Chorley Harriers 10 Mile Road Race

Sunday 28^th May 2006 at Worden Park, Leyland

Martin’s Race Ratings:

Scenery: 7 - Just get a wee bit bored doing the Interclub here, the ½M and today.

PB potential: 8? - Hard for me to judge being so far back, but the top end looked good quality for both Men and Ladies.

Atmosphere: 9 - Good race to watch as you go through the park 3 times and good support from Weshams non-running partners (except Michaela who was busy being a glorified babysitter to my son)

Organisation: 9 - Apparently a few of the mile markers were out?

Value: 10 - No momento at the finish, but only £5 to enter

Beginner Friendly: 10

Overall Score: 8.83

I went to the ‘Gents’ whilst Steve Littler got his number and would have walked in the ‘Ladies’ had a couple of runners not warned me. (I knew really - damn!) Met a couple, Jackie and Dave Barker, I used to work with in the Bank and was sorry to see Jackie in a wheelchair after a hip operation. However she was upbeat and not at all down about it. It reminded me of a bygone era when the Banks wouldn’t bounce your cheques if you had a few grand sitting in a deposit account earning 1% interest. The time when it wasn’t all about how many sales points could I accumulate? Sorry, I digress…..(er…I’m not one to bore on these reports!)

Got to the Start line, (after following the Steve Littler warm up routine), with about 40 seconds to spare. I perhaps stood a bit too far forward and was soon getting passed by scores of runners. I had no speed in my legs and wished I’d done yesterday’s Fell Race at Hutton Roof, but I didn’t know it was on till Richard Davies told me he’d done it. (I can’t find my Fell Calendar anywhere!) Apart from the first mile I never looked at my watch once. I didn’t need a watch to tell me I was struggling! I told myself I might improve on the 2^nd lap. When I didn’t, I consoled myself with at least it’s another 10 miles towards the Competitive Miles Comp!

I did overtake a few on the second lap – Brian Cumpsty, (unattached), Duncan Richardson, (N.F.) and our Chris Wilding. I think we were all in the same boat!

Got through the Finish line and Elaine Bertenshaw was giving out big, purple Quality Street ‘chockies’!!

For my post race drink, I made my way to The Top Lock Pub at Whittle le Woods, for a couple of pints of Pacific.

1^st Neil Tattersall 51.51 (Pendle)

8^th S. Littler 54:58, 31^st B.Peatfield (1^st V55) 59:26, 44^th R. Mabbett 60:41, 51^st P. Cruse 61:14, 61^st L. Barlow 63:30, 63^rd J. Bertenshaw 63:34, 65^th D.Waywell (1^st V60) 63:41, 67^th A. Yelland 63:55, 75^th K. Wilding 64:31, 97^th P. Waywell 65:53, 134^th. M.Bates (DeBanke) 68:35, 147^th C. Wilding 70:43, 161^st A. Taylor 72.75, 187^th K. Hoyer 73:43, 189^th P. Gardner 73:50, 190^th G. Vickers 73:54, 197^th P. Cooke 74:47, 199^th B. Porter 74:58, 211^th R. Chapman 76:09, 231^st Y. Russell 78:25, 235^th T. Robbins 78:51, 245 S. Wilkinson 79:51, 256^th F. McCalman 81:48, 267^th B.Krawczyk 83:02, 273^rd G. Flanagan 83:50, 280^th J. Murphy 84:58, 283^rd P. Weller 85:37, 292^nd D. Young 86:46, 306^th M.Ingham 88:43, 345^th J. Gomery 105:27

30 Wesham runners took part, (31 if John Howorth is still with us – he was down as Red Rose and finished in 77:26) Men finished 4^th, Vets finished 1^st and Ladies were joint 3^rd. I’m sure John had his WRR vest on!

Written by: Martin Bates

Submitted: 28^th May 2006

Edited by: Brenda J Earnshaw WRR Website/Magazine Editor