Hi everyone
Another busy weekend of running for the Green Army!
Firstly the Saturday parkruns:
Delamere saw 4 Helsby vests on the start line. Congratulations to Gareth Boyd for first over the line for Helsby and Rachel Arnold for first Helsby lady home. Also well done to both Gareth and Jackie for doing the double this weekend and attending the Borders League the next day! More on the Borders to follow.
| 15 | Gareth BOYD | 20:51 | VM40-44 | 66.43 % | M | 14 | Helsby RC | PB stays at 00:19:08 | 15 |
| 36 | David FEAKES | 23:00 | VM50-54 | 65.14 % | M | 33 | Helsby RC | PB stays at 00:21:37 | 25 |
| 57 | Rachel ARNOLD | 24:37 | VW50-54 | 69.80 % | F | 5 | Helsby RC | PB stays at 00:23:39 | 13 |
| 75 | Jackie KEASLEY | 25:46 | VW55-59 | 70.25 % | F | 11 | Helsby RC | PB stays at 00:24:39 | 7 |
I think a special mention should go to our young rising star Harry Peake who stormed around the course in 21:43. Harry has been attending our 16-23 training group and his hard work is starting to show in his race times. One to watch in the future!
http://www.parkrun.org.uk/delamere/results/latestresults/
Warrington saw 2 Helsby runners and another PB from the ever improving Carl Pratt! A great run from Alfie Grady saw him first Helsby finisher and just pipping Carl to the finish line, brilliant running chaps!
| 25 | Alfie GRADY | 21:30 | JM15-17 | 62.79 % | M | 24 | Helsby RC | PB stays at 00:20:56 | 31 |
| 26 | Carl PRATT | 21:36 | SM30-34 | 59.88 % | M | 25 | Helsby RC | New PB! | 2 |
http://www.parkrun.org.uk/warrington/results/latestresults/
And finally over in Ellesmere Port saw sole Helsby runner Ben Williams with a solid run taking 41st place. Well done Ben.
| 41 | Benjamin John WILLIAMS | 26:01 | VM35-39 | 51.31 % | M | 36 | Helsby RC | PB stays at 00:24:45 | 19 |
http://www.parkrun.org.uk/ellesmereport/results/latestresults/
Saturday saw our intrepid fell running specialists Chris Baynham-Hughes, Jimmy O’Hara, Jayne Joy and Phil Gillard running up and down mountains in Llanfachreth. Report from CBH to follow:
A soggy Saturday in Llanfachreth (near Dolgellau) saw the unstoppable Jimmy O’Hara, Phil Gillard, Jayne Joy and me lining up against some of the finest fell runners in Wales as the Rhobell Fawr race got underway. The race was part of two championships (the inov-8 / WFRA Open Welsh Championships and North Wales Series). The course is a very traditional up and down the mountain affair which, coupled with a dry stone wall directly to the top, made navigation a non-issue despite some low hanging cloud.
The weather proved a blessing, providing a cooling intermittent drizzle and didn’t impede the simply incredible views on offer across the Meirionnydd. Foel Offrwm looked so inviting I was deeply tempted to extend the race, but by the time I got back I was spanked (both in terms of being physically knackered and metaphorically by Jimmy who has just had an awesome year).
Big thanks to Mario and Joe who were both on cheering duties – especially their strategic placement that meant that I couldn’t slack off without being seen for roughly a mile near the finish (I had nobody behind me and I really wanted to – my face in the attached photo is a result of says it all).
| Place | Time | Name | Team | Age Cat |
| 10 | 00:57:05 | OHARA, Jim | Helsby | M34 |
| 30 | 01:01:15 | BAYNAM-HUGHES, Chris | Helsby | M38 |
| 42 | 01:08:20 | JOY, Jayne | Helsby | F33 |
| 48 | 01:10:22 | GILLARD, Phil | Helsby RC | M53 |
And Jim, with another double weekend of racing, participated in the Manchester Area League cross country in Sherdley Park. Good running from Jim saw him 238th in a competitive field of 389 runners. Well done Jim!
Senior Men 238/389 James Jones V45 34/62 West Cheshire AC 44:02
http://www.race-results.co.uk/results/2014/maccl142.htm
Now to the main event of the weekend, the first Borders League race of the year! On Sunday, 35 (yes 35!) Helsby runners made the journey to Cheshire View in Christleton to do battle with some of the best running clubs Cheshire and North Wales have to offer. It was a tremendous turn out from the club, which must be a record number in recent years! Conditions were race perfect on the undulating 5.75 mile course.
The ladies had 14 runners out and delivering a brilliantly executed run saw Joanne Lacking first to the finish for Helsby, also well done to Carol shaw for 3rd in her age group and Jackie 2nd in hers. Great stuff ladies! A special mention should go to all our first timers in this race series, everyone seemed to have a great time with some even managing to smile at the finish line after a tough race! It was great to see so much effort being put in by everyone and it was rewarded with lots of PBs being smashed! The ladies team were 4th on the day, well done everyone!
