A good presence of Red Rose supported the Badger 10k Trail Race held at Cuerden Valley. A race which has a variety of stiles, gates and steps plus an uphill field climb is no place to do a PB but this is a great fixture for a summer’s evening. Joe Swarbrick claimed 15th place in a time of 41.27 with Anthony Murphy in 19thin a time of 42.53.Phil Davidson (48th) finished in 45.38 followed by Paul Woan who improved his previous time by over a minute in 46.46. Several runners took on this race for the first time posting excellent times. David Botttomley 48.55, Ethan Hodgkinson 51.01.
Anthony Rushe( 51.41) stayed strong to finish ahead of RR team mates John Wiseman 51.47 and Regis Sardais 51.55. Paula Plowman headed the 3rd placed ladies team in a time of 52.31 ably supported by Kitty Chambers (52.33) and Sarah Maltby (52.38). Debbie Porter’s time of 54.04 brought her home just ahead of Carol Douglass who took the F65 prize in 54.12. Anneke Crosby ran 55.45 to place well in her age group and Yvonne Johnson took the F55 prize in a time of 56.07. Joan Gouldthorpe added to the club’s list of winners to take the F60 prize in 57.58. Roger Johnson looked strong finishing in 58.34 followed by George Fletcher V70 winner, who finished in 59.04 as the oldest competitor on the night. A time of 59.15 was a minute up on Jenny Fairclough’s previous attempt at the race followed by Richard Crompton who also broke the one hour barrier in 59.48. Claire Shaw ran 62.09 at her first attempt in the first of three races in four days. Our team was completed on this warm energy sapping evening, by Aimee Midgeley (67.18) Jane Petrie(67.34) Angela Brooks (68.14) and William Sumner (80.35).
Steve Murphy ran a PB of 22.10 at the Preston 5k Parkrun and Vicky Gore improve her time again at Cuerden Valley with a time of 28.57.
The Catforth 5k which was held on a hot sticky Saturday evening is gaining a reputation as a PB course and saw Joe Donoghue take the U20 prize in 18.45 half a minute ahead of Steve Gore with a great time of 19.17. Dave Maudsley also comfortably beat 20 minutes in a time of 19.39. Richard Maughan ran well for 20.17 and Paul Woan’s 21.17 proved another step forward in his return to fitness. Claire Shaw ran 27.39 with energy to spare and Keith O’Brien finished in 35.30 with Judith Cook over the line in 36.48.
At St Annes’ Carnival one mile Fun Run, Junior members Archie and Jonathan Finch ran really well and finished in 12.21. In the 5k race Claire Shaw ran even faster than the previous night to be first Red Rose home in 27.15 with Vicky Gore equally impressive in a time of 27.34. Dave Aspin kept up his consistent performances with a time of 29.42 and Bernard Elkington came home in 33.15.
Colin Manning and Allan Howard both competed in the Southport Half Marathon . The conditions were favourable initially but by mile 8 the heat began to take its toll. Allan ran 2.05.59 and Colin 2.14.10.
At the Bentham Beagles 10k Debbie Porter won the F40 prize coming 6th lady overall in a time of 54.36 whilst Sal Cape and Lydia Plackett took on the extremely tough Coniston trail half in very warm conditions. Sal ran an excellent 2.38.56 and she recommends it as a great race for next year and Lydia was equally enthusiastic about the run finishing in 3.06. Dave Brunton went one better by doing the marathon distance in preparation for the Lakeland 50.
John Wiseman completed the Cross Bay Challenge in a time of 2.13 with George Fletcher also taking part.