Scenery: 8

Atmosphere: 9

Organisation: 9 - The Starter could have done with a megaphone at the Start……….or a Bob Fairclough/Brian Porter character…or even Peter Waywell after noticing I’d had me barnet cut! The announcer was trying to say we would get disqualified if we tried to avoid a stile by vaulting a fence! The only reason I didn’t score it 10, was coming over the bridge with half a mile to go, it wasn’t clear if we turned left or right and I had to stop and ask, (with Dave Waywell breathing down my neck!).

Value: 10 - Outstanding! £2.50 to pre-enter or £4.50 on the night regardless whether attached/unattached. Chip butties included in the price! Dave Waywell ate as much as he usually eats in a week! No team prizes.

Beginner Friendly: 10 - Trail or studded shoes advised.

Do it again: Definitely!

We travelled down in convoy from the River Wyre and every time we passed a speed camera, Mick Edge flashed his lights to make Peter think he’d been caught. It’s dead easy to get to. I’d say less than a mile from Junction 35.

Record entries this year, (86 last year and 145 this year). The race has never previously broken 100.

There were three runners from Blackpool and Fylde and they asked me if this was a Wesham Championship Race as we had so many there again! We had 14 runners out and we appeared to have more than the host club, Dallam.

It was a little awkward overtaking on parts of the canal towpath, (people running two abreast), but there’s plenty of time after about a mile when we leave the canal. The path then climbs away from the canal up to an enclosed track. I passed Graham Ingham here, (revenge for Paddy’s Pole!), and then headed towards an old quarry, works site. I could hear somebody approaching me like a train. It didn’t sound like Graham; it was Dave Waywell. He encouraged me and I overtook another runner and sprinted for the impressive, inflatable finish gantry.

No water at the finish, but no one was bothered, (unfortunately, their water container had burst!)

The presentation was at the Carnforth Hotel, which isn’t a favourite of mine, (no real ale), but it was handy enough. A friend of ours from Dallam, (Duncan), received a prize for getting married! When the man presenting the prizes mentioned, “Is anyone getting married”, the Wesham contingent looked towards Dave and Kath. They just grinned. Maybe there’s an imminent announcement?? Peter Cruse got one, (Jaffa cakes), for his forthcoming birthday. Dave Waywell was 1^st V60 and Carmel was 1^st V40.

The winner was Kieran Rowland, (Lancaster I think), and the 1^st Lady was Sarah Tunstall from York.

Steve Myerscough was our 1^st counter, followed by Pete Waywell (37:30?), Peter Cruse (37:35?), Simon Eaton, myself, (39:06), Dave Waywell, Graham Ingham, (39:45?), Graham Vickers, Carmel Sullivan, (43:00), Kath Hoyer, Julie Cruse, Finlay and Pauline Weller. Dette had to drop out with stomach pains after about a mile.

I had wanted to get closer to our fast lads, but I was still pleased, as I was over 2 ½ minutes faster than last year.

Graham Ingham and Carmel both had Garmens and measured the race at 5.68 miles

Results will be e-mailed out to entrants and be on http://20barriersracecarnforth.blogspot.com/ They are also on the Results page of the Wesham Website http://www.weshamroadrunners.com/RESULTS_PAGE2.htm .

A Dallam member suggested, on their Message Board, that Dallam and other local clubs donate club funds to Chris? /John Schofield to help him employ a Secretary on a part time basis over this ‘delicate period’.

Written by: Martin Bates

Submitted: 4^th July 2007

Edited by: Brenda J Earnshaw WRR Editor