Clubs Annual Children in Need Pike Challenge Raises £600

The Tour of Pendle is a classic late season fell race, the 16.8m (4833ft) climbs its eponymous hill multiple times, saving the steepest ascents until last. Julian Goudge continued to mine his rich vein of form, finishing in 14th overall (1st MV50) in a time of 02:44:16. Dan Gilbert was 5th V50 (03:00:55). Marcus Taylor (03:14:28) and Nick Kelly (03:15:48) were 3rd and 4th MV55 respectively.

The South-East Lancs Cross Country League continued its 100th, and final, year with another fixture at Heaton Park. Louis Yates was in action first, placing 12th in his U13 boys’ race. Next up was Abigail Taylor, 20th in the U13 Girls. In the U15 boys, Flyn Harris gave a good account in 6th, narrowly ahead of Leo Orrell in 8th. Five of the U15 Girls finished in the top 10 as they swept the team prize. Kitty Crossland led the charge with a spectacular 2nd place, followed closely by Ava Winstanley (5th), Millie (6th) and Isobel (7th) Reid, and Grace Freary (8th). Sophie Orrell also ran well in 16th. Tia Harris was the club’s lone competitor in the U17 race and finished a fine 4th. In the Ladies race, Samantha Sale finished in a superb 13th overall whilst Mary White was 1st again in the V70s and Steve Jackson was 2nd MV70 in their concurrent race. In the senior Men’s race, James Scott Farrington produced a sublime performance to place 2nd in a time of 32:10. Mark Walsh was 3rd MV55, Doug Flemng 2nd V65 and Gordon Stone 2nd V70.

Elsewhere, Rob Hope represented England in the 36th British and Irish Masters Cross-Country championships at Roundhay Park, Leeds, where he showed his class by placing 3rd MV50.

On Sunday, at the Preston 10-mile Road Race, Ryan Snee scored a fantastic 10th place in a high-class field, stopping the clock at a scorching 56:22. Meanwhile, Adrian Bramham was 3rd in the V60s (01:03:14) and Gareth Webb 3rd in the V65s (01:09:23), both having come from a 5-mile victory at the Green Drive 5 the previous month.

The Last Drop 5k was the last stop on the Central Lancs GP of the year, a series which began way back in February. Matt Fawthrop capped his annus mirablis with a solid 5th place (20:38). Marcus Taylor was 13th (21:44) and 1st MV55, seeing off a resurgent Richard O’Reilly in 15th (22:40). A stunning result, given he had the 15-mile Tour of Pendle fell race in his legs. Michelle Tunney was 2nd FV40 (24:06) and Gary Chadderton 2nd MV60 (24:51). Mary White made it two races and two age group victories in two days. She was 1st V75 (29:19), narrowly beating Diane Furlong.

Tony and Brenda Hesketh’s annual Children in Need Pike Challenge raised £600. The relay event aims to see how many combined ascents of Rivington Pike can be made in a day. Horwich’s club President, Stewart Westhead, and Chairman, Pete Ramsdale, were the first pair to make the ascent on what turned out to be a stunning autumn day.