Running on the slopes of Mount Etna in Sicily

It was a very quiet week on the athletics scene and only a few races and Wesham members out competing.

Alan Taylor takes off on his Three Peaks +Cycle Challenge this week spread over 10- days with 14,000ft of climbing on the three mountains and a further 11,200ft of hills over the 470-mile bike ride from Fort William in Scotland to Llanberis in North Wales, raising money for Rosemere Cancer, Mummy’s Star and Bowel Cancer in memory of Ben Ashworth and Graham Vickers. Continue reading →

Wesham members are greatly saddened this week by the loss of former club chairman Graham Vickers who sadly passed away at the weekend aged 60 after 5 years battling throat cancer. This follows the loss of long standing member, treasurer and 10k race director Les Ward. Continue reading →

Alex Rowe, Alan Taylor, John Collier and Chris Moss ready for the off in the Three Peaks Challenge

Groundwork professional and road race organiser extraordinaire Alan Taylor of Fulwood, Preston and long-time member of Wesham Road Runners is about to embark on a Three Peaks +Cycle challenge supported by Pete Marquis Contractors and Builders Supplies West Coast to raise funds for Rosemere Cancer, Mummy’s Star and Bowel Cancer and celebrate his 50 years, and in memory of Ben Ashworth and Graham Vickers. Ben did the Challenge himself in 2015 with Alan but subsequently lost his battle against cancer. Graham Vickers, long term member and past chairman of Wesham Road Runners, sadly passed away last weekend just prior to his 61st birthday. Starting with an ascent of Ben Nevis from Fort William next week in the company of John Rudd, Chris Moss, John Collier and Alex Rowe Alan and his team will then cycle for three days to Ambleside and ascend Scafell from Wasdale Head. A further days cycling will see a rest night at home in Preston before continuing another two days cycling to Llanberis for the final day up to the summit of Snowdon. The distance cycled will be 440 miles, with some 14,000ft of climbing up and over the moors, with a further 11,180 climb on the three mountains. Donations can be given at uk.virginmoneygiving.com at ThreePeaksCycle2.

We have now received the details for Graham Vickers funeral which will be held on Friday 17th August at 11.00am at St. Teresa’s Church Queensway Penwortham PR1 0DS where everyone is welcome to pay their respects. It will be followed by a private burial at a different location for family and invited friends only.

There will be a celebration of Graham’s life for you to chat and catch up afterwards at St Teresa’s club which is next door to the church where again everyone is welcome.

Further details have been emailed to members.

Kath Hoyer climbs the main ascent from Worsthorne in glorious sunshine

It was a quieter week locally for athletics as the holiday season continued in full swing but Wesham members as usual managed to find enough to keep them active after the excitement of the Inter Club race last week.

Paul Hetherington continued his quest for a 10-mile best and he headed a Wesham squad in the Lancaster Riverside Run, 10 miles from the Waterside up the Lune Valley towards Caton, then back again and across the river to the Trimpell triangle to return to the waterfront. He finished 7^th overall and 1^st M45 in 62:22 in hot and humid conditions. Carl Groome finished 23^rd and 3^rd M45 in 68:14. James Danson was 104^th with 86:27 and Maureen Danson 26^th woman and 126^th in 91:48. Kerry Eccles came in 32^nd woman and 134^th in 93:46 5^th W55. Continue reading →

Cath O’Reilly, Joy Hetherington and Emma Wright in the Wesham Inter Club

The Wesham Open Team finished 2^nd behind Preston, with Rob Danson 1^st in 22:52; Steve Waterhouse 16^th 26:13; Ugis Datavs 17^th in 26:16; David Taylor 23^rd with 26:23; Tessa Robinson 32^nd and 2^nd woman in 27:06; Paul Hetherington 33^rd with 27:09; Lee Barlow 35^th in 27:24;  Steve Abbott was 40^th in 27:59; Carl Groome 48^th in 28:31; and Jason Barlow 49^th with 28:33. The Women came in 3^rd team behind Lytham and Blackpool, with Tessa Robinson 2^nd; Helen Lawrenson 7^th (94^th in 31:24); Sue Coulthurst 11^th (119^th 32:35); Tracey Hulme 19^th (146^th 33:58); and Bernadette Dickinson 34^th (189^th 37:37). Continue reading →

Steve Waterhouse leads a chasing pack in Monday’s Inter Club Grand Prix at Salwick

It was Wesham’s turn to host their round of the Inter-Club Grand Prix on Monday, and the 4.6-mile course performed well in the hot and muggy conditions. Coming back to fitness Rob Danson was the stand-out winner, clocking a scorching 22:52 for the undulating course while backing off his pace. He looks set to take the overall win again having missed just 2 of the races due to injury. Tessa Robinson was 2^nd woman in 27:06 with Helen Lawrenson 7^th in 31:24. The Wesham team were 2^nd overall with the women 3^rd despite a good squad. The Wesham masters were 2^nd with the M50s 4^th and M60s 3^rd.  There will be a full report and results next week. Continue reading →

 Descending out of the mist on Snowdon

The Wesham Road Running Championship continued at the closing race in the Kendal 10k Series at Endmoor on Wednesday evening. Paul Gregory led the Wesham team through the severely undulating course finishing 6^th in the race in a time of 42:32 to place 2^nd M40. Carl Groome was one place behind in 6^th with 43:30 taking the 1^st M45 slot. Helen Lawrenson finished 4^th woman and 2^nd W45 in 47:57 15^th overall with Phil Leaver 1^st M60 in 21^st place in 51:10 in his final race in this age category. Kath Hoyer was 11^th woman and 2^nd W55 in 53:14 in 27^th place with Kay Twist 16^th and 33^rd in 57:08, 5^th W45. Antionette Holton was 19^th woman and 38^th in 61:51 and Dave Waywell 39^th in 62:30. Sue Rigby came in 40^th with 70:48. Continue reading →