Red Rose travelled far and wide this week with most races being affected by bad weather conditions. After hours of rain on Saturday all races on Sunday were made especially hard. The Ben Nevis Race attracted a high quality field of runners, including Ben Donoghue and Barry Wheeler. They both performed brilliantly on a brutal course. Ben finished in 2.18.26 with Barry slightly disappointed still achieving a time of 2.29.31.
The Keswick Lakeland trail 15km Challenge and Race events attracted a team of 25 from the club. Very difficult decisions faced the runners from the outset and obviously affected most peoples’ performances. Gary Corcoran and Dave Raynor both joined the ‘race’ and finished well in times of 1.30.45 and 1.34.12. In the ‘Challenge’ event, Chris Brown lead the team home in an excellent 1.31.53 followed by Phil Davidson in 1.39.43 with Richard Ward in 1.41.57. Jenny Fairclough and Lynn Melvin sacrificed their race intentions mid race to help a fellow runner who had fallen badly and needed medical attention and more immediately, water and painkillers. Other results: David Bayliss 1.46.16, Pete O’Grady 1.47.07, John Wiseman 1.50.55, Sean McMullan 1.56.37,Austin Trelfa 2.02.00, Margaret Lodge 2.03.23, Vicky Gore 2.08.19, Mary Conway 2.25.00, Claire Shaw 2.34.13, Wendy Ward 2.34.18, Lynn Melvin 2.57.07, Jenny Fairclough 2.57.07, Ramona Mulligan tbc.
In the 10k race Andy Martin lead us home in 48.42, followed by Andy Hale 51.11, Chris Patterson 53.43, Jim McLean 61.26, Graham Roberts 66.11, Sarah McMullan 70.25, Dave Watson 88.13.
Long miles were the option at the Lancaster 20 mile race. In 14th place was Alex Venables in 2.31.19 and in 15th John Naylor was on his heels in 2.31.52.
Earlier in the week a great little race, The Royal Rumble Fell Race in aid of Bolton Mountain Rescue, was held with John Naylor in 12th place in 43.49, followed by Gareth Bell in 45.25, Andy Hale 46.06 and Peter Bolton in 47.17. Pita Oates and Ray Oates finished in 62.17.
The Garstang half marathon is a tough test for all. Richard Maughan was well up the field in 22nd in a time of 1.30.54. Jill Jefferson produced another great run of 1.40.01 to take the F55 prize. Alison Parkinson ran 1.55.01 followed by Carol Douglass taking the F65 prize in a brilliant time of 1.55.27. Michael Coupland broke 2 hours with 1.59.02 and Alison Mercer worked hard for 2.05.08 followed by George Fletcher in 2.14.43.
Nearer home we had a good turnout at the Wigan 10K. Two men ran sub 40. Karl Hodgson finished in 10th place in 36.38 and Simon Robinson clocked 39.29. Sarah Hall had a great run finishing in 47.30 followed by Sarah Louise Runcie inn 53.32. Nicola Patterson went under the hour for the first time with a PB of 58.57 and Andy Clipston took another 8 minutes off his previous PB with a time of 70.18. Our other finishers were, Pete Battersby 45.47, David Anson 57.47, Jenny Bradley 58.05, Gina Chelton 58.07, Diane Hill 62.41, Karen Marshall 64.04, Katie Johnson 64.23, Sandra Rolston 66.30, Arthur Green 67.03,Simon Hall 68.50, Corah Annand 70.30, Kate Clipston 77.39.
Red Rose were represented at 15 different parkruns this weekend with the following achieving PB’s.
At Preston Sian McMonagle 22.02, Katie Johnson 31.04, At Cuerden Valley Duncan Anderson 18.36, Nicola Hughes 26.29. At Southport, Carole Williams 27.59. At Lytham Hall, Ray Taylor 21.11, Joan Gouldthorpe 25.18, and at Lancaster, Sinead Sweeney 28.40.