Huge Harriers Turnout for Pike Race

The traditional Easter Bank Holiday weekend heralds Horwich RMI’s annual Pike Race. One of the oldest and historical fell races in the country. Generally accepted to have commenced 1893 its now over 130 years old. A pure classic fell race; short, steep and brutal in a very simple format, start at end of Lever Park Avenue, straight up the pike, touch the Tower and straight back down again. 5.2 kilometres. 800 feet ascent. Course record 15:53 set 45 years ago by John Wild in 1981. A feat that is unlikely to be broken. With an ever increasingly tempting prize for a new course record several have tried with the most notable recent performance by Joe Steward with 16:37 in 2023. This year’s winning time was 17:11 in comparison. No less than 43 Red Vests turned out with notable performances from Luke Foley 4th (17:49), Rob Hope 1st Vet50 in 12th (19:55), brother Danny 1st Vet45 in 26th (20:51) and Julian Goudge 1st Vet55 in 27th (21:10). The Juniors have a scaled down version of the iconic Rivington Pike Fell Race with each age category making their way up the route to various turnaround points. 

Whilst Storm David did threaten Fleetwood’s promenade 10k, by Sunday the worst had passed so Jane Counsell could enjoy views across Morecambe Bay on her way to second LV50 in a time of 53:42. 

And in the weekly park run round up; Peel; Rob Jackson 20th (19:16), Janet Middleton 320th (31:03); Haigh, Richard O’Reilly 23rd (23:11), Paul Wilcockson 48th (25:16), Gillian Smith 238th (36:30); Bolton, Andrew Storey 60th (28:07); Worsley Woods, Isabella Merritt 97th (24:22), Jamie Rockcliffe 254th (28:37); Worden Park, Ava Winstanley 29th (23:09), Linda Webb 60th (25:32), Michael Salmon 61st (25:32); Keswick, Bredan Bolland 369th (28:37); Alexandra Park 80th (19:48), Georgia Heath 106th (20:28); Sale Waterpark, Grace Freary 18th (21:56); North Yorkshire Waterpark 18th, Stephen Wibberley 18th (21:33) and run of the week award to Isaac Parker’s sub 18 (17:56) and 2nd place at Coldham’s Common.