Red Rose, Bolton – Saturday 15th November

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Once again we had a really good turn out of 26 Senior runners at the 3rd Red Rose cross country race held at Boltons Leverhulme Park. Bolton Harriers had put together a really interesting course with a good mixture of surfaces including stream crossings, hills and some really good fast tarmac sections – a very enjoyable course.

Our two on form athletes at the moment Katie Ingram and Garry Priestly both once again performed brilliantly with Katie winning the ladies race by a good margin from Pauline Powell and Garry only just being beaten by British fell Running Champion Rob Hope by a few seconds.

Horwich once again won both the men’s and ladies teams and now look certain to win the overall league titles.
In the ladies race Katie (17.43) led the way with great support from Emma Perrin (19.52) in 6th place and Suzanne Budgett ( 20.06) in 9th. In the men’s race Garry (30.59) led the way well supported by Darren Kay (31.11) in 4th, James Kevan (31.38) in 9th, Martin Jones (33.06) in 18th, Alastair Murray (33.24) in 21st and Stevie Nolan (34.38) in 29th.

In the ladies race it was nice to see April Stevenson (20.14) back running the country, she was 3rd in the U17 and would have been just outside the top ten in the ladies race. The team was well supported by Lisa Heyes (20.23), Caroline Scholes (21.23), Christine Boardman (22.46), Rachel Metcalfe (22.50) and Christine Sweatman (25.58).

In the mens race it was good to see Rob Howarth (35.19) back racing who didn’t take long to get back into his stride and finished only a few seconds behind Graham Schofield (35.11), they were 2nd and 3rd 0/50. Prolific racer Karl Ward (35.28) had another good run in 37th. It was good to see track runner Danny Kevan (36.27) back in his Horwich vest building on his endurance training with a good run in 50th place. Good support then by Doug Fleming (36.57), Tony Hesketh (37.41) and first Vet60, Garry Chadderton (37.42), Peter Kevan (39.43), Colin Wood (40.07), Pete Bland (41.18), Colin Waterworth (41.47), Pete Ramsdale (43.04), Gordon Stone (44.23) and Barry Allman (44.32).

A very enjoyable race run in warm conditions on a superb course, thanks to everybody for racing and thanks to the lads who stayed behind to help me with the tent.

Hope to see you all at Sefton Park for the next Mid Lancs

Pete Bland