Athletics & Running Sports Section PAA Marathon Championships Belfast Monday 6 May 2002 Marathon running has grown in popularity in recent years, so much so that 12 members of the force took part in the annual Police Athletic Association Marathon Championships. This year, the event was held in Belfast incorporated within the popular Belfast City Marathon event.
The twelve strong team, some of them novice marathon runners, took part in the 26 mile run in hot sunny conditions. Finishing times for the Lancashire force varied between 2 hours 39 minutes and 4 hours 40 minutes.
PC Darren Hale form Western Division, was placed 3rd in the event finishing in 2 hours 39 minutes. Darren, who has won the PAA event in previous years could be excused for only coming 3rd as he had already run the distance, winning the hilly Sheffield marathon just a week earlier in 2 hours 32 minutes!
PC Alison Crook from Southern Division ran her debut marathon and completed the course in 3 hours 12 minutes being placed 2nd overall in the PAA championships.
The ladies continued to go from strength to strength with PC's Fiona Benn, Central Division and Cara Noone, Northern Division both running excellent debut times. Fiona ran 3 hours 27 minutes and was 4th lady with Cara finishing 6th in 3 hours 28 minutes. Also, Ms Julie Yates from Professional Standards ran her best marathon and was placed 1st in the lady veteran 35+ category.
As a team, the force did well with PC Steve Broadbent, Northern Division (running 3 hours 4 minutes) teaming up with Darren Hale and Alison Crook to score sufficient points to win a bronze medal.
Novice and veteran marathon runners Ms Shirley Worral, Legal Department ran an excellent time in 4 hours 9 minutes and 'County golfer' DC Mick McKortel, Southern Division hung up his clubs and ran his first ever marathon in 4 hours 16 minutes.
Both Alison Crook and Darren Hale qualified to take part in the European Police championships to be held in Athens in November. Click on picture to enlarge
 
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