ALEX ROWE NEWSPAPER REPORT

For the week ending 31^st May 2008

It was very windy all over the country at the weekend, but the strong winds did no affect all runners in the Edinburgh Marathon, where Wesham’s Peter Waywell and Simon Eaton both recorded new personal bests. The race headed north from the city centre to the coast and onto Mussleburgh Race course, with the first 18 miles into the teeth of the wind. However, this did not deter Waywell, who completed the first half in 1:28:56, and pushed on into the second 13 miles to cross the line in 150^th position with 2:59:51. Simon Eaton stuck to his guns, passing the halfway in 1:31:53 and 30k in 2:13:49 but slowing slightly in the final 12k to finish however with an excellent new personal best of 3:14:21 in 401^st place. Lee Barlow found the going very rough with the wind and despite months of dedicated preparation had to settle for a disappointing 3:08:10 having passed halfway in 1:22:30; he was 267^th in the race. Peter Cruse ran 1:30:09 for the half marathon but struggled from thereon and finished with 3:24:18 (716^th) after his April 3:04:49 in London. George Kennedy was also very disappointed with the weather conditions and ran well for 10k (41:43) and passing halfway with Simon Eaton (1:31:56), but the wind took its toll and after reaching 30k in 2:15:02 completed the 26.2 miles in 3:25:30 in 757^th place. Julie Cruse maintained a steadier pace, with a halfway time of 1:41:03 and finish of 3:30:32 for 1004^th place. Helen Jolly finished 4639^th with 4:33:47, having clocked 2:19:06 at the half and 3:16:15 for 30k.

In the Chorley 10 mile road race on Sunday, Alan Hudson was Wesham’s first finisher, clocking a swift 62:00 for 20^th place and 2^nd M55 behind familiar rival Ken Moss. Joanna Goorney had an excellent run to finish 7^th woman and 1^st W35 with 69:35 (80^th overall). Carmel Sullivan, running very well after her success in last month’s London Marathon, was 8^th woman and 1^st W40 with 70:06 (87^th overall). Tony Kemp was 114^th with 73:51; Phil Leaver was close behind with 75:39 for 127^th, and Stephen Wilkinson 146^th in 78:11. Mike Walsh excelled with another M75 victory, running 80:55 for 160^th place, and Reg Chapman was 6^th M60 with 81:52. Fiona Bledge finished 175^th in 83:45.

In the opening race of the 2008 Horwich Jubilee 5-mile road race series Charlie Pass ran an excellent 27:41 for 4^th place despite a lack or training recently, showing his natural talent. George Kennedy finished his preparations for the Edinburgh Marathon with a swift 31:41 for 24^th place, and Russell Mabbett finished 75^th with 36:11. Sarah Sherratt was 17^th woman, 3^rd W35 and 78^th overall with 36:29, and Chris Moss finished 82^nd with 37:05.

Alex Rowe earned himself a British bronze medal in the Masters 10,000m Run on Sunday at a windy Horspath track in Oxford. He ran 35:44.67 in a combined M35/40/45/50 event after the earlier ladies and M70+ race was thrown into chaos as heavy rain disintegrated the runners’ race numbers. Earlier in the week Rowe ran 9:55.82, 2:22.81 and 4:45.3 for 3000m, 800m and 1500m at Stretford on Tuesday, and 10:01.0 and 4:53.0 for 3000m and 1500m in the Northern Veterans Track & Field league meeting in Bolton’s Leverhulme Park. At Stretford, Martin Bates ran 10:44.98 for 3000m and Joanna Goorney 11:43.48. Joanna also ran 2:43:19 for the 800m.

Dave Preston found the going tough in the undulating Buxton Half Marathon from the Opera House in the picturesque Derbyshire spa town.

Dave Waywell was 1^st M60 and 43^rd overall in the inaugural Ilkley Trail Race, 999 miles over 999 ascents in 51:33. Kath Hoyer was 18^th woman, 4^th W45 and 121^st in 62:05.

Chris Whitlock ran the Walton Park 5-mile, clocking 32:12 for 52^nd place. Charlie Pass was an impressive 4^th in the Horwich Jubilee 5 race in 27:41 over undulating terrain. George Kennedy was 24^th in 31:41, a good performance, with Russell Mabbett 75^th in 36:11. Sarah Sherratt ran 36:29 for 17^th woman and 3^rd W35. Chris Moss was 82^nd with 37:05 and the men’s team finished 5^th.

In the European Customs championships incorporated in the Brussels 20k race, Michaela Dempsey was first woman in 1:37 for a UK gold medal, with the UK taking the team medals ahead of the Czech Republic. The race boasted a field of 25,000 and featured Customs workers form all over Europe.

Chris Whitlock finished a fine 7^th in the Fighting Cancer 5k in Blackpool’s Stanley Park, clocking 19:45. Daniel Whitlock was 9^th with an excellent 21:26, and Barry Edwards was 13^th with 22:12.

Written by: Alex Rowe

Submitted: 29^th May 2008

Edited by: Brenda J Earnshaw WRR Editor