Harriers Take to the Fells on Remebrance Weekend

Lest we forget, the fallen. On Sunday 2,000 runners and spectators stood in cold, windy and incessant rain to observe 2 minutes silence in honour of the members of the armed forces who have paid the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. Shortly after a shot rang out to announce the start of Fylde Coast Runner’s annual Lytham 10k Remembrance race. Richard O’Reilly placed 72nd and 4th Vet55 in 41:39 and Lesley Davidson 1,747th in 1:25:34.

Over at Hebden Bridge our very own Rivington Runner aka, Julian Goudge, took on the local classic known as the Wadsworth Half Trog offering the finest choices of the Full Trog namely plenty of tough terrain with a hint of mud but in a bit size Half distance format. Still, it’s a Category BM (moderate distance and height gained) over 9.3miles with 1,400 ft of ascent requiring navigation skills and mandatory kit. Goudge managed to avoid falling over or breaking any bones to finish an excellent 4th in 1:14:56 and 1st Vet50 by a considerable margin.

Meanwhile in the Lake District Danny Hope was hoping it was 14th time lucky for this four-time runner up at the short but rugged Dunnerdale Fell Race. An AS (short but steep) Category Fell Race the route loops the fells between the twin valleys of Lickle and Duddon. Described as “classic fell running” over rough moorland, steep ascents, descents over rocky, uneven ground with mud and bog underfoot chucked in for good measure 1,804 ft is gained over the 5-mile course. Hope finished 31st and 4th Vet40 in a time of 47:47.

In the weekly roundup of Park Run, Sean McMyler fresh from his Hungarian Marathon was on altogether different terrain and weather at Heaton Park placing 77th in 23:24 from a mammoth 906 runners. Undefeated in his new vet60 age group Robert Jackson continues to defy Father Time with another 1st at South Manchester placing 14th overall from 630 parkrunners in a superb 18:41. Janet Middleton was 182nd (31:15) and St Helens. Steve Jackson finished 86th (32:00) at Pennington Flash. Marcus Taylor was first Red Vest to conquer Cruella (the Hill) twice placing 6th overall (1st Vet55) in 20:25. Fellow club runner’s son and father Robert and Mark Seddon came in 10th (21:15) and 75th (26:56) respectively. At Sewerby Lynn Smith was 187th in 39:06. Paul Murray was 80th at the rather enjoyable Witton Park in 43:37. As is often the case Haigh Hall furnished the most Harriers. Richard O’Reilly, in a pre-race leg warmer was 10th overall (1st Vet55) in 20:39, Paul Wilkinson 17th (21:56), Chris Charnley 25th (22:47), 118th Abigail Taylor (29:18), Tony Hesketh 123rd (29:36) and pretty much every weeker, Gillian Smith 199th (36:45). Oliver Hughes was in Lytham and handed his barcode in 107th (28:05), Andrew Crickmore stopped the timer 18th (24:25) at Lytham, while at Morecambe Bredan Bolland was 191st (27:09).

The increasingly popular (courtesy of the park’s Tea Shoppe perchance) Worden Park was the venue for husband-and-wife duo Nick and Sandra Kelly. Nick placed a great 5th overall in 20:09 but was outdo by the wife who claimed first female overall in 22:19.