Pennine Bridleway Relay

Sunday, 3rd February 2008

 

 

Scenery:                      Not the Lakes and maybe wrong time of the year, but still worth a 7

Atmosphere:               I tended to stay in the car for as long as possible because I was freezing – 8

Organisation:              10 to the host club, Rossendale and 10 to Derek Buckley for organising for the 4th year on the trot. (Nothing to do with today, but Rossendale has got 18 Level 1 coaches!!!)

Beginner Friendly:     10 again……just ask Bernie Krawczyk and Sue Fearon who went off course, but still thoroughly enjoyed it. Don’t expect marshals; it’s not a road race. My Leg (3) was easy to navigate, (just follow the Pennine Bridleway markers), but on some legs you had to consult your map/route description. Bum bag compulsory with whistle, compass, etc.

Do it again:                 Definitely. I’ve done Leg 3 twice with Richard Davies and Jason Barlow. Leg 5 with Richard and Leg 1 with Phil Metcalfe. Great day out topped off with a couple of beers in the Duke of Wellington, Haslingden. (It’s on the A6177 Mr Midgley!)

 

My day started at 5am when my alarm went off, and finished about 13 and a half hour later. You don’t have to travel down so early, but it was easier for me to meet at The Fairfield at 6:30. (I thought we were meeting at the Fire Station?) Dave Waywell left at 8 and others left after Leg 1. I picked up George K and Lee B on the way and also dropped off Blackpool’s Bob Massey and Tanya by Norcross. I drove past the garage at Greenhalgh as it was getting close to 6:30. When I got there Derek said I had time to juice up, so I drove back to the garage and returned to the Fairfield. When I got back a couple of cars had set off and five of us were going to squeeze into Derek’s car. As soon as we got on the motorway I realised I had left my mud claws in my car!! Argh!!! Luckily Alex was doing Leg 1, (I was doing Leg 3), and we were both size 9. I also sent Michaela a text to collect my shoes as they were leaving the Fairfield at 8:20. Derek also phoned the cars ahead to wait at Broughton so we could offload a passenger. How did we ever cope without mobiles???

 

Leg 1

The race starts from Fearn’s School, Waterfoot, Rossendale. It’s an 8.5-mile leg to Long Causeway.

Alex Rowe and Steve Myerscough got us underway – they both had to leave straight away as Alex was taking his mother-in-law out and Steve had to work. Alan Glasgow and Ian Sharples were the first runners for the “B” team and Jenny Salt and Tracy Hulme got the mixed team off.

 

·         Alex and Steve 16th in 65 minutes dead.

·         Alan and Ian were hot on their tails with 18th in a magnificent 66:55.

·         Jenny and Tracy were 70th in 92:28.

·         Both our “A” and “B” teams finished in front of debutants, Blackpool (Mick Cronshaw and Johnny Houghton 69:28).

 

Leg 2: Long Causeway to Callis Bridge (12.5 miles)

Trevor Rayner and Richard “Bogtrotter” Davies took over from Alex and Steve, but unfortunately Trevor went over on his ankle. Blackpool overtook us by 12 minutes. Blackpool’s Brian Hall was obviously delighted and told us Trevor and Richard were holding hands??!!

 

·         Trevor and Richard slipped to 28th with 1:52:33

·         Mark Midgley and Russ Mabbett finished 60th with 1:52:08

·         Julie Cruse and Carmel Sullivan finished 44th in 1:59:27

 

 

Leg 3: Callis Bridge to Summit (9.5 miles/1570 feet)

This was my leg and had the most amount of climbing with a ‘sting in the tail’ and the toughest of the whole route.

 

I set off with Jason Barlow, (wearing normal trainers), and started climbing straight away. There were three teams following us straight away for added pressure.

A sole Rossendale runner overtook us, but then dropped off when his partner didn’t follow. About a mile to go, we were overtaken by Todmorden. I think. Jason could have run faster and shouted encouragement, but we were now on the ‘sting in the tale’! We seemed to be gaining on them on the downhill, but ran out of road! Jason thoroughly enjoyed it though.

 

We finished in a predicted, (by Jason), 70:19 and only dropped one place to finish 29th. Jason shot off and drove home to Blackpool and I sat in Dave Waywell’s car to keep warm, (wearing Dave’s coat and nothing else!) – Sarah drove the car to the next stage and I was re-united with my gear.

 

·         Sarah Sherratt and Michaela finished in 80:27 for the mixed team

·         John Rudd and Simon Cole, (on loan from Lytham), finished in 86:54 for 64th

 

Leg 4:  Summit to Whitworth 5.5miles/753 feet (“Should suit the speed merchants”)

·         Derek and Gary P took over and had a storming run gaining five places to finish 24th in 40:03 - in the results as Barry Norman (injured) and John Collier (cold)

·         Dave and Kath did 49:34 to come in at 45th

·         Sue and Bernie came home 71st in 81:19 just behind two Bowland girls who they led astray!

 

Leg 5: Whitworth to Waterfoot (11miles/1390 feet)

·         Karl Lee and Lee Barlow pulled back a huge deficit to overtake Blackpool with half a mile to go………then promptly got lost and dropped eight places to finish in 1:36:32. Secret training for the Wrexham half maybe?

·         Gary Pendlebury and Derek had a short break and ran again for the mixed team finishing 23rd in 1:16:37 – Gary and Trevor are training for the Rome Marathon

·         George kept Graham Vickers going, encouraging him all the way round in 89:08 picking up four places; a great run by both guys.

 

Final Results

1st        Borrowdale     4:58:59

32nd     Wesham A      6:24:36

39th      Wesham Mxd             6:33:00

66th      Wesham B      7:41:57

 

Written by: Martin Bates

Submitted: 3rd February 2008

Edited by: Brenda J Earnshaw WRR Editor