Quality not Quantity

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Tandle Hill XC Report from yesterday

Quality not Quantity

Horwich MRI Harriers had just 11 runners in the third South East Lancs Cross Country race at Tandle Hill Oldham on Saturday but with four 1st places and a 1st Team in the under 13 boys race, they certainly turned on the performances. In challenging muddy conditions over a quite hilly course it was always going to favour the stronger and fitter athletes.

The Under 13 boys race had Luke Brindle in 1st place in 14.51, on a course where he won last year, and with Robert Seddon 5th in 15.35, Matthew Mair 6th in 15.42 and Mathhew Flatters 9th in 16.06 the team prize was never in doubt. Ella Pendlebury came a very creditable 4th in 17.42 in the under 13’s girls race. In the first race of the day Lydia Johnson in the under 11’s came 14th in 11.18.

The under 15’s race saw Lewis Wilkes come 5th in 13.52. With just 14 seconds behind third place it was a close race and a good battle all the way round. The small but competitive under 17’s race saw Luke Massey turn on the style as he literally raced away with first place to finish in a time 20.22 nearly a minute ahead of second.

With the course now properly churned up with the other races, the senior men took to the course. After running the first mile with Tom McGuinness from East Cheshire Harriers, Chris Farrell pulled away in a dominant display of cross country running. Attacking every hill and making the mud seem almost non-existent Chris completed the 10km course in 36.21 over 2 minutes ahead of second place. Paul Massey had a really great performance in 5th place overall and finished first V45 in 41.59. Showing that age is no barriers John Parker was 2nd V70 in 62.44.

Attention now moves to Blackburn on Saturday for the annual Northern Cross Country Championship races. See you there.

Peter Ramsdale

Results http://www.race-results.co.uk/results/2016/sel153.htm