The Wesham women warm up for the Mid Lancs Cross Country in Burnley

Conditions were wild and windy for the fourth Mid Lancs Cross Country League meeting in TownleyPark in Burnleyon Saturday but the conditions could have been worse due to the largely sheltered nature of the course. Numbers were buoyant despite the cold season and Wesham had a good team in place for the Senior Women’s and Men’s races. Catherine Carduus was the first finisher for the women’s team, placing 23rdoverall and 4th in the W35 category with a time of 23:48 for the course over two large lap. Tracey Hulme was 53rd and 9th W45 in 25:19, with Kath Hoyer 73rd and 15th W45 with 26:24. Jenn Thompson was 106th and 31st W35 in 29:01; Lisa Minns close behind in 109th place with 29:20 to come in 30th W45. Kerry Eccles had a good run with 30:38 for 122nd place, 34th W45. The Wesham women were 6th in Division 1 but overall are bottom of the table facing relegation at the end of the season. The W35s were 6th and lie 7th overall with the W45 team 6th.

In the Senior Men’s race over 3 large laps Rob Danson excelled with a 4th place clocking 32:42 for the 6 miles. He had set off in the lead but could not hold onto this position into the second lap. Lee Barlow was the next Wesham runner to cross the line in 93rd place with a time of 39:05 in 21st place for the M40 team. Alex Rowe missed the start by a minute attending to his car but recovered enough ground to make 134th place and 17th M50 in 40:55. Close behind John Collier placed 147th and 2nd M60 in 41:43, followed by Chris Moss who had a blinding run finishing 201st and 40th M50 in 44:37. John Bertenshaw was 208th with 45:21 for 43rd M50 and Nigel Shepherd placed 224th in 46:10, 50th M50. Phil Leaver was chasing in 227th position with 46:37 with Russell Mabbett 249th in 48:24. Alan Glasgow was unexpectedly below par with 48:56 for 253rd place; and Peter Bartlett 257th in 49:25, the pair 15th and 16th M60s. Dave Waywell was 4th M70 in 49:29. The Wesham Senior Men were 7th team in Division 1 bottom of the table and almost certainly due to be relegated. The ‘B’ team languish in Division 4 but the M40s are 2nd in Division 2 but fighting for promotion for next season. The M50 team are 3rd with a close score but the M60 team look fairly secure in 3rd place.

There was a tremendous Wesham showing in the Garstang 10k on Sunday with several members having run the cross country the day before. Conditions again were reasonable with the forecast threatening worse. Catherine Carduus had a great run placing 2nd woman and 2nd W40 in 48thplace overall with a time of 40:13.EmmaPasswas 9thwoman and 86thin 42:28 and Carmel Sullivan was 10thand 1st W45, 93rdoverall with 42:38. Nicola Unsworth secured the women’s team win with 17thplace and 4th W40 144thoverall with 45:36.Kath Hoyer had a good run placing 23rdand 2nd W55 in 47:00 166th overall. Gemma Owen was 24thwoman in 181stplace with 47:57; Nicky Omar 73rdand 11th W40 in 322ndwith 54:58;Angie Kirkham 79thwoman and 344thin 56:05 coming in with Jayne Hurst who was 80thand 345thin 56:08.

Lee Barlow was the first Wesham man to finish in 15thplace and 5th M40 in 37:47. David Taylor was 47thin 40:12 and Alan Hudson stormed the course to place 1st M65 and 79thoverall in 42:07. Mick Edge was 9th M50 and 82ndin 42:14 with George Kennedy 5th M55 and 88thin 42:33. Chris Moss placed 14th M50 after his cross country run the previous day placing 135thwith 44:52.Phil Leaver cam in 5th M60 and 147thin 45:40; Ben Wrigley was 153rdin 46:01; Alan Taylor 311thwith 49:15; Dave Young 10th M65 and 314thin 54:31. Neil Kitchen was 338thwith 55:49;John Howorth 14th M60 and 341st in 55:57; Paul Carter next across the line in 342ndplace with 55:58; Clive Berry was 363rdin 57:29; and Doug Brown was 1st M75 in 371stplace overall with 57:59.

Steve Myerscough was near the front of the Preston parkrun again on Saturday morning with 19:15 for an M40 age graded performance of 71.43%. David Taylor was the only other Wesham runners clocking a fine 19:28 with 66.27%.