“I’ve had a great 3 weeks, starting at Coiners where I had gained enough points to win the FRA U16s Championships, then onto Ben Lomond and finally this week where at Betws-y-Coed I won the inter counties U16s. I didn’t particularly like the race this week that much, the beginning of the race was on road, this led to a very steep hill but was way too narrow to allow much passing. The course then hit a plateau, a long section at the top that had little climb in it until we reached the turn. As we hit the downhill section I still felt good and managed to get the lead in the u16s race. The venue was great, well organised and I had a good day out, best of all I won my first inter counties fell championship“.
Jack Hindle also had a cracking run in the Junior Men’s Race (U18) finishing 2nd in 19.14 behind the winner Ciaran Lewis of South Wales. Afterwards Jack told the Club that he was “Really happy to get 2nd at a really quality race. Enjoyed the race and felt strong on the climbs and descents! So it’s good signs for upcoming trials races, and hopefully I can qualify for a GB vest”.
Helen Leigh who had a top quality run at the Three Peaks recently, had a great run here placing 14th overall (44.39) and came in as 2nd counter for Lancashire. She said after the Race that she “Finally felt like I had my legs back after being a bit sluggish after the 3peaks, I went out hard and then tried to hold my position. The race was 2 laps with a steep 5/6 minute climb to start and some great downhill which I loved. Feeling pretty strong at the moment and 10 places up on last year was a solid result for me”.
Gary Priestley who runs for Blackburn Harriers on the Track also had a great run finishing 5th overall in the 87 strong field in the Senior Men’s event (47.33) and was the first counter for Lancashire.
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Shaun Livesey had targeted the White Peak Marathon on May 16th and was hopeful of winning the Race. In the end Shaun took 2nd place behind the winner who he had identified as his main challenger. Once the Race was over, Shaun commented to the Club that ” i had highlighted this race as a potential win with one other runner being my equal. I set up on the start line with the mindset that I was going to stay behind the Kimberworth runner and so it came to be. The first 9-10 miles were up a steady incline with a strong side wind, we hit the dead turn at about mile 12 and a this point we could see where the 3rd place man was. I continued with my strategy as the miles ticked off. Then at mile 20 I could feel fatigue coming on and I started to drop off the pace. By the time mile 23 came he was out of sight, but I still believed the race wasn’t over and anything could happen. Unfortunately nothing did happen, well, apart from my pace slowing. I just wasn’t strong enough on the day and the better man won. All in all it was a good race on a fantastic trail course”.
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Elsewhere on the Fells, Helen Leigh was out competing in the Stretton Six Summit Race on May 9th – just a week after her top run in the Three Peaks. In a big field featuring 310 runners, Helen took 104th spot in 76.45.
Results HERE
Chris Barnes, Gary Pearse and Michael Toms all ran at the Pinhaw Moor Fell Race on May 8th with Chris getting a top ten place (10th) in 35.09. Gary won the V50 Age Category placing 16th with 36.38 and Michael came in 24th (38.03). A couple of days earlier, Chris ran the Lothersdale Feel Race and finished well up in 5th place out of a field of 64 runners in 27.25. On the 13th May Chris Barnes and Gary Pearse were out again, this time at the Wholan Nook Trail Race featuring 150 runners. Chris took another high position in 6th place (32.56) and Gary won another V50 Age Category finishing 17th in 34.43
Pinhaw Moor Results HERE
Lothersdale Results HERE
Wholan Nook Trail Results HERE
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It was good to see Paul Guinan back in competitive action at the weekend and said he was “really pleased to go to a race knowing my injuries are in the past and can push on and race with some intent”. Paul won the Darwen Aquathlon with a combined time of 39.19, some three minutes in front of the 2nd placed athlete. Paul told the Club after the event “at the top end but still l know the time was very credible, 8:09 for the 600m swim followed by a 31:10 for the 4:8 mile fell run, which gave me a sub 40 min time of 39:19, so very pleased with the result, and really nice to win a race that l also won some 14 years ago!!!”
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