Garstang 10K

Sunday, 31^st January 2010

From Garstang High School

Scenery: 7

Do it Again: Yes

Value: 4

Don’t think £8 is bad (£9 online) (cheaper than Trafford 10K), but I don’t think I’ll be wearing the T shirt……will come in useful as a duster (that’s if I dusted)…..I heard 1 runner giving it back. Appreciate funds go towards the new Garstang Sports Hall.

Organisation: 9

Just felt the two guys running the drink station could have handed the drinks out rather than letting us help ourselves (I was scared of knocking a load over). Not a major problem on a wintry 10k………just felt they need another announcer next year. Perhaps Brian Blessed could do it (I couldn’t hear Brian Porter as he’s that softly spoken and shy and retiring!)

When the race set off, a few of the front runners tried to exit from the first entrance by mistake, but soon corrected themselves.

Also a fun run won in 11mins 30 (approx 2 miles) – 62 finishers

P.B. potential: 1 (1 or 2 hills)

Atmosphere: 9

First 2 mile loop goes past the school, so quite a few out cheering us on. Canteen in the school and sausage sarnis available outside. The race hit twice this year by the weather – postponed from 10^th January and today’s attendance hit by weather elsewhere (only 321 finishers compared to 458 last year). However, 1 runner made it from Dumfries! Quite a few Wesham stalwarts there helping out – don’t want to mention who, in case I miss any one off!

Beginner Friendly: 10

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The race

The weather overnight in Blackpool was bad with a slight snowfall, so much so that texts were being sent between Michaela, me, Brian Yates and Brian Porter to check it was going ahead, but when we got there, Garstang was different again – a beautiful day.

Mr Porter and the mayor set us off on our way. I was running with ex North Fylde and Preston runner, Phil Quibell initially. Phil has been away in Turkey for a while. We did 6.06 for the first mile. I managed to get away from Phil as we came back along by the school approaching the 2 mile point. I was then overtaken by Red Rose and V50 rival Joe Swarbrick and the 1^st Lady Sarah Ridgway from Eryri. I battled to stay with them for maybe a mile, till they both disappeared into the distance.

Garstang runner, Richard Jones and his other half were running the opposite way shouting encouragement. After last 2 races (half marathons), it was nice to do a shorter race and I seemed to be gaining slightly on the next 2 runners. As we got back onto the main road by the school, Preston’s, Steve Hallas (3^rd) gave me a shout and that was all I needed to haul them in, finishing in 38:43 (38:42:52 on my watch Keith, but I’ll let you off!). I was 1min 10 faster than last year.

1^st male for the 2^nd year running was Steve Littler in 32:53 (12 seconds quicker than last year) and Sarah Ridgway was 1^st Lady in 38:15 (1 min 23 seconds in front of next lady)

I didn’t attend the prize giving, but I would imagine we won the Men’s team and possibly the Ladies. I was 6^th Vet 50 in a race with 321 in it, but 3^rd last week in a race with 1550 in it!

Photo of Lancaster runner Adam Hulme goes into an early lead followed by Steve Hallas, Steve Littler and Andy Buttery – eventually 2^nd, 3^rd, 1st and 4^th.

Photo

No wonder the hills didn’t bother 1^st lady, Sarah Ridgway!

Other WRR runners:

8^th B. Norman 35:30, 14^th K. Lee 36:23, 18th B. Yates 36:52, 29^th M. Bates 38:43, 42^nd G Cunliffe 39:51, 43^rd G. deBanke 39:55, 67^th M. Dempsey 41:54, 106^th ??????44:22, 112th D. Preston 44:48, 121^st C. Moss 45:34, 129^th N. Unsworth 46:16, 165^th H. Lawrenson 48:49, 175^th F McCalman 49:07, 178^th P. Bartlett 49:33, 181^st G Flanagan 49:38, 188^th S. Wilkinson 50:02, 194^th J. Howorth 50:24, 215^th S. Whaites 51:47, 221^st K>Eccles 52:12, 222^nd P. Cook 52:17, 229^th N. Kitchen 52:44, 309^th S. Turner 1:03:51, 313^th D. Wells 1:05:39

A gang of us adjourned to the ‘Owd Tithebarn’ for a pint and a bite to eat, though Michaela drove in the opposite direction towards The Pickerings.

I did some impulse shopping on the way there, (bought my son a tele for a good school report), and still beat Michaela there.

P.S.

Wrr runner 106^th is down as Richard Davies who wasn’t there. Richard was paired with Pete Waywell in the Pennine Bridleway relays. WRR were placed 23^rd and 64^th. http://www.penninebridlewayrelay.co.uk/results.htm

Written by: Martin Bates

Submitted: 5^th February 2010

Edited by: Brenda J Earnshaw WRR Editor