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The 42nd Freckleton Half Sunday,
18th June 2006 (The
oldest half in the 2nd
oldest in |
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MARTIN’S RACE RATINGS:
Do it again: Yes - unless I’m faster than Peter Cruse next year; then I might do Horwich!!! So, I suppose it’s Freckleton again!!!
Scenery: 7 - The last 4/5 mile is a bit featureless,
but Wrea Green is superb.
PB: 10 - (this year!)
Atmosphere: 10 - Forty odd Wesham marshals and a dozen or so Wesham spectators all shouting encouragement
and the guy doing the announcements at the start, (Andy O’Sullvan), does a
great job.
Organisation: 9 - Mr Porter even sorted the weather this year. (Usually the day to
organise your barbecue). I can appreciate all the hard work that goes into a
race with 600 runners, but thought it was a bit odd having to send an extra 50p
after we received our numbers if we wanted to take part in the Lancs Championships. I’m sure this was
out of Brian’s hands. (Brian, please don’t get back to me on
this!!)
Value: 7 -
£8 to enter and transfers not allowed. Bring back the pies!
Just a bit more on
the organisation…….
The race seemed like it was going to go out
of existence a few years ago and now it’s full. (The Potteries Marathon wasn’t so lucky). Well done Brian. Hope it’s a good report in tomorrow’s paper and I’m sure it
will be full again next year judging by the comments on the Runners World Forum.
The Race
The race is a 2 p.m. start which gives us
all a lie in on Fathers’ Day, but
more time to get nervous before the start…
Picked up four photos from Tony Croft at the start for a bargain
20p each.
Johnny Winters, (B&F), on the start line as usual. Good support from local Freckleton residents, though I did hear
after that a few drivers were grumbling
because they had to wait a while whilst runners crossed over the main road and
I saw a few turning round, sick of waiting………it’s only once a year! The police
were doing a great job.
I was in a group with Joanna Goorney and Simon
Eaton. I kept Joanna in view
virtually all the way round, but Simon
finished a couple of minutes ahead. Peter
Gleaves went past and asked if I was OK. Richard Storey was marshalling and shouted, “Taking it easy today,
Martin?”!!!!” The fact was, I felt drained, (after Tebay??) – Richard Davies
did Tebay as well and he knocked 5
minutes of his PB. Maybe I’m
just getting old, (and knackered)…. (“Not for me you’re not
Martin”)…..Dempsey’s voice
At Wrea
Green, Brian Wilkie mentioned I was still smiling, (even though I must have
looked knackered?)!! Peter Waywell commented:
“At
least it’s another 13 competitive miles!”
After about 9 miles, a Burnden runner cut in front of me and I had to slow down. This
annoyed me slightly, so I decided to pull my finger out and overtook him. I
then set my sights on Peter Gleaves and
Stephen Hinde. Peter was breathing heavily, (putting the effort in for a change!)
Passed Peter and Stephen and passed a 
thumbs up.
I gave loads of kids ‘five’ as I ran past
the pub and got a cheer. Andy and Sally Yelland were handing out Wesham 10k forms at the finish. Picked
up my goody bag, a drink bottle, a bottle of water and a sachet of Lucozade etc at the finish and chatted to
Les Cornwall. He ran 1:16 for 6th and had also run 1500 metres on the Saturday. He has now moved to just
behind Bush Lane Playing Fields.
We had a couple of drinks after in the Ship: Me, Michaela, Levon, Steve Myerscough
and Peter Gleaves. I think it’s the
first time I’ve been in and I was suitably impressed. (Good choice Dempsey).
1st male:
Peter Newton (
1st
female (27th overall): Steph Goodchild 1:24:23 (
Full results: http://www.ukresults.net/2006/freckle.html
27 Wesham: 22 men and
5 ladies
Written by Martin
Bates
Submitted: 19th
June 2006
Edited by: Brenda J
Earnshaw WRR Website/Magazine Editor