“We supported Breakthrough because our rep Steve Rawson’s wife, Babs, had breast cancer recently and thankfully now has the all clear,” says HMG’s marketing manager and three-time competitor, Paddy Dyson. “We also employ quite a number of men, so there was also plenty of interest in supporting prostate cancer research.”
“Unfortunately, the run certainly took its toll on Team HMG this year, with an injury list that reads like an England football squad’s, including bad backs, knee and ankle injuries, groin strains, hamstrings, blisters and black toenails,” he adds. “Though once again, all who took part did really well and, hopefully, we raised a lot of money for our charities.”
As fastest Team HMG finisher, newly-appointed board director Steve Crossman crossed the line in 37:18, just short of last year’s record. He was closely challenged by stoving department foreman Neil Dawes (42:16), lab technician Colin Foster (44:00), production guy John Rutter (44:31), aerosol worker Mark Boardman (47:12), and Byotrol’s Andy Benton (49:12). New boy Sam Gaunt, fresh from Manchester Business School, also impressed with a time of 48:17.
Despite a groin injury, Mark Boardman was again top dog in HMG’s Aerotube aerosol department race, beating off Jamie Crawford (52:48) and first timer David Sullivan (1:35:20), who was also the youngest competitor. David’s mum Alison Sullivan (1:35:47) was apparently more intent on getting her make-up right for the BBC TV cameras filming the event.
Former schoolboy champion, sales manager Danny Cleary came home in 1:05:09; while new employee Lee Williams (1:01:23) just failed to beat his brother, foreman Russ Williams (54:23), but tied with brother-in-law John Mercer (also 1:01:23). Purchase ledger clerk Sarah Bateman (1:03:18) chased home husband-to-be Gareth Woods (58:03), while Paddy Dyson (1:01:21) just beat his girlfriend Barbara Ann Flaherty (1:01:35) in the final sprint.
Of the three Newton siblings in the team, Mike and Paul came home together in a highly creditable 58:23, whilst sister Sarah was only five minutes down in 1:03:01, finishing alongside paint mixer John Keane (same time). Maggie McDermott from HMG’s trade counter improved by 9 minutes to 1:20:29, while stock manager Maxine Murray, who ran last year but didn’t get a mention in the roundup, was devastated to miss the event due to family illness.
“Later this year, we shall be celebrating HMG’s 80th anniversary, so it’s doubly rewarding to see a record number of our staff entering the Great Manchester Run, the city’s biggest money-raising event,” says HMG Paints MD, John Falder. “Congratulations to every single one that took part, they really did us proud.”
A selection of photos from the day are below.