A brilliant turn out of 47 runners from Red Rose at the first Inter Club race of the season was rewarded with some excellent results. Joe Monk stole the show with a brilliant 4th place in a time of 22.10 for the 4 mile distance. He was followed by two more ‘Joes’. Joe Swarbrick and Joe Donoghue, with times of 24.04 and 24.14. Ben Donoghue prepared for London by accompanying his son, and Ken Addison finished seconds later in 24.28. Steve Whitney had another strong run with 24.43 before a good bunch of four completed the team of ten, to finish 4th team on the night. Dave Maudsley 25.30, Anthony Murphy 25.37, Stuart Cann 25.42 and Phil Butler 26.01.
There was more success in the Vet categories. The V40 team were 3rd and the V50 team of Swarbrick, Addison, Cann and Butler took the coveted first place.
Janine Needham showed her form being first home for the club in 28.28 with Margaret Lupton second in a time of 30.05. Paula Plowman, F50, was third in 30.17 and Janette Rayton completed the team of 4 with a time of 31.48.
Other times. D.Bryden 26.23, Andrew Stell 27.09, D. Hooton 27.23, Ethan Hodgkinson 27.32, P.Dean 28.51, F. Nightingale 29.15,I. Wharton 30.10, J. Wiseman 30.18, Regin Sardais 30.56, J. Plowman 31.20, W.Hoyle 31.57, D. Porter 32.00, R.Johnson 32.41, C.Douglas 32.50, L.Bosman 32.58, L.Lodge 32.59, Y.Johnson 33.06, J.Gouldthorpe 33.37, A.Howard 35.05, G.Beetham 35.31, M.Simpson 36.07,K.Clark 36.14, C.Clark 36.15, J.Oates 37.54, H.Orson 38.28, E.Elkington 38.55 D.Aspin 39.31, N.Oates 39.52, A. Midgley 41.09, A.Donoghue 41.10, J.Malcolmson 41.11, J.Saynor 42.57, K.Bosman 44.32.
At the Preston parkrun Red Rose had 3 new PB’s to celebrate. John Allen returning to good form with 19.54, Richard Maughan 21.04 and Daine Hill 26.45.
At the tough Cuerden Valley event there were 8 new PB’s, Andrew Stell 22.47, Dave Hooton 23.24, Paula Plowman, 25.35, Margaret Lupton 25.47, Damian Clapham 26.09, John Plowman 26.31, junior runner Alice Lodge 30.30 and Claire Shaw 32.32 among the clubs strong contingent.
Meanwhile in the USA Steve Gore returned from 2 months injury with a 7.30am start at the Clermont Waterfront parkrun with a good time of 20.30.
The parkruns are popular across the world and can be credited with firing many thousands of peoples interest in running and then going on to join a club. Which can only be a good thing.
The big event of the weekend was of course the London Marathon. Red Rose had a strong turnout of 11 runners.
Leading the way was in form Ben Donoghue with 2.52.43 and a creditable 710th place.
Red Rose performance of the race goes to Jill Jefferson who finished as 8th lady v55 with a time of 3.31.59, she was also our first lady home.
Great runs from Mark Billington and Mark Billington saw them complete the distance in 3.26.22 and 3.32.53.
Second lady home was Debbie Kirkman in 3.34.23 with Phil Darwen and Stuart Cann not far behind in 3.39.14 and 3.40.20. Tony Thorley had a great run to finish on 3.43.23 before a bit of a gap to Shane Cliffe finishing in 4.22.32 and Janice Johnson 4.48.34. And finally a big well done to Alan Raven finishing the race in 5.35.01.
Looking at the split times shows that nearly all of the runners ran well judged races maintaining a fairly even pace throughout. Take a look at the London Marathon web pages for details of all the runners races.
Locally there were 8 Rosers at the annual Garstang Gallop 10k that takes in the lanes around Garstang and Scorton.
V55 Ken Addison was 6th and 1st v55 in 40.31, Richard Oakley 14th 43.12, Simon Houghton 21st 46.12, Debbie Porter 47th 51.54. Michael Coupland 64th 55.15, Jim Robinson 77th 58.39, Percy Moyo 81st 60.23 and Pita Oates 90th 65.59