Garstang 10K Saturday 14^th January 2007

Scenery: 8

PB potential: 5 – Though Lee Barlow ran his quickest 10k time for years.

Atmosphere: 10

Organisation: 9 – only criticism is that the 2.5 mile drink station caught me by surprise and I didn’t have time to cut in to grab a drink. (It was placed immediately after turning round a corner with no apparent pre-warning)

Value: 10 - £6 to pre-enter. T–shirt to finish with a ‘Lee Barlow look-alike’ on the front.

Beginner Friendly: 10

The race was full this year in advance. A colleague at work was disappointed to have his cheque returned as he wanted a duel with Julie Murphy! Said he might do Alan Taylor’s 5K instead, (18.02.07). Last year Julie did 51:02 and Stephen did 51:07.

I got our numbers ready the night before, so we weren’t rushing in the morning. Lee Barlow phoned in the morning and spoke to Michaela. (He wanted picking up 9:40 at 22 Holmfield Road, near Gynn Square)

We didn’t leave Cleveleys till this time as Michaela was ‘running behind’. Lee told us the house looked like a building site. 22 Holmfield is a nice looking Hotel. I rang the bell and woke them up. We reversed down the road and found a ‘building site’ house and woke them up as well.

I was not a ‘happy chappy’ as I’m a miserable, impatient git at the best of times. Michaela had also forgotten her phone and I didn’t want to leave Lee in the lurch, so we set off back to Cleveleys. As we went down Cavendish Road, I recalled Michaela mentioned the Middle Chippy which I thought was strange at the time, but suddenly realised perhaps Lee did know where he was and he wanted picking up at 22 Oldfield!!!

Anyway, we picked Lee up OK in the end and set off to Garstang. Levon and I handed out Catforth 5k forms and Lee went to change one of Michaela’s numbers, (she had entered twice!) Steve Bateson (Runningpix) was covering the race for Runners World and I think he also said the Daily Telegraph!!

The start was a bit cramped, but I suppose it’s the only way you can start of the road. I had to watch my step. Quite a few Wesham runners winding each other up. Richard Davies was going to kick Trevor Rayner’s butt (or words to that effect).

Joanna Goorney and Anne Sweeney were ahead and I had to work really hard to pass them both. I could see Alan Hudson all the way round which surprised me, but I didn’t actually catch him till half a mile to go.

I ran in a group with Garstang’s Tony Pritchard and I could hear the first ladies breathing down my neck all the way round. Good Wesham support from the bikers and even saw Mike Carter, (our ex Chairman for new members!), driving round, shouting encouragement.

I caught and passed Alan Hudson on the final hill, but didn’t have much there to press on, but also just snook in front of a Kendal runner. I’d had a slight twinge from last Sunday’s fell race and didn’t want to push it too hard. I’d had two days off and a massage and it felt OK. Alan was still 2^nd Vet 55 after having a bad run (by his standards). Alan did 36:58 last year.

Michaela was 125^{th (}44:43), and won her first prize since her comeback. She ran with Lee Barlow’s ex club, (Red Rose), runner, Shane Cliffe for part of the race. When Shane finished he ran back to Penwortham!!! He was obviously training for a marathon! ‘While you’re out, give it clout’. That’s Michaela’s motto on post-race warm downs. Something Michaela and I should do more of, but it’s difficult when we’ve got my 9 year old son with us.

Steve Littler was 2^nd in 32:17 and Joanna Goorney was 4th Lady in 40:20 (1st Vet). We had 13 runners under 40 minutes.

Michaela, Lee, Levon and I took off to the Priory. Michaela and I had a pint of ‘Nicky Nook’, Lee had a girls drink and Levon had a J20. The round came to £8.50 and I made the mistake of saying, “and your own”. The barmaid took a pound!!! Michaela spotted this and told me. I made sure I’d got the price right and asked her for my pound back!

Levon wanted sausage and mash, but I was too embarrassed to go to the bar again, so I sheepishly asked Michaela to go! We were joined by John Butler and Barry Edwards. The place was packed out – loads of cyclists. Their gear must cost a fortune.

Dave Waywell and Kath came in and sat at a table vacated by Pete, Marie, Jenny and Dave Thompson, Kath and Ken Munro. Kath started working on Lee to drop Paddys Pole from the Fell Championship as it clashed with an Age Related race. Steve Littler, Julie Murphy, Peter and Julie Cruse also came in. I was on tea by this time as I was driving again.

We had 43 finishers today out of 442; North Fylde had 10 and Lytham had 3.

Thanks to Kirsty and Sue for watching Levon.

1^st Man: Andrew Thake (Lancaster) 31:55 – 1^st Lady: Patrice Gardiner 38:06 (u/a)

2^nd Steve Littler 32:17, 11^th Capt’n Barlow 36:10, 12^th Karl Lee 36:12, 20^th Pete Waywell 37:29, 27^th Pete Cruse 37:48, 29^th (Number 1) Dave Waywell 38:02 (1^st V60), 32^nd Richard Davies 38:18, 33^rd John Bertenshaw 38:21, 34^th Trevor Rayner (Rayner not Raynor) 38:36, 35^th Gary de Banke 38:51, 37^th Keith Wilding 38:55, 44^th Martin Bates 39:21, 47^th Alan Hudson 39:38 (2^nd MV55), 55^th Joanna Goorney 40:20, 95^th Adam Wilding 42:45, 106^th Alan Taylor 43:34, 108^th Desmond Cleary 43:39, 125^th Michaela Dempsey 44:43 (2^nd FV40 – only 21 secs behind), 131^st Kath Hoyer 44:59, 135^th Sarah Sherratt 45:06, 150^th Nigel Shepherd 45:48, 154^th Graham Vickers 46:10, 159^th Julie Cruse 46:20, 166^th Barry Edwards 46:31, 184^th Stephen Wilkinson 47:36, 186^th Chris Moss 47:39, 201^st Mike Owen 48:07, 202 Julie Murphy 48:09, 203 John Howorth 48:10, 223^rd George Flanagan 48:59, 238^th Derek Goodenough 49:47, 243 Jenny Salt 50:04, 246^th Helen Jolly 50:16, 261 Nicholas Brandwood 51:08, 264 Norman Bateman 51:17, 268 Ken Munro 51:44, 272 Tracy Hulme 52:01, 315 Pauline Weller 54:12, 325 Jenny Thompson 55:04, 336 Paul Carter 56:00, 345 John Whiteman 56:33, 365 Pauline Mills 57:52, 429 Sue Fearon 54:01

Other local clubs:-

Blackpool 60^th Duncan Richardson 40:38,110^th Dave Dyson 43:47, 140^th Dave Brooks 45:20, 194^th Tanya Ashworth 47:48, 200 Ruth Calderbank 47:59, 213 John Bradley 48:34, 240 Lord Henshaw 49:54, 265 Liz Smallbridge 51:26, 303 Gill Bennett 53:33, 368 Anthony Barrow 57:59

LSARR 167^th Gary Lewis 46:32, 228 Ken Peters 49:16, 230 Helen Crossley 49:21

Written by: Martin Bates

Submitted: 16^th January 2007

Edited by: Brenda J Earnshaw WRR Editor