Alex’s Newspaper Report

For the week ending 7^th January 2012

The Ribble Valley 10k is one of the finest races in the North West and having been cancelled last year due to snow and ice this year this year there was no threat as it remained one of the warmest Decembers on record. Conditions were perfect for running and nearly 1000 runners took to the course with a very high standard attracted by the Northern Athletics Championships incorporated into the race. Joanna Goorney rounded off a very successful year with 39:31 finishing 20^th woman and 3^rd W40 in 227^th place overall. She was 15^th in the Northern Championship. Emma Lund was 36^th woman and 302^nd overall with 41:55 but she had not entered herself in the championship. Helen Lawrenson also continued her good form coming in 38^th woman and 8^th W40 in 42:00, 311^th place overall. Carmel Sullivan was 46^th and 1^st W45 in 43:20, 354^th overall. As a team the Wesham women were 3^rd in the open race and 1^st veterans, and 2^nd in the Northern Championship, a great result. Kath Hoyer was 5^th W50 and 60^th woman in 45:22, 429^th overall and Angela Colby was 61^st woman and 431^st overall with 45:25. Sharon Cooper ran 49:25 and finished 98^th woman and 572^nd overall.

Rob Danson was the leading Wesham man and he clocked a creditable 34:57 for 97^th place. Karl Lee had a good run recording 36:22 for 126^th place. Alan Hudson was 219^th in 39:15 and had some stiff competition in the M60 age category coming in 3^rd place 50 seconds behind Pete Johnson from Scarborough. Troy Watson is on the comeback trail and he ran 39:52 for 243^rd place. George Kennedy was next in with 40:30 for 254^th place and 13^th M50 and Graham Cunliffe was 7^th M55 and 277^th in 41:22. Nigel Shepherd was 15^th M50 and 285^th in 41:32 with John Bertenshaw one second behind finishing 8^th M55 and 286^th. Charles Colby was 293^rd in 41:44 and Dave Waywell was 2^nd M65 in 45:36 with 438^th place overall, 1:26 behind Mike Smith the category winner from Bingley. Jonathan Lawson came in 464^th in 46:25 and Chris Moss was 504^th in 47:44. Alistair Morris was 518^th in 48:10 and Brian Porter 688^th with 52:52. George Flanagan finished 21^st M60 in 54:54 737^th overall and Paul Carter was 757^th in 55:49. Ken Munro was 10^th M65 and 771^st with 56:26 and Norman Bateman 6^th Over 70 and 810^th overall in 58:45.

Kath Hoyer was busy over the festive period with a run in the Whinberry Fell Race on Boxing Day. On a 4-mile course with 750ft of climb she clocked 37:36 in fancy dress through wet and mud to finish 1^st W50 and 101^st overall, 17^th woman in mild conditions although it was quite windy over the tops. Having run the Ribble valley 10k the next day she was back in action on New Year’s Eve over the Auld Lang Syne Fell Race 6 miles in length and with 900ft of climb, where she finished 262^nd 55^th woman and 6^th W50 in 68:04 in tough wet muddy and boggy conditions. She then celebrated New Year’s Day with the Joe Salt New Year Awakener at Wentworth near Rochdale where she ran the 4.2 miles in wet muddy conditions again to finish 2^nd W50, 11^th woman and 63^rd overall in 34:12. Dave Waywell ran and he was 1^st W65 and 65^th overall in 34:24.

Rob Danson followed up his promising run in the Ribble Valley 10k with another fine performance in the Central Lancashire New Year Half Marathon from Catforth and around Inskip and Treales. He finished an excellent 5^th place with a time of 1:17:21, less than six minutes behind the race winner who himself was over four minutes clear of the second placer. The Wesham women were out in force again and clearly won the ladies team ahead of the Lytham and Swinton clubs. Helen Lawrenson was well placed as 8^th woman, 5^th W40 and 71^st overall with 1:31:49. Emma Lund was chasing hard and she was 10^th woman in 1:32:57 and 81^st overall. Carmel Sullivan ran well to come in 14^th woman and 102^nd overall taking the W45 first place in 1:36:55. Sara Ward was 25^th and 2^nd W40 with 1:43:09, 145^th overall and Nicola Unsworth was 27^th and 154^th in 1:44:32. Kelly Warburton was 32^nd woman and 165^th overall in 1:45:55; Sharon Cooper 42^nd and 207^th in 1:51:20; and Sue Jones 89^th and 314^th with 2:08:02. The Wesham men had a good result as well with second team behind Clayton despite not having a very strong turnout. John Oliver was the second placed Wesham runner in 37^th place with a tine of 1:27:05 and George Kennedy was accurately on the 1:30 pace as he came in 57^th with 1:30:22, 4^th M50. Troy Watson is building his strength and he finished 67^th in 1:31:41. Charles Colby was 92^nd with 1:35:10; Brian Jones finished 160^th in 1:45:19; Dave Preston was 191^st in 1:49:32; Brian Porter 199^th with 1:50:45 and Finlay McCalman 254^th in 1:57:37.

Written by: Alex Rowe

Submitted: 5^th January 2012

Edited by: Brenda J Earnshaw WRR Editor