Another quiet week with some wintry weather and festive preparations nevertheless didn’t put off eight Wesham members from the Longridge 7 road race on Sunday despite a cool overcast day with heavy fog masking the summit of the fell at the notorious Jeffrey Hill. Alek Walker ran the fastest time for Wesham, with 46:15 for 13^th place. Chris Haines finished 31^st in 50:30 and Steve Myerscough was 35^th with 51:16 for 6^th M45. Damian Ings placed 61^st in 55:45 for 12^th M45. Ian Blundell finished 100^th with 60:50. Peter Rooney was 4^th M60 in 61:09 and Louise Lord 31^st woman and 8^th W45 in 1:04:56 for 128^th overall. Lisa Minns was 37^th woman and 3^rd W55 in 1:05:17 just 2 seconds off 2^nd place, and 134^th overall.

Paul Lancashire ran the Tatton Yule Yomp in Cheshire and he finished 119^th in 52:27. His chip time of 52:19 gave him 135^th place. He was 16^th M35.

It was a quiet week for athletics last week as the Christmas season starts to get in action, but there were a handful of Wesham members running in the Myerscough 10-Mile race. Steve Myerscough was the first Wesham finisher in 40^th place in a time of 68:48, placing 13^th M45. Paul Lancashire was 46^th in 69:23, and martin Bates 6^th M60 and 85^th overall in 1:16:25 after his recent week in the Lanzarote Challenge. Helen Lawrenson finished 48^th woman and 10^th W50 in 1:31:04, 167^th overall. Dawn Biggs was 49^th running with Helen for 11^th W50 and 168^th overall with the same time 1:31:04, and she achieved her Wesham Silver Standard with this performance. She took 90 seconds off her recent 10-mile personal best from the Preston 10.

Saturday saw the triumphant return of the Wesham 10k on a breezy morning after a night of gales that had brought down a tree across the course, demanding the services of a hastily acquired chainsaw. The morning itself was bright if chilly but the nature of the course gave some shelter from the wind. There was a keen race at the front, with Joseph Moores of Salford AC moving ahead to win in 31:50 and lead his team to overall victory. Second was Luke Minns on Blackpool just four seconds behind in 31:54. Wesham’s Rob Danson, running well but not currently in key training, came in third with 32:42. John McDougall showed his value to the Wesham team placing 6^th. Adam Wilding closed in the men’s team second behind Salford and ahead of third placed Blackpool, as he came in 10^th in 35:59. In the women’s race Alice Bernstein of Ramsbottom RC was first back and first W35 in 41:42, with a thrilling tie for second in 43:18 between W45 Julia Hartley of Accrington AC and a stunning performance by W60 Sue Burns (unattached). Equally impressive was fourth placed and second W60 Gwen Kinloch of Burnden RR with 43:52. The Wesham team was below par with the away trips to Benidorm and Lanzarote, but Becky Ingam headed the team in 24^th place (155^th overall) in 49:49, with Natalie Middlemas 39^th in 53:47 and Kirsty Holland 42^nd with 54:18 to bring the women’s team in 8^th place with Accrington ladies, Swinton and Blackburn RR taking the top three places. Vicky Gore finished 45^th in 55:08; Sharlan Butcher 53^rd in 56:12; training partner Dawn Biggs 56^th with 56:21; Emma Wright 73^rd in 58:40; Liz Sharrocks 84^th with 59:55; and Wendy Hebblethwaite 104^th in 63:39. In the Wesham men’s race Tom Crabtree finished 13^th in 36:52, Ugis Datavs 18^th with 37:42, Chris Hastwell 24^th in 38:04; Alek Walker 31^st with 39:00, and James Green 34^th in 39:35. Steve Myerscough was disappointed with his 42:33 for 66^th place, but behind him Paul Lancashire came in 100^th in 45:22; Rob Wallace 139^th in 48:46; Alan Hudson 141^st in 48:53; Peter Rooney 151^st in 49:14; Ian Nichols Hogg 162^nd in 50:25; Andrew Wilkinson 200^th 53;40; Martin Allison 201^st 53:41; Finlay McCalman 203^rd 53:44; Elliot Costello 212^th 54:18; Lee Lawrenson 216^th 54:23; Andrew Moore 229^th 55:13; Paul Carter 247^th 56:33; Colin Smy 255^th 57:16; and Stephen Twist 294^th 59:56

The Preston 10-Mile on Sunday was the event of the area, with a fine open race incorporating the Lancashire and the Northern Athletics Championships. Wesham had a small but effective team present, with Ugis Datavs taking 30^th place in 59:04 for 7^th M40. Alek Walker finished 41^st in 63:05, 8^th M35. John Collier placed 2^nd M65 in 75:54, 87^th overall with a great run. The Men were third Northern Team behind Salford and Preston, but 4^th Lancashire with Ribble Valley placing third. Peter Rooney was 117^th and 7^th M60 in 1:23:25. For the women, Sharlan Butcher and Antoinette Holton finished together in 24^th and 25^th places in 1:31:13, 8^th W45 and 5^th W35, and 146^th and 147^th overall. Dawn Biggs was 27^th scorching round to take 4 minutesoff her personal best in 1:32:37, 6^th W50 and 150^th. The three ladies won the 2^nd women’s team silver medals. The women were also the only Northern Athletics and Lancashire ladies’ team and so won both of those categories, gold medals apiece! Emma Wright placed 39^th in 1:45:29, 173^rd overall and 3^rd W40.

On Sunday morning Louise Lord ran the Stanley Park 10k in 55:28 to finish in 46^th place, and Finlay McCalman 55:51 for 48^th. No Wesham members ran the Saturday version of the race.