The Red Rose runners arrived in force at the Winter Warmer 10k held at Witton Park Blackburn. 39 out of a field of 477 were there to compete in the second Championship race of the year. The ladies team of Janine Needham (45.32), Jill Jefferson (48.24), Lisa Bolton (49.12), and Paula Plowman (49.26) took a well earned first team place with welcome prizes of wine. Also in the prizes was Ken Addison winning the V55 prize with a great time of 40.06.
The wintery misty conditions coupled with the infamous climb up and up Buncer Lane ensure everyone works hard on this run. Not many would do PB’s but the race is a firm favourite for the local runners. Add the great drumming band and an impressive goodie bag most people will have come away happy.
Results: Ben Donoghue 39.24, Duncan Anderson 39.44, Stuart Cann 40.37, Jose Pinon Shaw 41.08,Dave Brunton 42.11, Phil Davidson 43.14, John Naylor 44.23, Janine Needham 45.32, David Hooton 46.34, Simon Houghton 46.42, John Wiseman 47.00, Steve Taylor 48.09, Jill Jefferson 48.24, Damien Russell 48.33, Frank Nightingale 48.35, Ian Wharton 48.59, Lisa Bolton 49.12, Paula Plowman 49.26, Catherine Newton 50.29, Anneke Crosby 51.03, Sarah Hall 50.10 Richard Lodge 51.12, Jon Royle 52.01, Margaret Lupton 52.41, Martin Simpson 53.30, Michael Jeffryes 53.41, George Fletcher 55.44. Vicky Gor 57.09, Jenny Fairclough 57.21, Lee Burton 57.23, Helen Greenhalgh 58.52, Adele Nuttall 59.20, Karen Clark 60.02, Allan Howard 61.46, Chris Clark 62.57, Wendy Ward 64.31, Claire Shaw 64.33, Janet Saynor 68.48.
The 2k fun run was enjoyed by 238 youngsters. Finty Royle(8.13) had a great run to be 15th overall, 4thgirl and first in her age group. Alice Lodge was 13th female in a time of 9.29. Sophie Hill was 5th in the tough U 10 age group against 25 other girls in a time of 10.51 with Rachel Bates also doing well in 10thplace, in 11.33. Daisy Royle ran 11.50 to be 6th in the F11 group.
Much further north the Montane Grizedale Half was completed in freezing fog. A small but elite group took on this challenge of running in the grizzly conditions. Tony Thorley was the first RR runner over the line with Julie Thorley, Debbie Porter and Pita Oates the other intrepid runners who enjoyed this great event. The course was a long ‘half’ of 14.5miles which demanded every ounce of strength from the runners. Times. Tony Thorley 2.01.03, Julie Thorley 2.33.16, Debbie Porter 2.33.26, Pita Oates 2.56.02.
Michael Pate ran in the “Winter Holly challenge marathon” on Saturday down in Telford. A 32 lap course on mainly dirt track with 2 hills to climb per lap. He finished in a time of 4hr 23 min. His next race is Wrexham marathon in 3 weeks.
The Mad Dog 5 at Southport attracted a massive field with the Round Table providing a spectacular mass participation run. Red Rose finishers were: Shane Cliffe 44.01, Matt Ashton 48.01, Anees Shaikh 52.40, David Wilkinson 55.20, Louise Davitt 59.00, Carol Heaton 59.49, Sarah Haslam 60.46, Aimee Midgley 62.18, Anne Smith 63.16, Kelly Day 63.50, Allan Howard 64.12, Susan Heatley 65.26, Gina Biggs 72.30,Jennifer Page.