ALEX’S NEWSPAPER REPORT

For the week ending 21^st January 2012

There was a strong turnout at the Mid Lancs Cross Country League at Hyndburn on Saturday as it was generally a quiet weekend for athletics. With bright skies the early frost thawed and turned the ground wet and muddy and it was a challenging afternoon of running with twists and turns through the trees for one of the best courses in the League.

There were 113 women finishers over a 6km two lap course and Joanna Goorney was top of the pack once again for Wesham as she came in 6^th W35 and 17^th with a fine run in 24:59. Sarah Sherratt was on good form and she is improving al the time, finishing 34^th and 14^th W35 in 26:31. Tracey Hulme had a good run in the muddy conditions with 28:17 for 11^th W45 and in 51^st overall. Kath Hoyer was 13^th W45 and 56^th overall in 28:52. The Wesham women had just enough runners to for two teams and the Seniors were 2^nd in Division 2 and now top the table for the season by 2 points. The W35 team were 4^th and are 5^th overall, while the W45 team did not complete and are 6^th overall.

There was a chaotic and unexpected start to the men’s race with nearly 300 runners over a 10km 3-lap course. With a congested opening kilometre there was a tussle for position and several runners had to battle for ground later on. Charlie Pass has made a welcome return to cross country running for Wesham and he thoroughly enjoyed this undulating run through the woods, completing the 3 laps in 35:01 for 25^th place. Struggling with his fitness and a sprained ankle Alex Rowe fought round the course to come in 66^th and 4^th M50 in 39:12. Close behind and giving it his all Lee Barlow finished 84^th in 40:24. Richard Davies was well placed at the congested start and used this to his advantage, coming in 102^nd and 15^th M50 with a time of 41:20. John Collier is not fully fit and he was a little disappointed with 121^st place and 21^st M50 in 41:53. Martin Bates was 147^th and 30^th M50 in 44:00, and Russell Mabbett ran 44:35 for 156^th place and 57^th M50. Alan Glasgow did not disappoint with 161^st place and 33^rd M50 in 44:51. Graham Cunliffe made the short journey from his home adjacent to the course to post 45:05 to finish 165^th and 35^th M50. Mark Midgley was 172^nd in 45:34, 63^rd M40 and Gary Moore was 180^th and 39^th M50 in 46:18. Nigel Shepherd was 221^st in 48:52, 55^th M50 and Peter Bartlett 18^th M60 and 248^th in 52:45. Dave Preston had arrived home from work in Holland the previous evening and he clocked 53:22 thoroughly relishing the experience to finish 251^st and 63^rd M50. Dave Waywell was 20^th M60 and 254^th in 53:40 with Dave Young 279^th and 31^st M60 in 62:24. Norman Bateman at 72 made light of the course to finish 285^th and 34^th M60 in 68:09. The senior men finished 3^rd in Division 2 and are currently 4^th overall, with the ‘B’ were 7^th and languish 13^th in Division 4. The veterans fared a little better with the M40 team 5^th and also 5^th overall, with the M50s 2^nd today but 7 points clear at the head of the table overall. The M60 team were 5^th and are ranked 7^th after competing at just one fixture.

Nigel Shepherd made it a weekend double with the White Circular Fell Race from Summit near Littleborough in Rochdale on Sunday. He ran the 8.1 miles and 1201ft ascent in 1:20:23 to finish 52^nd and 7^th M50 on a clear day with cool temperatures and some ice around.

Written by: Alex Rowe

Submitted: 19^th January 2012

Edited by: Brenda J Earnshaw WRR Editor