Interclub rivalries were set aside for the afternoon as 17 runners combined from Red Rose Road Runners, Wesham Road Runners and Blackpool Wyre & Fylde AC to embrace the chosen Peter Pan fancy dress theme over the delights of the Hurst Green Turkey Trot 5 mile trail race. The perfect running conditions through water pits, forest trails and glorious squelching mud certainly enhanced the TTs reputation as many people’s favourite race of the year.
Wendy (Gary Mercer), John Darling (Emma Johnson), Tink (Steven Gore), Smee (Angela Brooks), Tick-Tock (Helen Greenhalgh), Tiger Lily (Philip Davidson), Indians (Gemma Owen, Lisa Bolton, Wendy Ward) and Pirates (Tracy Woods, Kath Hoyer, Claire Shaw, Mary Conway, Lynn Melvin, Alison Mercer, Janette Draper) quite literally followed their leader Peter Pan (Michelle Tickle) as Little Bo Beep and her sheep won the day ahead of the 3 Wise Men and the 4 Stars. Other themes in a competition which was impossible to judge included a giant Peperami, Amy Winehouse in stilletos with xc spikes, The Spice Girls and the cast of Frozen.
The recent floods in Cumbria also resulted in an an impromptu auction for a week in a 4 star hotel in the Keswick area, the winning £350 bid coming from Rodger Wilkins at Racepace who also finished second in the main race. Much money was raised on the day from voluntary donations with race photographer Steve Harling donating all his proceeds from the race to the flood victims in Cumbria.” “Interclub rivalries were set aside for the afternoon as 17 runners combined from Red Rose Road Runners, Wesham Road Runners and Blackpool Wyre & Fylde AC to embrace the chosen Peter Pan fancy dress theme over the delights of the Hurst Green Turkey Trot 5 mile trail race. The perfect running conditions through water pits, forest trails and glorious squelching mud certainly enhanced the TTs reputation as many people’s favourite race of the year.
Over 40 Red Rose Road Runners took part in the Longridge 7, it being the final championship race of the season. The classic race in its 32nd year is a test for any runner. The route goes up Berry Lane leading the runners on to Higher Lane and up again on to Old Clitheroe Road. At the New Drop Inn, the left turn then presents the runners with the toughest section of the race. . The downhill section is followed immediately by a long uphill section leading to the viewing point on Jeffrey Hill Many runners are forced to walk parts of this section. Even the return journey has a surprise hill before the inevitable downhill back to Longridge.
The Club Championship was decided on this final race. Duncan Anderson was in great form to take 11th position in 43.36, just enough to win the championship from Ben Donoghue who finished in 13th place in another excellent time of 44.02. John Shepherd finished the year off well with 20th place in a time of 45.39. A bunch of 7 Red Rosers followed within a minute of each other. Jose Pinon Shaw 47.10, Mark Willett 47.35,Lee Foley 47.38, Joe Swarbrick 47.51,John Naylor 47.53,Alan Jolly 47,56,Mike Hall 47.57. Richard Maughan was part of the same group with a time of 48.12 and Dave Brunton was inside 50 minutes on less favoured terrain in 49.08. Barry Wheeler was next in 50.08 with Fred Lynch finishing as second V60 in 52.21.
Janine Needham was our first female finisher in 52.32 taking the F40 prize with great support from Stuart Cann (52.33). Jill Jefferson ran equally well to take the F55 prize in 53.18.Carol Douglass took the first F60 in 63.09. Ruth Travis was 3rd F40 in 56.17, and Paula Plowman was 5th F50 in 59.32. George Fletcher had a great run to be first M 70 in a time of 67.38.
Other results: Stuart Humphreys 53.58, Doug Bryden 55.07, Ruth Travis 56.17, John Wiseman 56.51, Bernie Mitchell 67.36, Martin Simpson 57.38, Paula Plowman 59.32, John Ross 59.55, Steve Taylor 61.39, Pete O’Grady 61.54, Richard Lodge 62.27, Margaret Lupton 62.28, Carol Douglass 63.09, Anneke Crosby 65.18, Michael Jeffreys 65.25, Debbie Porter 65.29, Vicky Gore 65.57, Karen Clark 68.05, William Nelson 68.26, Aneese Shaikh 68.27, Jenny Fairclough 69.31, Allan Howard 71.21, Emily Ingham 74.29, Judi Ingham 74.59, Sarah Haslam 78.51, Marion O’Grady 79.40, Chris Clark 90.05.