It was another excellent night for the Red Rose at the latest inter club event hosted by Thornton and Cleveleys. The stifling heat was a real problem for a lot of the runners but some were rewarded for a cautious start, moving through the field as the temperature took its toll. The club team score resulted with 4th place overall in the race. The womens’ team lead by Ruth Travis, Lisa Bolton, Margaret Lupton, Catherine Newton and Sarah Hall were also placed 4th. The Vets team took 3rd place whilst the V50 team of John Shepherd, Ken Addison, Phil Butler and Dave Tolson secured another first place and further success came through the V60 category with great performances from Fred Lynch, Ray Taylor and Dave Hooton.
The next evening, the Badger 10k attracted 16 Red Rose runners. Duncan Anderson had a great run finishing 4th in 39.25. Paul Woan was next in in 46.37 and Ray Taylor was in good form again taking second V60 in 47.59. For the ladies, Janine Needham was third F40 in 49.44 and Joan Gouldthorpe(55.05) and Carol Douglass(54.37) maintained their stranglehold on F60 and F65 prizes.
Shane Cliffe and Gina Biggs enjoyed the newly re- instated Potteries Marathon. It was a hard course with rolling hills, nearly 1400ft of ascent and high temperatures. Shane finished in a time of 3.55.21 and Gina recorded 7.19.
The Lostock Carnival included a 5k race which attracted 60 runners and lead and tail Elliptigo bikes ridden by Shane Cliffe and Sally Cape. Karl Hodgson ran an excellent 18.28 to be 5th place overall. In 9th place was John Naylor in 19.12. Steve Bladon also had a good run (19.40) followed by Stuart Cann in 20.00. Alison Mercer ran 26.52 winning the F50 prize. Margaret Lupton ran a well paced race in 23.02 with Anneke Crosby close behind in 23.44. Rob Mather and Wayne Hope reached the line together in 24.16 and 24.17. Lee Burton 25.01, Michael Hogarth 26.04, Ann Donoghue 27.48, Ben Donoghue 31.40.
Later the same day the fast Catforth 5k took place. Running for the second time on the same afternoon, Ben Donoghue and John Naylor ran the same time of 19.33. Stuart Cann just stayed ahead of Frank Nightingale with times of 20.21 and 21.25. Paul Woan ran 21.59, Paula Plowman 23.59 and Carol Douglass 24.44. Alice Lodge finished in 26.47 with Margaret Lupton running 26.49 after her run at the Lostock Carnival. Louise Davitt finished in 27.10 and Kelly Day 29.26.
In the Hilton Half Marathon, 24 degrees of heat was too much for many runners by mile seven but Damien Russell fought on, finishing in 1.58.26, considerably slower than he had estimated but all the more creditable for completing the course.
Sunday was Day one of the Tour of Merseyside and the Southport Half Marathon with further races this week. Gareth Bell ran an excellent 1.44.12 with Catherine Newton our first lady runner home in 1.56.04.Next was Mary Conway in 2.10.20. Susan Heatley ran a PB of 2.27.09. Tracy Woods was next in 2.37.25 followed by Jeanette Covell 3.00.19.