Mission Accomplished
Mid Lancs Cross Country – Burnley – Sat 22nd January 2011
Mission Accomplished
On a perfect day for running in the best Cross Country league in the North West we accomplished our mission to win Division 2 and gain promotion to the Premier League ( Div 1 )for next season. We achieved this by winning all four races to date. Actually on the day it was a poor turnout of Harriers for one reason or another but the lads that did run performed well and this is the story.
First counter for the team was Ali Murray in 5th place who is still pondering how he managed to run so well, I suggested it may be the training. Next counter was Gary Priestley still feeling the effects of a long lay off with illness over the Xmas period, but still well up in 11th place. Our 3rd counter Martin Jones who came along to help the team ran really well off little training and managed a respectable 27th position. Next was the ever improving and Mr reliable Tim Roe in 45th followed very closely by another improving runner and now regular team member Andy Townsend in 57th. The last place in the team was a very close run affair by relay partners Gary Chadderton and Doug Fleming, only 20 secs separated the pair but once again it was the younger partner who took the honours although Doug was adamant that he let Gary have it – Yeh !
Now the team had been sorted it was left to the support team to take over and new member Tony Mckenna had a good run in 139th place, tony will get quicker as he develops so looks like Doug will be letting him pass as well shortly. The next three in the support team will not be getting quicker as their developing has come to an end and just finishing has become the priority, although to be fair Tony Hesketh was carrying a bad injury, anyway Tony was next in 178th with Gordon Stone and Pete Bland not far behind in 187th and 191st. I have to say that Heskey cant half shift on one leg.
Pete Bland