ALEX NEWSPAPER REPORT

For the Week Ending 19^th April 2008

Steve Littler pulled out all the stops in Sunday’s London Marathon and with the precision of a metronome knocked out steady 5km splits at 17 minutes and an average pace of 5:32 per mile to record a fantastic new personal best time of 2:25:21, finishing 34^th in the race and 11^th in the M30 age category. Conditions were varied, starting off fine and warm but turning to freezing rain as he hit Docklands and Canary Wharf. Littler has had an exceptional winter season, smashing the course record in the tough Buttermere 34k race and winning the Dentdale 14 in torrential conditions.

Mike Walsh finished 2^nd M75 with a superb performance stopping the clock at 4:00:10 in 11664^th place overall.

Wesham had a good showing in London, with 19 runners, 8 of them women. Alex Rowe was the 2^nd Wesham finisher, 534^th and 18^th M50 in 2:51.29. Steve Myerscough took 4 minutes off his previous best with an excellent run to finish 911^th in 2:58:14, and Peter Cruse had a good morning to record 3:04:49 for 1398^th. George Kennedy showed great style and a good performance with 3:09:24, an excellent return after a troublesome period with injuries placing 1775^th. Simon Eaton performed well running 3:18:13 for 2693^rd.

Carmel Sullivan was Wesham’s first woman home, finishing an excellent 161^st and 31^st W40, running 3:19:52 having recovered well from patella tendonitis. Julie Cruse was Wesham’s second lady, running 3:23:00 in 232^nd place and 25^th W45. Joanna Goorney could not follow up her success in the Dumfries Marathon last month but nevertheless rose to the challenge to run an impressive 3:28:26 for 372^nd position. Fiona Bledge had an excellent run, finishing 1435^th in 3:43:15, and Yvonne Russell warmed up for her Ironman with 3:59:07 for 1816^th. Jenny Salt was 2501^st with a good 4:09:27; Anne Docherty 3824^th with 4:26:14; but unfortunately Julie Murphy was forced to withdraw at 16 miles having clocked 2:28:28 at the 25km mark.

Mark Midgley was 3004^th with a solid 3:21:13, an excellent result; Dave Young 173^rd M60 and 10560^th overall with 4:04:39; Barry Edwards 16246^th in 4:36:03; and Glenn Johnson 16293^rd in 4:38:18.

Les Cornwall and Karl Lee ran a head-to-head in the second heat of the 800m at the opening 2008 Mid Lancs Track & Field League meeting at Wigan’s Robin Park on Saturday, finishing a Wesham 1-2 with 2:14.4 and 2:17.2 respectively. Karl went on to run a superb 4:43.3 to smash his previous best for the distance. Martin Bates ran the 3000m and finished 10^th in 10:47.7.

Stephen Wilkinson finished 224^th in the Bolton 10k on Sunday over a challenging course, running 47:36. Pauline Weller was 338^th and 5^th W50 in a good quality race with a time of 52:44.

In the Northern Veterans Monthly Run at Gin Pit near Tyldesley, Dave Waywell was the 1^st M60 and 5^th overall in 41:02. Michaela Dempsey was 1^st lady and 9^th overall with 43:55, and Kath Hoyer was 2^nd woman and 1^st W45 in 11^th place with 45:29.

In the opening Northern Veterans Track & Field League meeting at Cleckheaton on Wednesday evening in inclement conditions Martin Bates ran 2:42.0 for the 800m, 10:54.1 for 3000m and 5:15.6 for 1500m, finishing 2^nd M50 in all three events. Alex Rowe stretched the tiredness out of his post-marathon legs in the same events, running 2:21.6, 10:07.8 and 4:51.4 for 1^st M50.

Richard Davies was 40^th in the Loughrigg Fell race from Ambleside on 2^nd April, running 34:59 for the 4 miles with 1,000ft ascent.

Written by: Alex Rowe

Submitted: 17^th April 2008

Edited by: Brenda J Earnshaw WRR Editor