The Pendle 3 Peaks is an English Fell Championship event. It is regarded as a very tough 9.5 miler with over 2800ft of ascent. Conditions were not great with head and cross winds, rain, and what seemed like hail. With a high quality field competing, most runners had to fight their own battles with the elements, knowing the top runners would be home and dry whilst they struggled on. Barry Wheeler was our top finisher in a time of 1.45.24 with John Naylor next in 1.54.50 and Gareth Bell on his favourite terrain close behind in 1,56.08. Rob Mather clocked 2.12.22 followed by Ben Donoghue in 2.14.55 and Debbie Porter in 2.29.47.All six runners should be pleased with their performances in difficult conditions.
At the Darwen Gala Catherine Dowdall Memorial Race Duncan Anderson was in great form taking second place over a 4.7 mile course with 928ft in a time of 35.16. Mark McCrea was well placed with a time of 44.38 and Graham Roberts finished in 56.30. Mary Conway and Pita Oates finished the course together in 62.13 with Lisa Hyde completing the Red Rose team in 77.33.
The Pilling 10k proved a popular and productive choice. Red Rose took the ladies team prize with great performances from Jill Jefferson 45.10 and first F55, Sarah Hall 51.00 and Carol Douglass 51.33, first F70.
Ray Taylor had an excellent run to take the V65 prize in 44.17. Andrew Hall finished in 53.33. More prizes came with Joan Gouldthorpe as first F65 in 54.47 and George Fletcher first V70 in 56.41. Sarah Haslam ran 60.48 with Arthur Green finishing in 67.12.
The Birchwood 10k has always been a popular race and with over a thousand runners this year Andy Birkbeck was almost in the top 10% with a time of 41.56. Sharon Birkbeck narrowly missed out on the one hour barrier with a time of 60.35 and Stephen Walker attributed his PB by 4 minutes to his joining Red Rose, finishing in 62.26.
Parkrun news had an international flavour to it this weekend with holidays in America taking families in search of new challenges. At Clermont Waterfront Richard Ward ran 23.20, Kate and Lucie Clipston achieved PB’s in 29.10 with Andy Clipston also successful in 40.17. Wendy Ward ran 34.54 and Jennifer Bradley 55.14. Phil Davidson travelled to Widnes and got a new PB of 20.51 and at Cuerden Valley two more PB’s came from Frank Nightingale 22.05 and Janet Tolson 27.55.