Red Rose turned out in force for the Run Preston 10k and 5k on a bright September morning. Ideal weather conditions along with a traffic free route ensured a great event on the 10th anniversary of this race. Every hill within the confines of the course seemed to be included in the 10k race but still some excellent times were achieved.
New member Duncan Anderson was the surprise performance of the day with a brilliant 4th place in a fantastic time of 35.20. Ben Donoghue continued his great form coming 6th in another great time of 35.58. The hotly contested V55 ‘race within a race’ saw Ken Addison battling it out with Kevin Hesketh of Preston Harriers and Joe Swarbrick. At 8k the gaps began to show with Hesketh and Addison together as they came out of the park. It was a sprint finish down Cheapside which eventually saw Addison triumph in a time of 39.08. Stuart Cann ran a strong 41.14 before taking on the 5k in which he ran 20.29 to take second V45. Steve Bladon put in a good performance running 41.37. Debbie Kirkman lead the ladies’ team home, finishing 5th overall and first F40 in a time of 43.34. John Allen squeezed in under 44 minutes followed by Jill Jefferson who took the F55 prize in 44.19. Janine Needham ran 44.41 to be 1st F35 and Susanne Bell finished 8th lady in 45.11, four fantastic times to win the Ladies team prize. (to be confirmed) More prizes were claimed – Margaret Lupton 3rd F45 in 49.11 and Carol Hughes 3rd F40 in 50.06.
For the men, Neil Marshall was 3rd M60 in 50.26. James Robinson was awarded first M65 and George Fletcher 2nd M65. in gun times of 55.41 and 55.56. Subject to confirmation our Men’s team of Duncan, Ben, Ken and Joe look like they took the team prize just ahead ofPreston.
As ever, there were many battles to the line with every last effort spent on getting there first. Doug Bryden and Frank Nightingale enjoyed such a battle crossing the line, stride for stride, as the clock read 45.04. Chip times confirmed sub 45 minutes for both men.
Other results: Simon O’Leary 44.24, Barry Wheeler 44.40, Doug Bryden 44.59, Frank Nightingale 44.56, Anthony Murphy 46.33, John Wiseman 47.33, Phil Davidson 47.58, Anneke Crosby 50.26,Lucy Lodge 50.41, Richard Lodge 51.25, Keith Burrows 52.08, Joan Gouldthorpe 52.59, Alan Whittle 55.05, John Plowman 56.09, Mike Jeffryes 57.26, Jake Oates 59.45,Adele Nuttall61.31,LydiaDrain 62.11, Dave Aspin 63.47, Aimee Midgley 63.40, Pita Oates 64.31, Kate Bosman 69.10, Ann Donoghue 69.13, William Sumner 69.13.
In the 5k Ben Donoghue managed a creditable 7th in a time of 18.35 with son Joe Donoghue in 12th place, in a time of 20.06. A great result came from Phil Dean taking the V55 prize in 22.51. Margaret Lupton and Richard Lodge both had the energy to tackle their second race of the day with times of 26.18 (3rd F45) and 26.44. Judith Cook and Keith O’Brien opted for the 5k race finishing together in 37.10.
Two club members managed PB’s at Cuerden Valley. Stuart Cann cracked the course in 20.45 and John Plowman brought his time down to 28.38.