The men had a huge 21 runners out and phenomenal running from Colin Bishop saw him first Helsby runner home, 6th overall and 1st in his age category! But the men were coming in thick and fast and with everybody giving it maximum effort we ensured the mens team topped the 2nd division on the day! A big well done guys, that has to be the best result for a long time! Thank you to our support on the day, CBH (and his 2 boys), Louise, Jane Bishop (who also provided the delicious cookies) and of course Joe and Mario. Don’t forget the next one is on 7th Decemeber in Chester so put it in your diary, Adrian wants 40+ runners next time!
Helsby results below:
| Rank | Rank M | Rank F | Name | Time | Category | Category Rank | Club |
| 6 | 6 | Colin BISHOP | 32:16 | MV50 | 1 | Helsby | |
| 10 | 10 | Colin THOMPSON | 32:33 | SM | 8 | Helsby | |
| 36 | 36 | Chris FITZPATRICK | 34:49 | SM | 20 | Helsby | |
| 56 | 54 | Ivan DAVIES | 36:21 | SM | 26 | Helsby | |
| 63 | 61 | Derek MORRIS | 36:43 | SM | 29 | Helsby | |
| 74 | 70 | Adam GORDON | 37:18 | MV40 | 14 | Helsby | |
| 85 | 80 | Paul FRODSHAM | 37:40 | MV55 | 4 | Helsby | |
| 89 | 83 | Roy GASKILL | 37:48 | MV45 | 16 | Helsby | |
| 108 | 99 | Gareth BOYD | 38:36 | MV40 | 20 | Helsby | |
| 109 | 100 | James JONES | 38:43 | MV45 | 18 | Helsby | |
| 116 | 107 | Ian LANDUCCI | 38:58 | MV50 | 9 | Helsby | |
| 121 | 111 | Adrian JACKSON | 39:19 | MV40 | 22 | Helsby | |
| 152 | 18 | Joanne LACKING | 40:26 | SF | 5 | Helsby | |
| 154 | 135 | Carl PRATT | 40:28 | SM | 51 | Helsby | |
| 159 | 137 | Tim IGOE | 40:42 | SM | 52 | Helsby | |
| 168 | 144 | Tim PALMER | 40:59 | MV45 | 28 | Helsby | |
| 191 | 160 | Dave MADDERS | 42:06 | MV40 | 27 | Helsby | |
| 194 | 32 | Laura BAYNHAM HUGHES | 42:13 | FV35 | 10 | Helsby | |
| 195 | 33 | Carol SHAW | 42:17 | FV50 | 3 | Helsby | |
| 219 | 40 | Janet ROBERTSON | 43:22 | FV45 | 7 | Helsby | |
| 227 | 185 | Andy SMITH | 43:38 | MV50 | 23 | Helsby | |
| 234 | 46 | Helen OWENS | 43:48 | FV35 | 12 | Helsby | |
| 253 | 201 | Mike SEARLE | 44:38 | MV50 | 25 | Helsby | |
| 273 | 64 | Jackie KEASLEY | 45:51 | FV55 | 2 | Helsby | |
| 278 | 211 | Benjamin WILLIAMS | 46:33 | SM | 63 | Helsby | |
| 296 | 221 | Christopher IGOE | 48:11 | MV50 | 29 | Helsby | |
| 312 | 86 | Jenny O’HARE | 50:04 | FV40 | 18 | Helsby | |
| 313 | 87 | Shan MCCARTHY | 50:07 | FV40 | 19 | Helsby | |
| 319 | 228 | Graham LLOYD | 50:21 | MV45 | 41 | Helsby | |
| 326 | 94 | Jenny PALMER | 51:12 | FV40 | 20 | Helsby | |
| 327 | 95 | Donna GEER | 51:57 | FV45 | 16 | Helsby | |
| 333 | 99 | Alison MEAKIN | 52:47 | FV60 | 5 | Helsby | |
| 334 | 100 | Emma BARNES | 52:53 | FV35 | 18 | Helsby | |
| 335 | 101 | Vanessa GRIFFITHS | 52:53 | FV45 | 18 | Helsby | |
| 336 | 102 | Tanya DOWNES | 53:18 | FV35 | 19 | Helsby |
Full results: http://www.bordersleague.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/results2014-15R1.html
Just a couple of reminders:
5k Time Trial: Phoenix Park, Castlefields, Runcorn (Sun-16th Nov, start time 10am) FREE
Next Fell Counter: Penmaenmawr Fell race (16.1km / 10m, 594m / 1949ft) (Sat – 22nd Nov)
Next Road Counter: Conwy Half (Sun – 23rd Nov)
Next XC Counter: Sefton Park (Sat – 29th Nov) and Arrowe Park (Sun – 30th Nov) FREE
That’s all folks, if I have missed any races or results please let me know and I’ll amend the blog accordingly.
Thanks
Colin T