Despite the dip in temperature overnight on Friday, there was the usual copious amounts of mud on the Course at Rossendale and particularly on the ‘downhill slide’ – a favourite with spectators if not the athletes!!
Full Results HERE
Series Results HERE
Again this year, Schools Cross Country Races clashed with the Red Rose League Fixture which had an impact on the turn out for the youngsters from the Club. In the U11 Races Edward Lee and Rory Teare ran with Edward finishing in 21st in the 75 strong field (7.04) and Rory in 29th (7.23).
In the Girls Race which featured 85 runners, Hollie Cubbon put in a good run finishing 11th in 7.28. Leah Hoole also had another good run to place 16th in 7.40 and ever present Kate Cookson took 60th position in 9.03.
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Just two boys in the U13’s Race with Jamies Teare finishing off a good series of Races to place 10th in 9.26 and Daniel Brown placing 26th in 10.39.
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In the U15 Girls Megan Clarkson had a tremendous run to record her first victory in Cross Country when she won the Race with a time of 16.26 over half a minute in front of the second placed girl from Bolton. Megan has been getting better by the Race and this latest outing confirms that. When Hannah Cookson placed 11th in the 22 strong field in 18.49 she was the fourth member of the Cookson family to compete on the day with sister Kate, Mum Carol and Dad John.
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In the Senior Women’s Race involving 95 runners, we had Helen Leigh, Alison Armour and Carol Cookson competing with Helen in her second race back having a good run to finish 4th in 21.11, Alison placed 58th (28.01) and Carol 67th (29.11).
But the run of the day had to be that of Grace Handley. Running with the Senior Women, Grace finished first woman overall and of course first U17 with a time of 19.58, over a minute in front of the second placed U17 and 12 seconds in front of the Senior Womens Race Winner – Joanne Nelson – who has won every Red Rose Race this year. A quality performance by Grace on her return to racing.
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The Mens Senior Race had 191 competitors which included twelve Blackburn Harriers and led home by Mat Nuttall who is in excellent form and ran another cracking race to finish 7th in a time of 30.02. Next home was John Sutton in 26th place (32.43) who overtook Chris Davies near the finish who placed 27th in 32.46. David Almond had a very solid run to come 45th in 34.24 with Gary Pearse just behind in 51st (34.39).
Allan Hartley who has been setting some new PB’s this year came in 87th in 37.14 followed by Jack Lonsdale – who set off as if it was a 400m Race – in 107th (38.38). Then came another ever present – John Cookson in 121st (39.21), Ian Clarkson 144th (41.07), Richard Taylor 169th (44.30), Paul Wilkinson 171st (44.39) and John Orrell 177th in 45.21. U20 Morgan Philips had to drop out due to muscle cramps.
