ALEX’S NEWSPAPER REPORT

For week ending 17th May 2008

 

Steve Littler finished a close second in the Blackpool 10k on Sunday as he raced to the runner-up position behind Jonathan Prowse in an impressive 31:39 in warm but favourable conditions. Jono had some pre-race nerves about Littler’s performance after the latter has been in great form all year, with several wins and course records and a 34th place in the London Marathon. However, Steve’s deficit today was 34 seconds despite some strong running. Karl Lee had the better of Les Cornwall as the pair ran neck-and –neck along the Blackpool Promenade. Lee won out with 35:25 for 8th place, ahead of his run in this weekend’s Manchester 10k, with Cornwall just 6 seconds adrift in 9th place with 35:31. Barry Norman was also in the mix as all three young men ran together, finishing 12th in 35:42. Steve Myerscough was running a little tired, clocking 37:00 for 17th position and 7th in the Over-26 category. Peter Waywell was 26th with 37:47 and Ironman Triathlete Ian Garrod 53rd in 39:15. Lee Barlow opted for an easy run, with 42:15 in 102nd place.

 

Peter Gleaves was 28th in the Over-36 age group and 90th overall as he works towards a 40-minute 10k, clocking a good 41:15. Barry Edwards finished 450th in 48:45, with Finlay McCalman 481st a week after running the Krakow Marathon, with a time of 49:15. Paul Carter was 865th in 54:15. Martin Bates was 3rd in the Over-46 age group, with a fine 38:25 for 36th overall. Nigel Shepherd finished 158th and 21st in the male 46 age group, finishing in the same time bracket as Phil Leaver who was 167th. Stephen Wilkinson came in 300th with 46:45, with John Howorth 709th in 52:15. Reg Chapman finished 22nd Over 56 and 631st with 51:15, and Mike Walsh 643rd with the same time. John Whiteman came in 1172nd in 57:15, with Peter Earnshaw 1377th in 59:15. Julie Cruse finished 642nd with the Wesham Waikikians with Carmel Sullivan (644th), Kath Hoyer 641st recording 51:15 and Sue Jones 2096th in 68:45.

 

Gary Pendlebury finished 8th on Sunday in the Golden Ball 5km race near Morecambe in a fine 16:52, wining the M50 age category comfortably as he warmed up for the British Masters Road Relays this weekend. Relay team-mate Alan Hudson was 1st M55 by 34 seconds as he ran 17:56 for 16th, and M40 team captain Trevor Rayner was 22nd with a good 19:02, earning him 2nd M45 position. Pauline Weller was 3rd W50 23rd woman and 85th overall in 25:30.

 

Steve Littler came in 2nd in the opening fixture in the 2008 Chorley 4 series on Wednesday evening, running a fine 20:11 for the four mile 2-lap course being just 2 seconds off the lead. George Kennedy was 42nd and 3rd M50 in 24:57, with Peter Cruse 62nd and 10th M45 in 25:34. Sarah Sherratt was 3rd W35 and 14th woman (108th overall) in 28:27.

 

In the Wray Caton Fell Race on May Day over 6.75 miles and 1100’ of climb Richard Davies headed the Wesham field of six runners, clocking 50:29 for 18th place. Michaela Dempsey was 8th woman and 4th W40 in 62:02, with Nigel Shepherd 82nd in 64:12. Kath Hoyer was 17th woman and 9th W40 in 67:10. Shaun Turner was 99th with 69:04 and Bernie Krawczyk 101st in 73:50.

 

The Wesham fell running team was out again on Saturday in the Belmont Winter Hill race in the opening fixture of the club’s fell championship for 2008. Richard Davies was the first Wesham runner again, finishing 105th over the 4.5 mile course with 1000’ of ascent with 42:21 with the ranks swelled by the Inter Counties Fell Championships. Dave Waywell was 2nd M60 and 149th with 45:56, a very creditable performance, while Kath Hoyer was 6th W40 with an enviable run of 52:23 for 203rd overall. Shaun Turner finished 210th in 53:28 and Bernie Krawczyk was 229th in 57:45.

 

In the Hinckley Dog and Hedgehog Half Marathon, Michaela Dempsey finished 202nd in 1:43:33 running in the Civil Service championships. Conditions were very hot as summer hit the country.

 

Chris Whitlock ran the Geoff Doggett Memorial 5k trail race at Littleborough on Tuesday, finishing 61st in 20:49.

 

Dave Preston travelled to Shropshire for the Muller 10k in Market Drayton. In hot conditions with a steep descent and climb he ran 46:36 for 197th and 10th M55.

 

Written by: Alex Rowe

Submitted: 15th May 2008

Edited by Brenda J Earnshaw WRR Editor