The latest RRRR Championship race was the Green Drive 5 Mile. A great club turnout of 36 out of a field of 323 saw some excellent performances. A tough race developed between Duncan Anderson, Ben Donoghue and Horwich Veteran, Paul Muller. As they came back on to Green Drive, Anderson led the way, only for Ben Donoghue to steal a valuable narrow lead to cross the line in 28.33 and 12th place overall; Duncan finished in 28.49 in 14th place. In 41st place Joe Swarbrick took 3rd M55 in 31.23 with Phil Darwen running strongly to finish in 48th in 31.51. Mark Billington was in a tight race with Matt Swarbrick (unattached) who just edged him out in times of 32.20 and 32.23.
Anthony Murphy was chased all the way to a tight finish with Mark D Billington to finish in times of 32.59 and 33.12. The battles continued throughout the race with Steve Gore just getting the better of Dave Hooton with times of 33.56 and 34.04.
Debbie Kirkman had to work very hard for her victory over Jill Jefferson finishing 7 seconds ahead in 34.48. Jill’s excellent performance was good enough to win her the Lancashire Championship F55 gold medal in a time of 34.55. Crossing the line one second later was Simon O’Leary.
Within 40 seconds of each other 5 more RR men fought for supremacy. Geoff Haworth was 107th in 35.38, Doug Bryden finished well 10 seconds later, Frank Nightingale maintained his position in the final stages with a time of 36.02 with Barry Wheeler applying pressure in the final long drag to finish in 36.10. Cliff Utting matched everyone’s efforts to run 36.16 for 11th M60 in a very high calibre class.
Another RR pairing saw Luke Bosman’s gritty determination bring him home in 38.42, just ahead of Richard Lodge and Margaret Lupton who ran well for a time of 38.50. Paula Plowman tested her recovery from injury to finish 4th F50 in a time of 40.32.
George Fletcher took 7th place in the M65 category with a time of 41.15 followed by Joan Gouldthorpe who took 2nd place in the F60 in a time of 41.21.
Our youngest runner, Lucy Lodge had a great run finishing in 41.41. Next in was John Plowman who continues to improve with a time of 42.14 and Jim Robinson following him in, in a time of 43.07. The heavy rain arrived in the latter stages of the race spurring runners on toward the finish. Many runners will have been able to claim PB’s for this unusual race distance. Martin Simpson came in, in 44.08 followed by Allan Howard in 45.46. Karen Clark was 12 seconds clear of Chris Clark with a time of 46.57. Wendy Ward was pleased with her time of 47.47 as was Kate Bosman finishing under 50 minutes in 49.56. Dave Aspin ran steadily for 50.55, whilst Ann Donoghue was speechless about her performance, crossing the line with William Sumner in 53,47. Keith O’Brien completed the impressive presence of Red Rose in a time of 56.48.
Two juniors also represented the club in the very competitive Junior Mile race, with Alice Lodge finishing in 07:55 and Hannah Bosman 09:33
Carol Douglass and Debbie Porter tackled the difficult Standish Hall Trail race. Carol finished in 57.00 to take the F65 prize and Debbie broke the hour with 59.56. At the Farmers’ Arms, Parbold 10k Ethan Hodgkinson ran 50.31 and Aimee Midgley completed the deceptively hilly course in 66.42.
Andrew Baxendale was the only RR to attain a Parkrun PB this week with a time of 25.21 at Preston.