The sun shone on the Accrington 10k on Sunday Morning – 29th October – as five hundred and twenty four runners completed the Race which was run on a new course for the first time. Miles 3 and 4 were the toughest part of the race with a lot of climbing and they were followed by a downhill finish which was quite steep in places. The sun also shone on the Harriers performances who had a clean sweep virtually of all the prizes as they won the Race, won the Women’s Race, won the Men’s & Women’s Team Races as well as winning 5 of the Veteran Age Group Categories.
Ben Fish led the Harriers home winning the Race in a time of 32.46 which is now the benchmark for others to chase on this new Course. Ben Costello was next home in 6th spot with his second fastest 10k time of 34.51 followed by Chris Davies in 9th clocking 35.51 – the three of them all counting to win the Team Race. Chris won the V40 1st Prize and he was followed in by Paul Brindle just two places further back in 11th with a time of 36.46 which won him the 1st V45 Prize.In 70th spot came V45 John Cookson clocking a time of 42.57 with new member V40 Paul Jeffries coming home 83rd in 43.55. V50 Ian Clarkson posted a time of 46.48 in 133rd place followed in by V55 Paul Clarke in 144th (47.18), with V55’s Martin Kerry in 151st with a time of 47.41 and Michael Nolan (49.13) in 173rd place.
Pauline Powell maintained her 100% record in winning 10k Races this year, this one being her fourth win on the trot in a time of 37.40 and she also won the 1st V40 Women’s Prize too. Victoria Mousley was the next Harrier in for the Women’s team in 32nd overall (39.46) winning the V35 1st prize as well, followed by Joanne Nelson in 41st place (40.26) who also won the V45 1st Women’s Prize – the three of them combining to win the Women’s Team Race. Carol Reilly was the 2nd V45 Woman in 139th position (47.05) and Lindsay Davies ran a new PB of 47.47 in 152nd spot overall.
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Green Drive 5 – Sunday October 23rd
The Race featured 321 finishers and was run in pretty bad wet and windy conditions. Joe Monk who last week smashed his half-marathon personal best in Manchester – (70.45) – leaving him 5th in the National U20 Half-Marathon Rankings was out again on Sunday coming home 2nd in this 5 mile Race in a time of 27.23.
Carly Edwards ran a very good race to take 47th spot in a time of 34.51 just seconds outsider her previous best time and was happy with how the Race had gone for her commenting“I am really happy with my performance at the Green Drive 5. I am always attracted to races with a quality field. I knew I would get that with it being a championship race. The conditions on the day were less than favourable with flooding and a headwind from mile 2-4.5. I managed to run just 5 seconds off my pb which i am happy with and it shows the recent changes to my training are working”.
V65 Evan Cook had his second outing inside two weeks. After winning the V65 category at the Rochdale 10k Evan placed 69th at the Green Drive 5 and 3rd V65 in a time of 37.00.
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A Grand Day Out in Cumbria – Sunday October 22nd
Rain and more rain impacted upon the Race which had to be shortened because of the conditions but that didn’t stop John Orrell from taking the Race on. Back on the Fells racing after having a break from his last round of Fell exploits which included the famous Ben Nevis Race John came in 23rd overall in the up and down race with a time of 32.01.
After drying off, John told the Club about the race and its background saying “A Grand Day Out in Cumbria was set up to raise money to help those that were effected by Storm Desmond back in 2015. This weekend in the Langdales, Storm Brian dampened the fund raising efforts somewhat, but I still had my Grand Day Out! The Stickle Grind was shortened to the half Stickle as the route to the top of Harrison Stickle was considered too risky by the race organisers. It was really wet and windy and Stickle Ghyll was in full flow. The route across the stepping stones was impassable so we were turned back early. What was an up hill time trial became a short rough technical there and back. I finished 23rd in a time of 32.01. Once dry I rewarded myself with Herdwick lamb and stout stew with a pint of Dry Stone stout to wash it down! Next week it’s the Really Wild Boar. The race I mean not another casserole!”
(Photo courtesey of James Kirby)
Yorkshire Marathon
Well done to V50 Clare Wilkin who recently completed the Yorkshire Marathon in 3064th position with a time of 4hr 54.21 – Clare hadn’t been able to do the training she would have liked because of injury but neverthless, went ahead and did it.
Afterwards Clare spoke to the Club about her experience – the first time she had ever run the distance telling us “I survived my first marathon! Almost didn’t do it as severely hurt my back at work 4 weeks ago, not long after Garstang. I even struggled to walk then. Only got back up to 8 miles the week before the Marathon. I ran the whole marathon in a lumbar back brace and it held up! Did think it would be a walk/run but ran the whole lot and got interviewed whilst running in my Harriers vest, not sure if Channel 4 or 5?” Probably not the best idea to do it injured but being a stubborn 52 yr old I didn’t think I’d get the chance again! My older son did the 10 mile event there and looked after me!
Clare Finishing the Race – Video
