The final round of the Mid Lancashire Cross Country season took place at Beacon Country Park, Skelmersdale. After 2 very muddy courses in previous races it was a change to find an almost mud free event, although there were still a few hills for the runners to negotiate.
In the ladies senior race Red Rose had 6 competitors in the field of 85. First home for the club was Debbie Kirkman, having also competed earlier in the day at Stanley Park, Blackpool in the 10k race there. Her time of 24.48 was good for 38th place and ensured she was top performer for the club over the series in 34th place. Two of our lady v55 runners followed Debbie home, Anne Wallworth and Joan Gouldthorpe. Anne was 47th in 25.20 and Joan 66th in 27.49, meaning they finished the series in 5th and 6th position in their v55 age group. They made up the A team in 15th place.
Julie Palmer, Sal Cape and Wendy Ward scored for the B team. Julie and Sal coming home in 68 and 69th place just 11 seconds apart in 28.28 and 28.39, Sal also having raced in the morning at the Preston Parkrun . Wendy finished in 83rd with 35.11. Anne, Joan and Sal scored for the v45 team which finished 7th.
For the 13 men racing in their senior event with 169 finishers, Ken Addison was 1st home in 50th place and 7th v50 which was good enough to earn 5th for the series in the 50 to 59 age group and top club scorer in 35th overall. Phil Butler continued his good XC form with 59th place in 35.42. Fred Lynch was next to cross the line in 37.15 for 83th place closely followed by the experienced Stu Cann in 87th, his time was 37.38. Ben Donoghue was 94th 38.13 and Phil Davidson 106th 39.44 who completed the men’s A team scoring in 11th place. The six runners for the B team finishing in 15th were Anthony Murphy 113th 40.07, John Allen 119th 40.29, Phil Dean 127th 41.51, Barry Wheeler 139th 43.37, Luke Bosman 152nd 49.27 and Gavin Beetham 154th 50.13. Alan Howard was the final runner to finish for the club in 166th place with a time of 52.06.
The men also scored 2 v40 teams with Addison, Butler, Lynch and Cann in 8th and Davidson, Murphy, Allen, and Dean in 15th. There were 2 v50 teams as well with Addison, Lynch and Davidson in 5th and Allen, Dean and Howard 12th. This ensured that every runner scored for the club in a team.
At the Great North West Half Marathon, Phil Darwen had a great run narrowly missing the 90 minute barrier finishing in 1:30:06. Mark Billington ran 1:31:45 building on some good training. Debbie Kirkman had an excellent run finishing in 1:43:24. Jamie Jardine celebrated his completion of 100 runs with a time of 1:46:24. Cliff Utting showed his race consistency with a time of 1:48:46 with Debbie Bevitt finishing in 2:03:25 and Alan Raven completing the run in 2:18:46.
At the Stanley Park 10K 6 Rosers turned out. Simon Houghton ran a good 42.49 with Debbie Kirkman finishing in a strong manner in 44.23. Cliff Utting was second M60 in 45.40. Colin Manning did the Preston Parkrun at 9.00am and followed it up with a time of59.43. Bernard and Evelyn also supported the race just outside a 60 minute their times are 60.44 and 63.33.
At Haweswater Karen and Chris Clark tackled the tough but scenic half marathon. The out and back course provided a tough challenge which ‘the Clarks’ completed in 2:14:44.