Wilkinson ‘Laps’ up Lakes’ gruelling ultra challenge
Erstwhile Horwich Harriers men’s cross-country captain and unofficial club photographer, Michael Wilkinson, took on a mammoth challenge in aid of a charity – the PDA Society, close to his heart.
Wilkinson eventually settled into his own rhythm after some early bottlenecks, making good time to Newby Bridge. However, the squally weather moved in as he reached Gummer’s How. After a few well-deserved slices of pizza at Troutbeck, he forged on to the most gruelling portion of the day.
The weather got wild once more on the descents of Wansfell and Loughrigg, but once over the final stern test of Latterbarrow, it was a battle against the fading sunlight and cramping legs.
Wilkinson rallied gamely and fulfilled his goal of a daylight finish, after a total of 13hrs 21mins – a brilliant achievement after an injury-blighted build-up.
Suzanne Budgett was making up for lost time after her own lengthy lay-off, the stalwart RMI racer in action at the Hoad Hill 5k and the Great Westmorland Trail Race, winning the FV60 prize in each.
The 2025 Horwich RMI Harriers Downhill Race saw an outstanding turnout, with 21 runners gathering at the mast on Winter Hill for the start.
The weather nearly held off during the early preparations but as the last runners were registering, the gales blew in cold and heavy rain. With conditions deteriorating, the runners huddled together awaiting their start times; competitors and organisers alike shivering from the cold.
Despite the challenging conditions, the race proceeded as planned with runners setting off at 30-second intervals to descend to the RMI club in Horwich, via Rivington Pike as fast as possible by any route they desired.
After some interesting route planning, all runners eventually made it home safely, trading tales of falls, line choices and, of course, the weather.
The men’s winner, receiving the coveted Downhill Trophy, was Matt Fawthrop with an impressive time of 18:49. The ladies’ winner was Helen MacDonald in a time of 24:56.
Ian Conroy was on tour again, scoring a superb ninth at the Adamello VK race, in Italy, against an international field. The profile was entirely to Conroy’s liking, climbing 1,000m in a scant 3.7km. While there, he bumped into Richard Rogers, now a coach, who competed in the red and black himself.
The Yorkshireman Off-Road Half-Marathon was the penultimate stop of the season-long Run The Moors Grand Prix and those Harriers who completed the 15-mile course were doubtless looking to prosecute the organisers under the Trade Descriptions Act!
Sandra Kelly was fifth FV50 (2:28:01), while her husband Nick was third MV50 (2:09:41). Kevin (fifth MV50, 2:16:35) and Katherine (2:51:02) Newall were another husband-and-wife duo enjoying a romantic run across windswept Bronte moorland.
