ALEX’S NEWSPAPER REPORT FOR

WEEK ENDING – 1^st March 2008

Alex Rowe took to the boards for only his second time at the British Masters Indoor Championships at the year-old Lee Valley Athletics Centre in Essex. This was his debut in these championships, and on Saturday he added the indoor M50 1500m gold to his outdoor win last summer in a tactical race over that culminated in a 500-metre sprint. Rowe recorded 4:48.15, beating Southern Counties veteran Malcolm Martin by just 19 hundredths. On Sunday Rowe was unsuccessful in the M50 800m, finishing 7th with 2:18.80 against the winning time of 2:12.72 in a fast and close race, with just 14 hundredths between the medallists. However, Rowe went on 2 hours later to win the M50 3000m, pulling away from the field in the second 1500m to win with 9:50.43, some 7.45 seconds ahead with Martin second again.

The English National Cross Country Championships were held on Saturday at Alton Towers, a venue previously used for the Midland championships but new for a national competition and a welcome variation on the tried and tested locations. Overlooking some glorious countryside the course was over meadowland with a steady descent from the start countered by a testing climb back to the finish area and into subsequent laps.

Joanna Goorney was away for the Wesham ladies over a 2-lap 7km course, fighting her way through the stampede at the start and finishing 195th in 31:04. Julie Cruse provided good backup, crossing the line 299th with 33:53, and Kerry Eccles came in 402nd with a good run in 37:11. Unfortunately the Wesham ladies were just one runner short of a team.

Charlie Pass headed the Wesham men as the ground shook from the force of 1244 runners charging away from the start and downhill, one of the most spectacular sights in British athletics. The climb at the end of each of the three laps was tough, and Pass held on with tired legs to complete the 11km 279th in 38:40. Derek Buckley was second in for the blues, running 42:52 for 566th. John Collier, one of the only ever-present throughout this season, came in a little way behind in 591st position in a time of 43:17. Alan Glasgow had a great run as he build his strength off-road, running 44:02 to place 651st. Russell Mabbett enjoyed his outing overt he challenging course, placing 862nd in 47:14, and Graham Vickers closed the team in 67th position, finishing 1129th with 53:17. Dave Young enjoyed a good day out as retiring team manager but Vice Chair elect to come in 1182nd in 55:34, and Mike Walsh made short work of the course as a 75-year old to finish 1220th in 59:53.

Dave Waywell led a 9-strong contingent from Wesham on Saturday in the Standish Hall Trail race near Wigan, a challenging 10km multi terrain course. Unfortunately runners were misdirected, and the course ended up at 6.95 miles. Dave ended up running 48:21 for 21st place but was beaten into 2nd place in the M60 age category by the younger Irishman Frank Reilly although the gap was only 41 seconds. Dougie Brown was unchallenged in the M70 age category as he sailed to a victory in 108th position with a time of 58:27. John Howorth (M55) was behind Dougie in 126th place with 60:15, and John Whiteman was 178th with 73:32. Peter Earnshaw was close behind as 5th M65 in 180th place with 73:59. The Wesham men were 8th team. The Wesham women, however, turned out a stronger squad and won the ladies team race, as Michaela Dempsey showed her strength once again to finish 7th woman and 1st W40 in 53:32. Sarah Sherratt was 8th in 53:39 and 2nd W35; and Kath Hoyer sealed the Wesham team victory with 57:05 in 14th place, finishing 2nd W45. Pauline Weller was 37th and 3rd W50 with a strong run to record 68:36.

George Kennedy was the first Wesham runner to finish in the Great North West Half Marathon run over two laps along the Blackpool Promenade between North Pier and Anchorsholme. Kennedy finished 8th M50 and 73rd overall with a good run of 1:25:10 for the 13.1 miles. New member Andrew Whaites started off as he means to continue with a fine run to place 76th in 1:25:22. Andy Divall marked a comeback with 1:34:32 for 239th place, and Stephen Hinde recorded a robust 1:37:14 for 294th. Nigel Shepherd finished one second behind in 295th position and Stephen Wilkinson as 8th M55 was 359th in 1:40:10. Brian Porter prepares for the London Marathon and shows good form, finishing 544th in 1:46:56, with Peter Bartlett (M55) just over half a minute behind with 1:47:33 for 555th place. George Flanagan M55 ran 1:48:51 in 601st place; Kevin Macro (M40) was 824th in 1:57:40; and Scott Munday 1128th with 2:25:07. Carmel Sullivan is running with a knee injury but had a good run to finish 23rd and 2nd W40 in 1:34:27; Hayley France was 110th in 1:51:17; Pauline Weller completed a tough weekend double with 2:03:25 for 219th and 15th W50; and Berni Ashworth finishing with Scott was 317th in 2:25:07. There were 1187 runners in this popular event.

Dave Waywell and Kath Hoyer also managed a weekend double with the Huddersfield 10k on Sunday, another challenging Yorkshire hilly course after their exertions the previous day at Standish Hall. Waywell was victorious in the M60 age category this time, with 40:55 for 40th position. Kath Hoyer didn’t fare so well this time, placing 5th in the W45 category with stiff opposition but nevertheless was 15th woman in 48:20, a good performance. The pair had a well deserved chocolate fudge cake and cream in the clubhouse after the race.

Written by: Alex Rowe

Submitted: 26^th February 2008

Edited by: Brenda J Earnshaw WRR Editor