Cuerden Trail 10k Thursday 20^th July 2006

Cuerden Valley Park consists of 650 acres of land lying along the valley of the River Lostock as it flows from Whittle-le-Woods to Bamber Bridge. Kingfishers, woodpeckers and herons are frequently seen.

MARTIN’S RACE RATINGS:

Do it again: Definitely

Scenery: 7 If I didn’t run, I wouldn’t have dreamt of coming here………….which reminds me of a woman at work (in her 30’s) who didn’t know where the Langdales were. Everyone has different tastes I know and I’m not criticising her, just staggered!

Atmosphere: 7

Organisation: 9 – 99% of the route was either marshalled or taped. Free results available on the night or e-mailed to you in 48 hours. And the finish timekeepers had hand-held timers with a printer read out!

Value: 10 (£4.50 on the night only) Every 10^th runner appeared to get a decent spot prize and the race can’t possibly have been run to make a profit as every runner that did all three races received a T-shirt. My only regret is that I was too slow getting to the cakes at the finish and they’d all gone! One of the earlier races had two pairs of £80 trail shoes as spot prizes. 95 runners in tonight’s race. Funds raised go to the Wildlife Trust.

Beginner Friendly: 10 If I was a beginner, I would have loved tonight’s race – quite a low key, unpressured event held presumably to promote the park, but expertly handled and sponsored by Neales Waste Management.

I was preparing for the race the night before – leaving my beloved WRR vest by the front door. When I got home, no sign! Michaela had the audacity to put it in the wash!! What was she thinking of? The night was saved by Peter Cruse returning a box of ladies vests. (My spare had inadvertently got mixed up in it!). Pete said there was more chance of peace in the Middle East than me running without a Wesham vest!!

Our Steve Myerscough won the last race and he arrived in his work suit about 15 minutes before the race, (he’s improving on Skipton where he missed the start!). Paul Muller was there and Jarvis Elly of Salford, so he wasn’t counting his chickens.

Nigel Shepherd, Richard Lawson (Clayton), Pete, Julie and I warmed up; running past some cubs enjoying a picnic. I think the park is owned by a charity and I marvelled how it had avoided development in such a built up area. Chris Whitlock had been bitten by a horsefly and it had drawn blood!

The race set off from the Visitor Centre, running a downhill dogleg and I couldn’t believe my eyes as I watched a runner cutting a massive corner off. I don’t know what he was thinking of and put it down to a brainstorm.

I passed the 3^rd lady, Angela Wakefield – a marshall/spectator had told her she was first!!! Despite the overnight thunderstorm, it was still sweltering. Some runners had started off too quickly and were struggling. After about half way, I overtook a few runners and tried to catch Graham Vickers, but he moved away on the steps. I passed Peter Knott, (marshalling), and he couldn’t tell me how long to go; which wouldn’t have been so bad except my eyesight has deteriated so much recently, I can’t see my watch! I seemed to pull Graham back a bit, but worried about the creaking of the kissing gates and wished I had some ‘3 in 1’ oil so he wouldn’t hear me coming! I felt slightly guilty overtaking Graham with maybe ½ a mile to go. (The next guy, who I didn’t catch, received a spot prize)

The improving Chris Whitlock had beaten me by an impressive half a minute. Steve Myerscough beat his winning time from last month but finished 6^th. Our ladies won the team prize, pipping Clayton by 9 points.

1^st Jarvis Ely (Salford) 36:16 (2^nd at Preston 10k in 33:13)(9/7)

6^th Steve Myerscough 39:04

21^st Peter Cruse 42:10

29^th Chris Whitlock 44:30

31^st Martin Bates 45:01

32^nd Graham Vickers 45:20

46^th Nigel Shepherd 49:35

52^nd Julie Cruse 52:47

74^th Pauline Weller 59:50

78^th Lisa Davenport 62:59

Written by: Martin Bates

Submitted: 24^th July 2006

Edited by: Brenda J Earnshaw WRR Website/Magazine Editor