser.