Hi everyone
Lots of action this week from road, trail, fell and we also had an ultra thrown in. Thank you for all the reports, please keep them coming to helsby-race-reports@outlook.com or it’s unlikely to get into the news.
Road
Mid-Cheshire 5k
Thursday saw a new event spring up on the racing calendar, the Mid-Cheshire 5k in Kingsley. Advertised as “lightning fast” it didn’t disappoint with an array of new PBs from a strong Helsby squad. Starting near the cricket club the race runs in a 4k anticlockwise loop through beautiful countryside with a fast downhill finish for the final kilometre. 20 Green Army members lined up to do battle and we had some excellent results, age group wins, PBs and a team win for the men! Colin Thompson was first back for Helsby to take bronze after a close battle with Colin Bishop (who won his age cat) and congratulations to ladies captain Jane Ashbrook who was first back for the Helsby ladies. A brilliant run once again from Carol Shaw saw her win her age group, Jackie Keasley 2nd in hers and Janet Shaw 3rd. Well done to everyone else, some very impressive times, please see the results below:
3 | 16:47 | 133 | Colin | Thompson | 16:47 | 1 |
5 | 16:52 | 14 | Colin | Bishop | 16:52 | 1 |
20 | 18:17 | 62 | Neil | Finegan | 18:13 | 8 |
31 | 19:04 | 164 | James | Higgins | 19:01 | 12 |
32 | 19:08 | 115 | Ian | Rutherford | 19:04 | 13 |
42 | 19:29 | 99 | Darren | O’connor | 19:25 | 14 |
46 | 19:46 | 80 | Adrian | Jackson | 19:43 | 19 |
58 | 20:32 | 3 | Jane | Ashbrook | 20:27 | 4 |
78 | 21:59 | 118 | Carol | Shaw | 21:54 | 1 |
82 | 22:31 | 149 | Stephen | Wiggins | 22:26 | 19 |
89 | 23:12 | 119 | Geoff | Shaw | 23:06 | 9 |
99 | 24:25 | 57 | Jo | Farwell | 24:17 | 5 |
102 | 24:32 | 58 | Lesley | Feakes | 24:26 | 7 |
105 | 24:48 | 132 | Rhea | Thomas | 24:40 | 7 |
109 | 25:16 | 163 | Jackie | Keasley | 25:09 | 2 |
116 | 26:14 | 67 | Donna | Geer | 26:07 | 9 |
125 | 28:51 | 8 | Emma | Barnes | 28:44 | 11 |
128 | 29:22 | 120 | Janet | Shaw | 29:16 | 3 |
130 | 29:59 | 68 | Helen | Gillard | 29:47 | 11 |
131 | 29:59 | 69 | Phil | Gillard | 29:50 | 12 |
Full results here: http://cutefruitevents.niftyentries.com/Results/MidCheshire5K2014?Page=1&OrderBy=OverallPos&RaceId=1&Gender=All&Category=All&Search=helsby&PageSize=10
Liverpool Spring 10k
Sunday saw 3 Helsby runners toeing the line in Sefton Park for the Liverpool Spring 10k. Carl Pratt, Alfie Grady and Claire Morton all executing a solid race on an undulating course around the perimeter of Sefton Park. A message from Alfie read “I did the Spring 10k in 46 minutes. Lesson learnt, do more training.” Plenty more to come from you Alfie, well done all.
Helsby results below:
126 0:40:53 Carl Pratt
404 0:46:27 Alfie Grady
1950 1:02:33 Claire Morton
Full results here: http://www.chipresults.co.uk/mobile/Results.aspx?event=2015LiverpoolSpring10K
Northern Vets 10k
Colin Bishop travelled to Sale to take part in the monthly 10k race and showed his class once again by winning the event by a large margin. Please find a report below sent in by Colin:
“Following heavy overnight/early morning rain on Bank Holiday Sunday I donned my running shoes and headed over to Sale for the NVAC monthly run, due to health and safety issues – resurfacing of the footpaths the usual 10K was reduced to a just short of 5 miles (@4.6-4.7) The race started and finished at the side of Sale Harriers track – as it was being used by the young Sale Harriers – a pleasant course that took us out along the canal towards the river and then back to the finish, wet, slippery underfoot at times. Pleased to say I was first home for both my age cat and the first runner home overall with a winning time of 26.32 with the regular winner Rob Jackson of Horwich coming in second place with a time of 27.34.”
Well done Col!
http://www.nvac.co.uk/NVAC%20Results/2015/NVAC_Sale_2015.htm
10k TT
We had 6 Helsby runners at the monthly 10k time trial, a lower number than expected due to the Mid-Cheshire 5k the following day. Congratulations to Mike Seale who stormed around to take the win (sans smile – he must have been trying!). Well done to everyone else. Good to see Roy Gaskill back running again after some time out. Results below:
Keswick Half Marathon
Jane Ashbrook completed the Keswick half marathon. Jane reports that it was hilly but lovely and rained a lot. Well done Jane. Results can be found here: http://www.keswickhalfmarathon.co.uk/2015-results/
Fell
Andy Smith has sent the following report for the Lord’s Seat fell race. Over to you Andy…
“One of the delights of working up in Cumbria, especially once the lighter nights roll round, is the occasional mid-week fell race in some quiet far flung corner of the Lake District.
