Wesham ladies in the evening sun

The third round of the 2018 Inter Club Grand Prix was hosted by Preston Harriers at a new venue but utilising a revised course through Avenham and Miller Parks with a 4.1-mile 2-lapper with a new finish to the monument below the ex-North Western Hotel. Wesham had a good number of members competing but missing some key team members. Gareth Booth made an impressive debut, finishing 3^rd overall in 22:44 and 2^nd M45, just over a minute behind winner Dave Rigby. Steve Swarbrick had a great run to come in 7^th in 23:08, 3^rd M45. Third in for Wesham was David Taylor in 16^th place with 23:52, with Steve Abbott 21^st in 24:37, 1^st M40 but 7^th Over-40. Tessa Robinson was first woman in 25:06, placing 31^st overall and 11^th for the Open Masters category. Lee Barlow was close behind in 33^rd place with 25:19, 12^th in the Masters. Mark Belfield finished 37^th in 25:34 and Paul Gregory 42^nd with 26:04; Thomas Crabtree came in 54^th in 26:43 and Carl Groome 64^th in 27:21. Mark Renshall was 69^th in 27:42; Matty Chamberlain 71^st with 27:51; Matthew Atherton 76^th in 28:07; Neil Gregson 78^th with 28:13; Lee Nixon 79^th in 28:16; and John Collier 83^rd and 4^th M60 in 28:28. The men’s team finished 2^nd, a great result.  Helen Lawrenson finished 6^th woman in 28:36 and 2^nd in the Women’s Masters;  Kay Twist was 41^st and 29^th with 34:10; Maureen Danson 47^th and 23^rd with 34:52; Kerry Eccles 58^th and 29^th in 36:14; Pauline Eccleston 59^th and 30^th with 36:17; Anne Berry 77^th and 45^th in 38:24; and Tanya Barlow and Louisa Denye 84^th and 85^th (50^th and 51^st) in 39:07 and 39:09. The Wesham Ladies despite a good start placed 6^th team, with the Masters finishing 4^th. For the Men’s Masters categories, the Open Masters (Booth, Swarbrick, Abbott, Robinson, Barlow and Groome) were 2^nd, a good result again, with the M50s 5^th (Collier, Nigel Shepherd (90^th overall; 21^st in 28:37), Richard Davies (118^th and 28^th in 29:52), Stephen Browne (130^th and 32^nd with 30:38)) 5^th; the M60s finishing 3^rd with Collier, Shepherd and Phil Leaver (148^th and 12^th in 31:41). Continue reading →