It was a very full week of athletics fixtures last week, but Wesham members largely kept away, perhaps due to the very high temperatures. Noticeable perhaps that the main event of the week was Tuesday evening in the Paddy’s Pole Fell Race, the next date in the Wesham Off-Road Championships. Tom Crabtree was the first Wesham finisher in 23^rd place over the 3.7 miles and 1102ft of climb, in a time of 33:45. Carl Groome came in 47^th in 37:48 placing 6^th M50. Steve Myerscough completed the course in 54^th position in 38:23 for 6^th M45, with Mick Edge 7^th M60 and 86^th overall in 43:26. Ian Nichols Hogg finished 89^th in 44:41; Kirsty Holland ran well to place 14^th female and 108^th overall in 53:58. Ryan Azzopardi was 110^th in 54:19; Sally Deacon 16^th woman and 114^th in 56:09 finishing 3^rd W55. Debbie Myerscough was 20^th and 117^th overall in 1:16:20, and together the Wesham ladies were third team.

Rob Danson won the latest round of the Inter Club Grand Prix between the seven local clubs to take the Wesham team to third place. Full report and results next week.

Emma Brook returned to run in the famous and historic Blaydon Races for the six miles along the Scotswood Road out of Newcastle on Friday evening, where she finished 835^th woman and 2495^th overall in 57:35 (chip time 54:05).

The second Astley Park Trail Race in this year’s series took place on Wednesday and Ian Nichols Hogg was competing on a second night, finishing 46^th in 27:19. Carmel Sullivan was 9^th female and 54^th overall, 2^nd W50, in 27:54.

On Monday evening the third Wesham Summer Handicap took place with David Taylor running the fastest time of 29:25 for the 4.9 miles of undulating country roads with a handicap of 26:00. Alek Walker was second fastest with the same handicap to run 30:01, and Carmel Sullivan was third fastest and first woman in 36:31 with a 20-minute handicap. Nigel Shepherd was 4^th in 36:35; Ian Nicholls Hogg 5^th with 36:39, and Jonathan Lawson first to the finish line with a point-to-point time of 40:32 on scratch. Alona Versinina clocked 41:05 (14:00 handicap); Kirsty Holland 42:18 on scratch and second to finish; Ryan Azzopardi 42:46 (14:00); Peter Rooney 42:49 (15:00); James Danson 43:12 (13:00); Andy Wilkinson 43:13 (17:00); Andy Moore 45:29 (13:00); Vron Walker 45:56 (11:00); Finlay McCalman 45:56 (11:00); Julie Paton 47:02 913:00); Sharlan Butcher 47:03 (13:00); Dawn Biggs 47:32 (13:00); James Birchall 51:26 912:00; and Michelle Pitt 58:02 on scratch.

There were fewer Wesham members running a parkrun at 9am on Saturday morning, but there were six event venues visited. The Wesham parkrun tourists were in Keighley for the Cliffe Castle run, where Steven Gore ran the third fastest time of the morning with 21:52 for an M40 age graded performance of 63.34%. Carl Groome ran the fifth fastest time of 22:15 for M50 68.46% with Alona Versinina clocking 26:43 for a W35 grade of 56.14%. Vicky Gore recorded 28:11 for W45 57.48%, and Andy Moore ran 30:24 for M60 53.23%. Sue Rigby posted 35:12 for a W45 graded 47.06%, and Michelle Pitt ran 38:45 for W40 40.00%. At the Lytham Hall run Jonathan Lawson was quickest Wesham member with 22:57 for M55 66.96%; Ian Nichols Hogg ran 23:25 for 55.37%; Michelle Tickle returned 24:24 for a W45 grade of 67.90%; Agness Woods ran 25:45 for W55 70.29%; John Burns 25:54 for M65 66.60%; and Kirsty Holland ran 26:28 for her age graded 56.30%. Steve Myerscough was back on Fleetwood Promenade to run the third fastest time of 19:06 for M45 76.61%, with Alan Hudson clocking 25:50 for M75 71.03%. In Stanley Park in Blackpool Mark Holton had the fifth fastest time of 20:33 for an M45 grade of 69.02% and a new personal best time for this course. Rob Wallace ran 25:39 for an age graded 50.42%. Nigel Shepherd was running his home event in Avenham Park in Preston, and he ran 23:27 for an M60 71.50%. Heading towards Merseyside in the Knowsley parkrun near St Helens Ryan Azzopardi clocked 26:19 for M40 53.07% and a place as a first timer here.