ALEX’S NEWSPAPER REPORT

For the Week Ending 3^rd May 2008

It was not a spectacular weekend for athletics but there was plenty happening all over the North West region to temp Wesham members out, as some attention was focused on Birmingham’s Sutton Park for the England Athletics’ Men’s 12-stage and Women’s 6-Stage Road Relays, won in style by Leeds City AC and Aldershot, Farnham & District AC.

There were 5 Wesham runners at the first race in the 2008 Chorley Park Series 5k, set in the pleasant setting of Astley Park over a two-lap course on tarmac paths and gravel tracks. Martin Bates was 18^th and 1^st M50 in a time of 19:48, with Chris Whitlock less than a minute behind with 20:40 for 26^th place and 5^th M40. Graham Vickers finished 33^rd and 4^th M50 in 21:11; Michaela Dempsey 7^th woman, 3^rd W40 and 47^th overall in 22:09. Phil Leaver, a regular at these races and a previous M50 winner, came in 5^th this time, 58^th overall in 22:51.

Martin Bates was again the first Wesham finisher in two days when he came in 12^th in the Wray Scarecrow 10k on Saturday, opening the week long spring festival hosted by the Wray and Caton villages. He clocked 40:12 over the hilly course. Peter Cruse was 17^th with a time of 41:18. Tony Kemp ran a useful 44:28 to finish 35^th, just ahead of Michaela Dempsey who was Wesham’s first lady finisher, recording 44:46 in 39^th place. Graham Vickers was also in action again, running 45:31 for 44^th place. Kath Hoyer was next in for Wesham, in 48^th place with 45:52, a good run. Sarah Sherratt stuck to her guns and finished 51^st in 47:01, to clinch the team title for the Wesham ladies. Chris Moss ran 48:08 for 57^th place, with John Howorth 61^st in 49:00 and Lisa Whitlock 97^th with 59:12.

Peter Waywell took on the Blackpool Marathon on Sunday in near perfect conditions, and recorded a handsome 3:09:42 for 89^th place. His chip time was 3:07:00. Paul Carter did himself proud with 4:27:59 for 419^th place, with a chip time of 4:25:40. There were 488 runners in the marathon.

The Blackpool Half Marathon proved more popular, as Lee Barlow ran a fine 1:19:58 for 16^th place. Carmel Sullivan ran a personal best just two weeks after her superb run in the London Marathon, this time running 1:31:00 for the half distance and finishing 5^th woman and 2^nd W40. Her chip time was 1:30:42. Jon McLeod was 278^th in 1:47:01; Louise Williams 32^nd woman, (280^th overall), also running 1:47:01 by the clock. Helen Jolly was 52^nd (12^th W45 and 360^th overall), with Andrew Whaites 390^th in 1:52:33. There were 926 finishers in the half marathon.

John Bertenshaw was looking to follow up his recent swift performances over 10k and half marathon with an outing over the flat terrain at the Wrexham 10-mile race, but strong winds and inclement conditions were against him, although he did record 63:37 for 16^th place, earning him the 2^nd M50 spot. Dave Preston, returned to the Wesham ranks, was 45^th with a swift 74:06.

Dave Waywell finished 22^nd and 1^st M60 in the Croxteth Park 10k on Sunday in muddy conditions over the parkland trail course, clocking 39:21. Kath Hoyer was 11^th woman and 1^st W45 in a time of 44:31, finishing 71^st overall. There were 208 runners, with the winner Rob Berry of Southport clocking 32:25 and the leading lady Jenny Clague of Liverpool 37:43.

Written by: Alex Rowe

Submitted: 1^st May 2008

Edited by: Brenda J Earnshaw WRR Editor