The first event in the Red Rose Championship of 2017 was the Stanley Park 10k in Blackpool. Over 70 members of the club swelled the field of 350 with some excellent performances. Simon Croft has been very close to top spot in several recent events and finally managed to gain first position in this race with a great time of 34.24. Close competition came hot on his heels with Duncan Anderson starting the season well with 3rd place in 36.08 and Dan Hughes 5th in 36.31. Kristian Lowe was 11th in 38.51 followed by Phil Darwen 12th in 39.14, Stuart Cann 13th in 39.25 and Gary Corcoran gaining a PB of 39.31 in 17th, also taking the V45 prize. The ladies matched the men’s performance with Janine Needham winning the Women’s race in 41.51 and Carla Davies claiming 3rd place in 42.25. Ruth Travis won the F40 prize in 46.43. Further success came with Vet prizes for Lynn Melvin,52.43, taking the F55 prize Carol Douglass,51.52, winning the F60 prize at the age of 71 and Ray Taylor taking the Men’s V65 prize in 43.33. Many of our runners recorded brand new PB’s in this race and so to avoid missing anyone out, the results may be found on www.fyldecoastrunners.com/results. The ‘after race’ social gathering was the icing on the cake for a great start to the season.
Further afield Philip Davidson ran the Terry Nortley 10 mile race at Radcliffe in 75.30 and Nikki Fulcher ran an excellent PB at the Oulton Park Half marathon in 1.55.05 and Phil Berry ran even quicker in 1.51.
At the Dalemain 10k the elements conspired to give the runners an interesting day. Gareth Bell led the hardy Red Rose contingent home in 53.58. Ray Oates and Pita Oates tackled the course together finishing in 66.51 whilst Wendy McNair conquered the course in 74.36 and Nina Colquhoun triumphed in 88.03. Lexie Colquhoun took part brilliantly in the kidz trail.
Several Red Rose went to the Lytham Hall Parkrun with three of them coming away with PB’s. Stuart Cann came 3rd in a time of 19.01. Anne Denise Smith finished in 33.58 and Carol Heaton ran 34.11. At Cuerden Valley Scott Jackson ran a new PB of 23.32 and Aimee Grime ran 28.21.