Carmel Sullivan ascends the “saucer” in Blackburn’s Witton Park in the Lancs XC
The main event of the week was the Lancashire Cross Country Championship on Saturday in its traditional home of WittonPark in Blackburn, simply the best remaining venue in Lancashire at the present. The were a few changes to the arrangements in line with developments in the park but these were all handled with due diligence and the course remained both fast and challenging. There was an increase in the numbers taking part although a slight drop off in quality. Wesham managed a record turnout with 10 ladies running the Senior Women’s race. Carmel Sullivan was the first Wesham woman to finish, coming in 3rd W45 for a Lancashire bronze and 41st overall in 33:08 for the 6km course. Sue Coulthurst was close behind in 42nd place, her first run since returning from injury and she ran very well with a time of 33:24 to claim 4th W45 spot. Tracey Hulme was 3rd W50 for another bronze medal with 34:55 in 49th place. Kath Hoyer went two better to take the Lancashire W50 Gold with a superb running finishing 55th in 35:41. Anne Mayers was 10th W35 and 64th in 37:28, and Gemma Owen was 68th in 38:00 enjoying every step. Fran Gerrard came in 73rd and 9th W45 in 40:54 and Diane Blagden was 74th with 41:18. Angie Kirkham finished 76th in 43:18and Sally Deacon placed 78th with 44:12. Collectively the Wesham women were 8th team with the Veteran team taking Bronze medals, and excellent result.
In the Senior Men’s race Ron Danson was on course for a Lancashire place in the Inter Counties in March with a fine run placing 7th overall in 34:53 with a confident run over the 9.8km 4-lap course. There were 11 Wesham men running and Lee Barlow was on form coming in 58th and 6th M40 in 41:11. Alex Rowe was 79th and 4th M55 in 43:41, and Steve Myerscough was 85th in 44:24. John Collier was 3rd M60 in 45:25, 94th overall and Mick Edge showing some form 115th in 48:31, 14th M50. David Taylor was 120th with 49:21; Stuart Topping 126th in 49:50 and Nigel Shepherd 129th with 50:05, 10th M55. Chris Moss was 131st in 50:33 and Phil Leaver 8th M60 and 135th with 51:52. The Wesham Men were 9th team and 4th Veterans.
On Sunday Alex Rowe finished 3rdoverall and 1st M55 in the Northern Veterans (now named Masters) trail race in SmithillsCountryPark to the north of Bolton, running 43:15. Kath Hoyer was 4th woman and 2nd W55 in 52:55, 18th overall for the two-lap 10km course. Dave Waywell finished 2nd M70 in the 5km race with 27:58.
Kath Hoyer ran the Billy Knox New Year Awakener 5k in Whitworth from the Red Lion Inn in the Square, a steady climb up from the valley round the Brownhouse Wham Reservoir completing the course 6th woman and 1st W55 in a time of 26:11. Dave Waywell was 1st M70 in 56th place overall in 27:36 in inclement and windy conditions.
A few brave souls faced the Central Lancashire Half Marathon from Catforth on Sunday morning. Carmel Sullivan doubled up this weekend after the Saturday Lancashire Cross Country and she finished 88th in 1:36:02 and 14th woman in 3rd place as W45, a good run. Nicola Unsworh was 33rd woman, 5th W40 and 155th with 1:43:58 with Sara Ward 51st woman, 213th overall and 9th W45 in 1:50:19. Finlay McCalman made his New Year wishes with a time of 2:05:19 for 335th place.
Steve Myerscough just held off Karl Lee in last week’s Preston parkrun as the pair clocked 18:44 and 18:46 for the 5km, M40 73.40% and senior Man 68.83% age graded performances. David Taylor ran 19:58 for 64.611% and Clive Berry 49.80% with a time of 29:09. Both Myerscough and Taylor went on to run the Lancashire Cross Country in the afternoon.