Wednesday 29th April was just one such occasion and saw me visiting the mountain biking centre in Whinlatter Forest for the Lord’s Seat fell race, the second in the Lord of the Forest series (although I’m not sure how many races are in this series – it may be only two).
Arriving a bit later than planned, my warm up seemed to consist of a sprint to the registration desk, a sprint back to the car and then a sprint to the start line with a bit of hasty stretching once there as the start was delayed for a few minutes – not exactly what they teach you on the coaching courses.
The race itself was very runnable, being largely on forest tracks which gently rose before we finally broke out from the tree line and onto the fell side proper. A short climb took us onto Derwent Fell, with fine views across the bright lights of Keswick and into the heart of the Lake District. Below was Bassenthwaite Lake and beyond that the brooding bulk of Skiddaw, its flanks streaked with later season snow. Turning west, some high level bog trotting lead to our second summit, Lord’s Seat. From there a short grassy descent took us back into the forest and the forest trails to return us to the visitor centre, punctuated only by a short, steep, muddy drop through trees (with a couple of enthusiastic children to cheer us on “You’re doing great! Don’t be chicken!”) before a final short sprint to the finish. I came 84th in 50:51 (full results at http://www.keswickac.org.uk/) and drove back with that happy feeling that comes from a nice run out that breaks the routine of life.”
Great result and report Andy, well done!
Pendle Cloughs
Phil and Max both ran the Pendle Cloughs fell race, no reports for this but results are below. Well done to Max for grabbing 3rd place!
Llangynhafal Loop
Jenny and Tim Palmer both competed in the Llangynhafal Loop fell race. Tim reports that there was lots of wind and rain; nice open fire in the Golden Lion pub afterwards. Well done the Palmers!
Ultra
It appears we have a new ultra runner in our midst, it must be the green vest that brings out the slightly crazy side of people. Chris Murray ran solo at the Conti Lightening 12 hour race and had a superb race. Well done Chris! A short report from Chris below:
“Had a solo attempt at the Conti Lightening 12hr run at the weekend. Managed a solid 50k in 6ish hours. Hoping to build on it and run a few more miles next year.”
No results yet but keep an eye on this link: http://www.contilightningrun.co.uk
Trail
Delamere Spartans 10k
Neil Finegan is in fine form at the moment and is very much the man to watch. He ran an excellent race to take 6th overall in a tough field of runners. A short report from Neil below:
“Delamere Spartans 10k today – excellent race even for a tarmac plodder like me. Tough, muddy but great fun. All for a fiver. Would really recommend it to everyone for next year’s event. Finished 6th.”
Well done Neil and to all the other Green Army runners who participated, please find all results here:
6 Neil Finegan 00:42:48
23 Alison Halsall 00:49:29
35 Janet Robertson 00:52:10
37 Jim Gray 00:52:38
48 Carol Shaw 00:54:13
52 Andy Smith 00:54:56
63 Lesley Feakes 00:56:53
64 Rachel Arnold 00:57:37
74 Emily Smith Female 01:00:36
Full results: http://www.delamerespartans.org.uk/sites/default/files/Spartan_10000_Results.pdf
Parkrun
And last but no means least the results from the weekends parkruns. Stand out performances this week belong to Neil Finegan and Carl Pratt for a Helsby 1-2 at Widnes and a PB for Ben. Great stuff guys!
Delamere
19 Scot STEEL 00:20:42
41 Gareth BOYD 00:22:27
100 Lesley FEAKES 00:25:23
282 Paul BULMER 00:36:47
281 Louise MCEVELEY 00:36:47
Widnes
1 Neil FINEGAN 00:18:45
2 Carl PRATT 00:20:23
Ellesmere Port
14 Benjamin John WILLIAMS 00:22:32
Upcoming races & reminders
Tattenhall have confirmed their annual tough team challenge on Friday 19th June, here is the link to the flier ttr2015_entry. Always a popular one with the Green Army, so hopefully a record number of Helsby Teams will take on the challenge this year. We will be sorting out teams over the next few weeks.
As a result of this race being confirmed our annual club presentation/celebration evening will be on Friday 12th June – Annual Presentation Evening at the Club House, 8pm. Our annual prize giving for the Summer 2014 Road and Fell Championships and the 2014/2015 Cross Country and Border League Championships plus much more. Followed by a Bring Along Supper and Chris Igoe’s famous and energetic disco.
AGM on Wednesday May 13th following our club run, 8:30 in the club house. It’s a time to reflect the highlights of the past year (hopefully no low lights) and set the scene for the coming year. Please come along and share your ideas and thoughts for running (and much more) with Helsby Running Club in 2015/2106 and let’s try and make it happen!
That’s all this week, thanks for reading. If anything is amiss please let me know col808@hotmail.com
Thanks
Colin