The first 'Live Ribble Valley' Bowley Hill Trail Race

Great Harwood Approx 5.5 miles

Monday 25th May 2009

The race formed part of the 143rd Great Harwood Agricultural Show - a mini Lowther, (but not as posh.)

Do it Again – Yes

Scenery - 7

PB potential - N/A

Atmosphere - 9 We started from the centre of the showground and I felt a bit like a fish in a goldfish bowl.

Organisation - 9 Only fell down on no water at the finish, (on a very hot day!)

Value: 10 (£5 adults/£3 children to enter the showground and the race was free)

Beginner Friendly - 10 extremely well marshalled and 'taped' - so many people must have given up their Bank Holiday Monday free of charge. Restores your faith in human nature.

We were a bit at the last minute, but still got there before Paul Muller! The showground was packed out - it’s been hailed as the 'biggest and best ever Great Harwood show' in the Blackburn Citizen. Paul wasn't sure if he was doing the race depending on the severity of the course. (He'd been to Wembley to watch his team Shrewsbury and he was a bit dehydrated.) We got our numbers and then Michaela was contemplating going back to the car to change her shoes with 20 minutes to go. There was a load to do - horse and dog displays, football tournament, an army stand, hawks and owls, spit roast, side saddle riding, bouncy castles, archery etc and Levon went through seven pounds in several minutes!

Nobody was to sure where to go as it was the first ever race. Paul arrived at the start at 12:59... and then went for a warm up! I'd not run much last week. Had a couple of days off with a dodgy back and felt a bit deflated after a disappointing marathon in Krakow and taking our Vet50 team from 1st to 4th last weekend in the National Relays! I need to refocus!

I started off neck and neck with an Accrington lady, but when it started getting tougher, I dropped back a bit and I never saw her again. Quite a few spectators en-route and one lady said to her husband, "Where’s Wesham?" Cheek!!!

It was quite a tough little course, but nice to run somewhere I've never run before, (I didn't know I was coming today until my son, Levon mentioned it last night from Michaela!) I marvelled at all the places I'd discovered through running.

It was a hot energy sapping day. I walked in parts - either when the runner in front was walking or when I was going virtually just as fast walking as the runner in front was running because it was so steep. It was a pretty course - a bit similar to the Bluebell race, (but without Trooper Lane and the river crossing!) This afternoon’s race was mainly grassy slopes with one bit I didn't like down some cobblestones. The route to the summit was more of a climb where I was pulling tufts of grass to stop me falling backwards. I'm sure there must have been an easier way up, but we were encouraged to follow the red and white tape straight up.

I was all downhill from here and retracing part of the route we ran up. I passed one guy who was walking. He gallantly stood back whilst I vaulted the style. He looked like the runner who led the race out of the field, but I wasn't sure. I caught another couple of runners up with the showground in sight. One was the joint race organiser. They appeared to be struggling a bit. The organiser was apologising for the stiles. I said they weren't a problem. It wasn't exactly 'The 20 Barriers Challenge'

I eventually got to the finish after a hard run in past a lovely smell of wild garlic. Levon won a football competition and was also told he was a good shot by the soldiers on the Army stand. We couldn't hang about as Michaela was working in 2 hours. We rushed back to the Car Park. When Levon and I got there, we found Michaela had aimed for the only bit of mud in the field and was stuck. It took about four of us to push/bounce her out.

After we got home, we found out she won a £10 beer voucher for 1st FV40..........and I had 'won' 1st FV50!!

The race was won by Andrew McFarlane of Clayton in 42:33 and Paul Muller was 2nd in 43:05. Anita Jarman of Lancaster was the 1st Lady, (and a junior), in 49:40. I was 24th in 54:47 and Michaela was 28th in 57:39, (her 2nd Vet Category win in 2 days - also ran Ilkley yesterday!). Last: 45th Kitty Garnett (1st FV70!!!) in 1:35:01. There was only the three of us from the Fylde and maybe the race numbers were hit a bit with Hutton Roof on Saturday and Ilkley yesterday and Austwick today? Plus Bowley wasn't in the Fixtures Calendar.

Written by: Martin Bates

Submitted: 27^th May 2009

Edited by: Brenda J Earnshaw WRR Editor