ALEX’S NEWPAPER REPORT

For the week ending 12^th July 2008

The 20 Barriers Race in Carnforth on Tuesday evening proved very popular with Wesham as 18 members turned out to run. Charlie Pass led the Wesham contingent with a strong run, and crossed the finish line in 5^th place with a time of 32:46 for the 5 miles and 500ft ascent over gates and stiles along canal towpaths and over fields. Lee Barlow was 21^st in 38:18, a modest run, with Simon Eaton close behind with 38:43 in 24^th place. Peter Cruse was 28^th in 39:13, and Dave Waywell came in 1^st M60, 32^nd overall with 39:30. Chris Whitlock had a great run to finish 38^th in 40:31, with George Kennedy running well in 43^rd place and 4^th M50 to clock 41:30, with Graham Vickers 51^st in 42:07 for 7^th M50. Kath Hoyer was Wesham’s leading woman, finishing 4^th and 1^st W40 in 43:26, 62^nd overall. Julie Cruse was the second Wesham woman, 7^th and 2^nd W40 in 44:44, with Kerry Eccles 20^th and 9^th W40 with 50:04. Dave Young ran well to finish 105^th in 48:03 and 7^th M60; Peter Cooke was 118^th in 50:13; Norman Bateman was 124^th with 50:58; Mike Walsh was the leading M70 and 130^th overall in 53:21; Peter Earnshaw came in 134^th with 55:12; and John Whiteman was 139^th with 58:33.

Alex Rowe finished 3^rd for a bronze national medal in the 1500m at the British Masters Track & Field Championships at Alexander Stadium in Birmingham on Saturday morning, running 4:36.36 in fine conditions. The following afternoon he contested the 5000m in torrential rain, finishing in 2^nd place with the silver medal in 16:55.68. Earlier in the week he was at the Trafford Grand Prix at Stretford in Manchester, where he ran 10:02.39 for 3000m, 2:22.93 for 800m and 4:49.10 for 1500m. Karl Lee ran 10:12.22 for the 3000m in humid conditions and a fine 4:43.39 for the 1500m at the end of the evening.

Charlie Pass went five places better than last month to win the 2^nd Harrock Hill race in the 2008 series with a fine 32:30 for the 5.3 miles and 700’ of climb. Gary Pendlebury equalled his previous run with 34:27 for 7^th and 2^nd M50 again. Richard Davies was 3^rd Wesham on this occasion with a 1-minute improvement to 37:21 and 19^th place. Carmel Sullivan was 7^th woman and 2^nd W45 in 43:03; Julie Cruse was 9^th and 1^st W45 with 44:18; and Sarah Sherratt came in 11^th with a great run in 44:50. Kath Hoyer was 17^th and 3^rd W45 in 48:03.

In the Caldervale Supper Run on Thursday evening Steve Littler scorched round the 4-mile hilly course in impressive style to win in 19:34, some 40 seconds ahead of Paul Freary the leading veteran. Peter Cruse was 7^th and 1^st M45 in 24:16, with Chris Whitlock 8^th in 25:20, and Sue Jones 15^th woman and 3^rd W40 in 36:55.

The Chorley Park Series 5k multi-terrain race through Astley Park saw a good turnout from Wesham on Friday evening, as Gary Pendlebury powered round his third race in 6 days with a strong run to finish 6^th and 1^st M50 in 18:11. Trevor Rayner accompanied him and came in 6^th M45 and 23^rd overall with 20:03, with Peter Cruse hard on his heels with 20:06 in 24^th place and 7^th M45. Chris Whitlock hit the trails again and came in 38^th in 21:20, with Tony Kemp close behind 43^rd in 21:40. Graham Vickers was 50^th in 22:07, just holding off Michaela Dempsey who was 6^th woman and 1^st W40 in 22:31, 52^nd overall.

Richard Davies and Stewart Forsyth finished 35^th in the Kirkfell class in the Saunders Lakeland Mountain Marathon at the weekend. In bad weather conditions the pair finished Saturday’s 19.6km with 1425m of climb in 7:24:21 in 46^th position. After drying out overnight in their tent they fared better on Sunday, completing the 15.3km and 900m climb in 4:11:04 (27^th); giving them a total time of 11:35:25, with a Vet Time of 10:54:51.

In the second Lancaster 5km Race Series on Saturday evening Chris Whitlock ran 19:47 for 27^th place in 19:47. Dan Whitlock was the leading M11 in an excellent 21:22, with Bernie Krawczyk 52^nd and 7^th M50 with 23:39. Sue Jones was 14^th woman and 2^nd W40 in 27:36.

In the Chorley 4 Mile race on Wednesday, Peter Cruse finished 3^rd M45 and 32^nd overall in a time of 23:58. George Kennedy ran well for 42^nd place and 5^th M50 in 24:44. Michaela Dempsey was 1^st W40 and 7^th woman with 27:05, 68^th overall.

In the Tockholes Fell Race on Saturday Nigel Shepherd was the first Wesham runner over the 5.8 mile course up to Darwen Tower in 48:04 in 40^th place. Kath Hoyer was 2^nd woman and 1^st W40 in 49:12, 43^rd overall. Julie Cruse came in 3^rd woman and 2^nd W40 with 49:52 for 46^th overall. Helen Jolly was 6^th W40, 64^th overall in 58:16, and Bernadette Dickinson was 7^th W40, 65^th overall, a great result, with 58:35. Mike Walsh took the course in his stride and finished 2^nd M70 and 66^th overall in 58:57.

The Northern Veterans held their annual run in aid of St Ann’s Hospice in Radcliffe on Sunday, and Peter Cruse came in 4^th overall and 1^st M45 in 39:22 over the undulating 2-lap course. Kath Hoyer was 2^nd lady, 2^nd W45 and 12^th overall with 44:23, and Michaela Dempsey was 3^rd lady, 1^st W40 and 14^th overall in 45:55.

In the Viga Thirsty Three multi-terrain race along canal banks and across fields Peter Cruse was the first Wesham finisher in 12^th place in a time of 20:59, finishing 3^rd M45. Chris Whitlock was 14^th in 21:13; Michaela Dempsey was 4^th woman and 1^st W40 in 23:44; and Bernie Krawczyk 2^nd M50 and 40^th overall in 26:08.

Written by: Alex Rowe

Submitted: 10^th July 2008

Edited by: Brenda J Earnshaw WRR Editor