Local race organiser Andy O’Sullivan presented with lifetime achievement award

Prolific event organiser and race commentator Andy O’Sullivan MBE was presented with a lifetime achievement award at his very own named race on Sunday (10 November).

The commemorative 5k took place at Cowm Park Reservoir, where a number of races organised by Andy, 66, of Whitworth, have taken place over the years.

Following the 5k race organised by Chris Barnes, Marion Wilkinson of Clayton Harriers presented Andy with the award.

Andy, of Andems Runners, said: “I am overwhelmed by this act of kindness.”

 

 

Approximately £750 was raised on the day for local basketball player Mollie Campbell, who receives no funding for her sport.

Having won a silver Commonwealth medal in 2018, Mollie, also of Whitworth, hopes to be part of the GB women squad which will play the Tokyo 2020 Olympic qualifiers in February next year.

Mollie has also been named as one of the 14-player squad for the FIBA Women’s EuroBasket 2021 qualifiers against Poland and Belarus this month.

• www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/4/sport-news/131174/basketball-mollie-campbell-part-of-gb-women-squad-announced-for-poland-and-belarus-eurobasket-women-qualifiers

Andy has organised over 670 races for numerous charitable causes since 1983, many named after people who contributed enormously to the sport. He is currently taking somewhat of a backseat due to health problems, after undergoing a prostate operation this September.

• www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/130109/prolific-event-organiser-andy-o'sullivan-faces-major-surgery-to-hopefully-relieve-him-of-agonising-pain

Andy’s long-running career started in July 1982 when, along with 2,000 others, Andy completed the ‘Rochdale Observer 7 Fun Run,’ raising £500 for Rochdale Disabled Scouts.

In 1991, Andy received the BEM for services to the police and charities, which was followed with an MBE for services to athletics and charities 13 years later in 2004. 

He even carried the Olympic torch in London that year, together with some of the most famous people in the UK.