Saturday afternoon witnessed the fourth fixture in the current season on the Mid-Lancs Cross Country League in Towneley Park in Burnley.  Very low cloud and set-in heavy drizzle greeted early arrivals but by the time of the senior races this has abated and was left with the characteristic cold wind gusting across the parkland and playing fields now used for the course. Kath Hoyer was the only Wesham woman running in the 6km course over 1 small, 1 medium and 1 large lap, finishing 4^th W55 and 75^th in 26:01.

MID LANCS XC No 4 – Townley Park, Burnley.    12^th January 2019

Now at the fourth Mid-Lancs fixture (where is the season going to?) and our numbers equaled that of the last fixture minus one woman!  While the League reported record numbers.  In stark contrast to the last League fixture in December at Hyndburn’s Wilsons Fields where steady heavy rain under leaden skies turned the course into a swimming pool here at Burnley today despite low cloud and early drizzle it eased off and was replaced by a gusting wind but it was warm enough, and the course was dry and firm, track runners conditions!

In the Women’s and Over-70s over 5.8 km with a short, medium and large lap only Kath Hoyer turned out; come on ladies, where are you!  Kath made a sterling effort and finished a fine 4^th W55 and 75^th with a time of 26:01. Anne Mayers-Smith was there at the event but circumstances meant she could not race.

The main action for the first week of 2019 was at the Lancashire County Cross Country Championships in Blackburn’s Witton Park. In the Senior Women’s race over a 3-lap 8km course Anne Mayers-Smith finished 41^st overall and 6^th W40 in 30:44 on a largely dry course in excellent running conditions. Rob Danson earned himself another Lancashire County vest for the Inter-Counties event in March finishing in 3^rd place with a time of 31:02 for the 4-lap 10km course, coming in just 27 seconds behind the winner. Gareth Booth running in his Horwich colours finished 39^th and 2^nd M45 in 34:11. Andrew Harling placed 87^th in 38:10 and Phil Quibell in his Salford vest 100^th in 39:42 to win the M60 category, a Lancashire gold medal. Mark Renshall made his cross-country debut with 41:31 for 127^th place and 13^th M45. Steve Myerscough finished 139^th in 42:34 for 17^th M45; Nigel Shepherd was 9^th M60 in 155^th place with 44:18; and John Collier 2^nd M65 and 157^th in 44:31, just losing the County Gold medal to Lytham’s Terry Hellings by 5 seconds. Stuart Clayton another cross-country debutant was 171^st with 46:30, 16^th M50, and Martin Bates 14^th M60 in 48:19 and 175^th place overall. Ben Wrigley finished 184^th with 50:09 and Phil Leaver battling breathing problems to place with 61:20. The Wesham men finished 10^th Senior Men’s team and 8^th Masters.

Wesham Road Runners celebrated the New Year after a successful 12 months saw teams contest the Northern Road Relays; forays to the Lake District for the Grasmere Gallop; international parties to Benidorm and Palma; and take a team to the prestigious Endure24 event in Leeds for the first time. Alan Taylor and supporting crew completed the Three Peaks and cycle challenge to raise over £3000 for cancer charities. There were many individual successes with many new members and many out to set new personal best performances and take on new challenges. The club has run another two Couch to 5k programs and benefited from many success and new recruits, and 2019 is set to be another good year for the club with many team events and the continuing club championships on road, cross country, trail and fell.