Alex’s Newspaper Report.

Garry Barnett and Steve Myerscough ahead of the sleet storm in Wesham 10k

 

The Wesham 10k was another big success on Saturday morning, sold out several weeks beforehand and with 415 runners on the day.

Wesham themselves had 21 women members and 28 men running as well as all the officials and assistants, Rob Danson followed up his recent great form with an emphatic win, taking the lead from the start line in the inclement weather conditions to cross the finish line in 31:18 and 2min 33secs clear of second placed Simon Croft of Red Rose Runners. Rob will shortly take up an invitation to an England Athletics training camp after his 2:28 clocking in the Berlin Marathon. Ultra runner Ugis Datavs was second placed for Wesham in 14th with a time of 36:51 closely followed by David Taylor, 16th in 36:55. Wesham won the men’s team from Preston and Trawden by 4 points in a very close contest. The Wesham women were led by Annabelle Caton who came in 15th in 47:20, followed by Fran Hodkinson 39th in 52:49 and Elizabeth Johnson, 50th with 54:07. The team were 5th with Riversway the winners and Blackburn and Lytham the runners-up. Wesham clearly had the top masters’ team. Steve Myerscough was fourth finisher for Wesham in 24th place with 37:58, 6th M40. Garry Barnett was 1st M50 in 38:16 and 25th overall, with Paul Gregory 29th in 38:50. Peter Cruse finished 2nd M55 and 32nd in 39:40 and Aaron Galvin 34th with 39:50.  Stuart Topping ran 39:53 for 36th and 3rd M45 with a great run, with Carl Groome 37th in 39:57, 4th M45 and Paul Hetherington 38th and 9th M40 in 39:58. Maureen Danson was 55th woman in 54:56; Pauline Eccleston 68th in 56:10; Anne Berry 69th and 3rd W55 in 56:11 and Victoria Birkett 74th with 56:37. Roger Leadbeater was 6th M55 in 45:48; Martin Bates 5th M60 with 46:51; Dave Marsland 6th M60 in 48:45; Dave Young 2nd M70 in 50:15 (49:49 chip time); and Phil Leaver and Robert Brown 7th and 8th M60s in 50:20 and 50:42. Anne Flanagan was 3rd W60 in 58:18 and Nicola Ball 5th W55 in 58:36. Andrew Harling was 57th in 42:19; Elliot Costello 72nd with 43:38; Sean Murray a big new personal best in 44:48 (84th place); Lee Nixon 96th in 45:23; Luke Robinson 106th (46:10); Rob Wallace 145th (50:08); Rob Danson Snr 210th (53:22); Paul Carter 216th (53:49); Finlay McCalman 234th (55:12); Sue Rigby 86th woman (58:40); Kay Twist 94th (59:11); Steve Twist 288th (59:22); Maddie Azzopardi 96th woman (59:37); Claire 122nd (1:01:46); Heather Buckel 123rd (1:01:47); Stephanie Blakely 127th with Chris Whitlock 327th (1:02:10); Caz Wadsworth 129th (1:02:19); Julie Rooney 138th (1:02:46); Kellie Helme 150th (1:05:50); Debbie Bell 159th (1:06:59); and Jan Woodman 163rd (1:08:07). The morning 10k was followed up in the evening with the Wesham annual presentation and dinner dance at the Clifton Hotel in Lytham, where chairman Lee Barlow and Dave Young presented the annual championship trophies for the road and trail series with David Taylor and Helen Lawrenson the overall winners, and performance and service awards to members with outstanding dedication and contribution.

 

Many local club runners were missing from the Wesham 10k as the afternoon saw the second fixture in the Mid Lancs cross country league incorporated once again in the Liverpool Cross Challenge event in Sefton Park. The Wesham women finished 33rd team overall, with Kath Hoyer leading the way finishing 89th and 7th W55 in 42:51 for the 3-lap 8km course. Jenn Thompson was 118th and 23rd W35 in 45:25 with Kerry Eccles 119th and 10th W55 in 45:33. Tanya Barlow came in 123rd in 46:02, 29th W45. The Wesham ladies were 15th W35 team and 11th W45s. Dave Waywell was 2nd in the incorporated over-70s race over the 8k course, recording 49:17. The Wesham men were headed by Steve Swarbrick in the 3-lap 10km senior men course, finishing 40th in 37:24. Lee Barlow was second counter in 137th with 43:19, 21st M40. Steve Myerscough was the only member to complete the “double” with the Wesham 10k, and he finished 179th in 44:56, 32nd M40. John Collier finished 207th and 3rd M60 in 46:36. Ben Wrigley was 290th in 54:25 and Russell Mabbett 291st with 54:48. The Wesham men were 24th team overall and 9th M40 team.

 

Sarah Sherratt won the women’s race in the David Staff Memorial Fell Race on Sunday from Sunnyhurst Woods up over Darwen Tower and the surrounding fells completing 5.1 miles and 1200ft climb and placing 45th overall in 39:18.  Kath Hoyer completed a weekend double with 8th place in 46:21 finishing 5th W50 and 75th overall. John Sharples ran the Arnside Knott Fell Race last weekend, 6 miles and 1100ft climb, finishing 142nd and 7th M60 in 1:04:04.

 

James Mulvany ran the fastest time this week at the Lytham Hall parkrun, completing the 2-lap 5km in 17:38 for an age graded performance for M35 of 76.84%. Sharon Cooper ran 24:36 for W40 63.96% and Andrew Moore 28:20 for M55 54.24%. Ashleigh Coles clocked 41:52 for 35.3%. Emma Lund ran the Preston parkrun in 23:34 for 63.22%. In the Hyndburn run at Wilsons Fields Graham Cunliffe clocked 32:34 for M60 49.69%. The Wesham 10k and the Liverpool Mid Lancs cross country diverted away many local club runners.