The first Grand Prix fixture of the year for Red Rose Road Runners was the Standish Hall trail Race. An excellent turn out of 29 from the club swelled the field of174 runners. Dan Hughes had a brilliant run finishing 5th overall in a time of 40.52 over the 10k route. On a course which is always wet, conditions were heavier and wetter than anyone can remember. The club spirit carried its own momentum with the mens’ team taking first place with John Naylor (20th) in 45.03, Stuart Cann, 45.45 joining Dan Hughes. A good run from Barry Wheeler in 46.27 was followed by three more Red Rose finishing in close proximity. Steven Woodruffe,47.19, Phil Butler 47.39 and Frank Nightingale 47.44. Chris Brown finished well in 50.51 with John Hyde next in 52.06 and 3rd V60. More Red vests followed with Ian Wharton 52.25, John Wiseman 53.21 and John Ross 56.04.
The Red Rose women had plenty cheer with Anneke Crosby 3rd F45 in 56.55, Vicky Gore 2nd F40 in 57.53.Much more success came from the women vets with Carol Douglass taking the F70 prize in 60.06, Joan Gouldthorpe 1st F60 in 60.26, Alison Mercer 1st F50 in 60.59 and Lydia Plackett 1st F65 in 87.18.
Other results. Andy Speer 58.52, Claire Shaw 58.59, Jim McLean 59.57, Debbie Porter59.49, Anees Shaikh 59.57,Pita Oates 62.25, Roger Johnson 66.10, Debee Millar 66.38,Sarah Haslam 67.51, Helen Orson 70.18, Lisa Hyde 75.18.
The Cuerden Valley parkrun produced 4 PB’s. Liam Hooton 23.46, Emma Plant 25.11, Nicole Sharples 26.36 and Kate Clipston29.46. At Preston Nicole Bentley ran 32.00 and at Lytham Angela Brooks improved her time to 30.27.
The Great North West Half Marathon at Blackpool was another event attracting Red Rose this weekend. Richard Maughan headed the club’s finishers with another good performance and a time of 1.27.44.Richard Field put in a solid run in 1.44.00 with Aimee Grime breaking 2 hours in 1.58.18 and Mark Webster agonisingly close, in 2.00.39. Bernie Mitchell stepped up a distance to record 2.02.03 followed by John Ross in 2.07.24. Helen Greenhalgh came through the poor conditions in 2.18.39, Samantha Scanlon was equal to the task in 2.31.47 and Dave Onion completed the race in 2.35.24. Long distance specialist Gina Biggs finished in 3.31.24.