Harriers Take on Thieveley Pike Fell Race
Irish RMI members Ian and Patrick Conroy made the trip over to England and the small Lancashire village of Cliviger for the designated Category AS (short, steep) Thieveley Pike Fell Race at the weekend. Ian’s favourite English race first came to his attention after reading that fell running legend Kenny Stuart could run the whole route including the notoriously steep first climb, so he had to have a go. Club Fell Captain, Dan Gilbert, joined the brothers for this punchy race which covers 4.s miles over 1310 feet of ascent. The race departs from an often-boggy field next to the Ram Inn following the Mary Towneley Loop before forcing runners up a steep climb to the open moor. Continuing across fields and a moorland climb to the Pike its followed by a lulling technical grassy descent and then the “sting in the tail” climb near the end. Elder Conroy brother, Ian, finished just outside the podium places in an excellent 4th overall and 1st V40. Gilbert was 8th and 1st V50 with Conroy the Younger, Patrick, in 44th and 10th V40.
The 10th round of the Central Lancs Gran Prix, hosted by Swinton Running Club, took place at Worsley Woods for the 5-mile race. The race is a 1-lapper in Salford’s largest conservation area. Starting and finishing on the Roe Green Loop-line, the route includes a skirt round the lake at Old Warke Dam, along a muddy section of the Bridgewater canal path and even more puddles and ankle seeking root branches with a couple of side loops in the scenic Worsley Woods. Two Red Vests, Richard O’Reilly and Diane Furlong participated. Four hundred runners on a 3m wide towpath makes for a congested start but O’Reilly finished in 32nd (32:40, 3rd Vet55) and Furlong 294th (43:26). Whilst currently topping the series V55 category O’Reilly’s recent patch of poor placing means his grip on the title is now tenuous.
Up in Cumbria, the rejuvenated Suzanne Budgett was at it again claiming 1st LV60 at the Orton Fell Race. Also in attendance was local MP Tim Farron, who does not appear on the race results sheet, so either a DNF or is still running from some disgruntled constituents. Classed as BS it’s a short requiring certain climbing and terrain criteria race distance over 10km with 258m of ascent.
In a snapshot at Park run, Richard O’Reilly had a leg warmer, before the Worsley Woods 5-miler the day after, at Haigh Hall finishing 7th overall and 1st Vet55 (20:48). Robert Seddon was also 7th (18:05) from a large field at Stretford. Mr Consistent, Rob Jackson had his second fastest 5km of the year at his favourite Peel Park crossing the line 14th and 1st V55 (18:24). As the Irish lad came to England so went Chris Charnley across the foam to the land of song, dance and Guinness AKA the Emerald Isle placing 25th (22:03) at Limerick. Whilst Scotland didn’t feature in the countries park-run’d this weekend, Wales did with Marcus Taylor continuing his rich vein of form to finish 3rd (19:31) at Y Promenad.
