Red Rose Cross Country Bolton – Sat 21st Nov.

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The weather did not relent much for this the Bolton round of the Red Rose League.












The ladies race was reduced in length, which no one complained about as the going underfoot was again pretty sticky and with two climbs per large lap it was a tough little course. Lindsey Brindle (19.51) having now decided to contest the series set off with a purpose and paced the race well coming through strongly as the race went on. Although not feeling 100% on the day she finished a strong second, which after her first place at Bury currently holds her in good stead in the league, just needing a similar performance at Rossendale to take the title. Emma Perrin coped well with the conditions and moved up to a super fifth place with a time of 20.26, making inroads overall on the race leaders. Michelle Devine (22.04) also improved on Bury and this time counted for the team with a fine run helping the ladies to first team. Lesley Fisher (23.48) was our only other lady running and this time her injury held up enough to have a good run taking first 0/50 again and being great back up for the ladies team.

In the men’s race – of three large laps – Gareth Booth (38.07) used the race to check out the progress of his Achilles injury and was very pleased to have finished without a problem, and in 9th place to boot. Simon Parkinson (41.04) in 23rd place had a fine run when leading home Steve Nolan (41.38) in 36th, in Steve’s defence he is just coming back from injury so watch out Simon. Mike Crook again had a super run taking the first vet 0/60 in a time of 45.03 in 70th place. A very interesting club battle took place next with Pete Ramsdale (48.40) powering through the mud in definitely the best run I have seen him do on the country, shadowed most of the way by Colin Waterworth (48.35) who had to make a concerted effort in the final 400m to get past Pete. Pete’s victor at Bury – colleague Pete Bland (49.35) – had to settle for a rare defeat today, but admitted that the hills were not his strong point. Barry Allman (51.50) took close order with PB for a while but had to ease the pace as the race went on finishing in 140th place. Our final runner Mark Swindell (52.58) had a super start to his X/C running with a well paced race finishing in 145th place.

Results. http://www.race-results.co.uk/results/2009/rr093.htm