Red Rose Road Runners hosted the final Inter Club race of the season at Worden Park and celebrated their most successful season in living memory with major success coming in many of the race categories. The most encouraging success undoubtedly has been the magnificent showing in the Open category where the first ten from each club are counted. This season has provided the chance for our new stars to pool their efforts to finish second for the season’s positions and to finish the final race as winners. Simon Croft 3rd and Duncan Anderson 5th lead the charge with top places, followed by a fine group effort from Karl Hodgson 14th John Shepherd 15th, James Simon 17th and Ciarron Roddy 19th all crossing the line within 20 seconds of each other around the 26 minute mark for the 4.20 mile distance. The ladies FV40 team of Alison Parkinson 12th, Carol Douglass 17th, Janet Tolson 19th, Joan Gouldthorpe21st and Yvonne Johnson22nd performed brilliantly in the race to take second place on the night and also for the series. The Vets team performed superbly on the night to be second with a team of John Shepherd, Paul Duffell, Ken Addison, Joe Swarbrick, Stuart Roberts and Steve Woodruffe. John Shepherd lead the victorious Vet 50 team being first in this category supported by Ken Addison, Joe Swarbrick and Steve Woodruffe. The Vet 60 team continued their dominance for the season with Ken Addison 1st Joe Swarbrick 2nd and Dave Tolson 9th. All this would not have been possible without the excellent organisation of the race by Paula and John Plowman together with their brilliant marshalling and time keeping team. The evening was celebrated in style with the magnificent buffet co ordinated by the wonderful Janet Saynor and the priceless Becky Delaney.
The Great North Run was the opportunity for some of our runners to experience the largest half marathon in the world. Neil Whatton was our first finisher in 1.40.13 followed by a new PB from Liam Hooton in 1.40.48. Helen Greenhalgh beat her PB by 40 seconds for a time of 2.24.08. More excellent efforts came from Simon Houghton 1.45.49, Steve Whitney 1.48.44, Matt Cowan 1.55.25, Pete O’Grady 1.56.44, Geoffrey Cowan 1.59.19, Melanie Lowe 2.07.52, Allan Howard 2.12.45, Michael Hogarth 2.16.17, Sharon Birkbeck 2.21.57, David Anson 2.23.15, Damian Clapham 2.28.42, Josephine Walsh 2.30.46, Tracey Alami 2.39.27, Marion O’Grady 2.43.10 Moira Godbert-Laird 2.57.14, Martin Simpson 3.02.27.
A select bunch of Red Rose Ladies ventured into Cheshire to do the Delamere Trail Half Marathon and 10k. Ruth Travis and Lydia Plackett did the half marathon (only 12.6 miles). The route was made up of three different loops all emanating from the main central point where there was a well stocked feed station. The route had a few minor undulations, but the ‘best’ was saved for the last mile and a half, when within a three quarter of a mile stretch there was an elevation gain of over 300 feet
Ruth finished in 2:00:09 and Lydia 3:11:36 being first FV60. Lynn Melvin did the 10k in a time of 57:42 to be first FV50.
The mighty Great Langdale Half Marathon presented a tough challenge for all the runners with great scenery compensating for the 10%gradients. Mark Willett ran 1.46.24, Dave Maudsley finished in 1.56.55. Anthony Barnes 2.07.24, Lee Burton 2.21.29, Martin Foley 2.33.07, Ann Donoghue 2.54.39 and Ben Donoghue 2.54.40.
Mary Conway and Tracy Woods tackled the Whistle Stop tour of Wirral. Three races in three days, a 5 mile, 8 mile and a half marathon was the challenge which they successfully completed. Mary’s times of 52.21, 1.28.24 and 2.14.23 were rewarded with the 3rd F55 position. Tracy’s times were 62.51, 1.45.36 and 2.39.56.
The Pilling 10k saw Simon Croft finish 3rd in 34.57, John Shepherd 4th in 36.42 and Steve Woodruffe 5th in 40.11, take the team prize as well as individual prizes. Carol Douglass ran another brilliant time of 50.19 to take the FV70 prize and Joan Gouldthorpe 52.07 for the 1st FV65. Other results: Steve Boardman 43.14, Simon Hall 49.29, Anees Shaikh 52.22, Arthur Green 66.35.
The Hodder Valley Fell Race results are incomplete but a finishing order looks like this. Barry Wheeler 1.03.35,Stuart Robinson, Phil Butler, Andrew Christie 1:08:11, Stuart Cann 1:08:33, Philip Davidson1:09:51 ,Frank Nightingale, Gary Corcoran 1:15:10.
Sarah Hall was third lady home followed by Carla Davies. Debbie Porter took the F40 prize in 1:26:33
followed by Paula Plowman 1:31:03 and Alison Mercer 1:35:40.
With Red Rose attending 9 different parkrun venues this weekend more PB’s were achieved. In Newcastle Ken Addison ran 19.25, At Preston Katie Johnson finished in 29.23 and at Cuerden Valley Ray Taylor finished in 23.11, Hannah Withnell 35.20 and Ginette Philp 38.34.
Result for Great North seems to have been missed 1:57:26