Historic Hospital Run gets a great attendance

The weekend saw 5,000 runners competing in one of Thailand’s biggest marathon weekends, the Mueang Thai Chiang Mai Marathon 2025. Almost 2,000 of which were international runners representing 64 countries and, within that flying the Blighty flag, was Richard O’Reilly. Built in 1296 by King Mangrai as the capital of the Lanna Kingdom, the old city is fortified by an almost perfect squared brick wall and moat that forms part of each running event. Races start early in the morning to avoid the heat, and Harrier O’Reilly was unready at 4am for the mini marathon event, also known as a 10k race (which for some reason is actually run over a distance of 10.5km in Thailand). A bit of a double back and full loop around the city’s defences, it’s a flat and fast course that suits O’Reilly’s form of running; he finished 3rd in 43:33 just behind last year’s winner, also a Brit.

Closer to home and with no heat to contend with, the Thursday before Christmas marks the traditional day for one of the club’s oldest races, the so-called Hospital Run, dating its commencement back to the formation of the club in 1924 and based on a “pack run” format. In essence, a group of runners form a pack running at the pace of the slowest runner to a predetermined point before turning round and racing back. The run starts at Horwich Leisure Centre, runs down Chorley New Road to the site of the former Royal Bolton Hospital, at which point runners race up Chorley Old Road over the top and back down to the Leisure Centre, a distance of 17km in total. Whilst the weather was kinder than the last few years, no less than 23 hardy souls donned leggings, waterproofs, gloves and hats suitable for this time of year. Closing 2025 in fine form, first back was Horwich’s own YouTube star “Rivington Runner” aka Julian Goudge, followed by club fell captain Dan Gilbert and mileage monster Marcus Taylor.

Coming back from injury, Sam Sale took on the gruelling winter ultra, The Tour de Helvellyn. A long-distance mountain ultra over 38 miles and offering around 2000m of ascent, it serves up rugged, uneven ground with the probability of brutal winter conditions around England’s third highest mountain. The route is unmarked, so runners must self-navigate the old-fashioned way using maps and compass. Sale crossed the finish line in 9 hours 15 minutes and 2 seconds, being pipped to a podium in 4th place.

Horwich Parkrunners took part in 15 different parkrun venues. Club stalwart Tony Hesketh handed in his wrist band in 31:44 at Heaton. At the fast South Manchester course, Jason Middleton was 83rd with a time of 24:16. Father and son duo Rob and Mark Seddon could be found at St Helens, where Rob won the race in 17:50, with Mark further behind claiming 56th in 25:23. Other results are as follows: Marcus Taylor 12th (19:19) at Chester, a strolling Gareth Webb 93rd (27:47) at Bolton. The Kellys, Nick and Sandra, visited Marple and placed 5th (21:23) and 17th (24:32) respectively. Paul Kaye was 103rd (22:22) at the fast Burgess, Nick Leigh was jollying to 6th (19:27) over the border at Skipton, Andrew Crickmore 43rd (21:15, Keswick), Paul Murray 62nd (46:05, Witton), Lawrence Pinnell 88th (28:32, Haigh), and roving reporter Sam Fairhurst crossed the line first at The Pastures in 18:18. In Killarney, Ireland, Brendan Bolland was 41st (47:04). The Jacksons, Rob and Steve, were on familiar ground at Peel finishing 9th (19:09) and 234th (30:06). Accompanying them was Gordon Stone (196th, 28:35) and last but not least was Ava Winstanley at a slippery Worden finishing 15th and 2nd female in a time of 22:59.