Harriers Triumph Across Trail, Cross Country, and Parkruns
The fourth race of the Central Lancashire Gran Prix saw annual favourite the Trotters 5 Mile trail run held at Smithills Country Park. The race covers undulating paths, trails, grass and woodland within the park and offers a scenic if somewhat challenging race. The Harriers performed well in the 2024 series with a number of age category champions , who once again took to the field to defend their titles. Marcus Taylor was first Red vest back finishing a fine 8 th overall with a time of 34:32 and 1 st V50. England International Gareth Webb moved away from his usual road preferences to finish 19 th (37:30) and 1 st V65. The luminous cake loving man, Chris Essex-Crosby was 25 th (37:54). Taking 3 rd FV40 was Michelle Tunney (35 th in 39:28). George Butler came in 48 th (40:22). Finishing just off the podium spot as 4 th V60 was Sean McTyler (52 nd , 40:41). However, Graham Schofield did take the silver medal in the age V65 (55 th , 41:10) category. Cake baking queen for hubby Chris, saw his other half Emma Essex-Crosby cross the line in 74 th (43:30). The remaining results as follows: Helen Shan 104 th (46:41), Mary White 108 th (1 st FV70, 47:39), Diane Furlong 126 th (49:29), Gail Maxfield 136 th (50:37) and Andrew Storey 150 th (51:57) .
The sun put its hat on for climax of the Manchester Area Cross Country League at Woodbank Park, Stockport. With a best of 3 from 4 races in the series the Red Vests finished as follows:- Brandon Rodger 34 th (U11B), Jennifer Irving 39 th (U11G), Kitty Crossland won a podium place in 3 rd (U13G), Abigail Taylor 51 st (U13G), Harry Yates 16 th (U15B), Finlay Mann 20 th (U15B), Mark, Titmuss 23 rd (U15B), Tia Harris 16 th (U17L), Charlotte Wilkinson 4 th (U20L), Emma Bradley 6 th (U20L), Michael Wilkinson 24 th (V40), James Titmuss 5 th (Vet45) and Julian Goudge taking an excellent 3 rd (Vet50) in a highly competitive age group. The vet men’s team did themselves proud topping Division 2 and earning automatic promotion to division 1.
In this week’s roundup of Park run Glyn Kay was 120 th in a time of 27:04 at Ormskirk. Club favourite Haigh Hall saw an unusually small turnout of red vests with roving Reporter Richard O’Reilly finishing 1 st Vet55, 1 st on an age graded basis in 20:23 (9 th overall), Ben Topham was 12 th in 20:55 and perennial attendee and grand dame Gillian Smith placed 235 th in 37:34. Heading back to Blackpool for more rock were the Middletons. Jason first in the buddy-wife duo with 23:13 and a 41 st position, Janet being 180 th in 30:52. There was an absolutely gigantic turn out at Trentham Gardens and Milly Lever finished an excellent 10 th from 912 runners in spitting distance of a sub 20 time (20:22). At Storey Fields Isaac Parker posted the second fastest parkrun time of the weekend finishing 24 th in an excellent 18:38. And finally at the extremely popular (509 runners) and on this day a sunny but chilly Peel Park Rob Jackson placed 11 th with the quickest time of Horwich park runners with an great 18:35 claiming 1 st Vet55 as per usual. Andrew Crickmore almost cracked that sub 20 barrier with 28 th place (20:19), Tony Hesketh and Steve Jackson came in 306 th (29:12) and 427 th (33:17) respectively.