The big news from Saturdays parkruns was Helbys amazing 1-2-3 finish at Widnes with Derek Morris joining the proper runners, Colin Bishop and Colin Thompson, to complete the podium. Amazing achievement lads.
Full, consolidated results for Helsby parkrunners can be found below.
http://tinyurl.com/kvq2x25
Ben Fletcher sent in this report from The Auld Lang Syne fell race…
The Auld Lang Syne fell race is traditionally known as the end of season fell finale and attracts a strong field of runners, most in fancy dress. It is so popular you have to get your entry in quick, all 420 places sold out in 2 days, luckily our cheque arrived in the post on time and we made the start list.
New Year’s Eve (race day) arrived and we were both full of colds, but we decided to go for it anyway and just enjoy it.
We arrived at Penistone Hill in West Yorkshire and it was a tad bit chilly, we registered and got ready mingling with everything from Stormtroopers to a weightlifter with his extra large Dumbbell!
The legendary Dave Woodhead started us off with a bagpiper playing as we left the quarry and headed into the hills.
The route was a out and back with a loop taking in Top Withens summit and had a nice slippy bit in the middle where you drop down into a beck where I was having a great battle with Tony the Tiger and Suzanne was battling it out with a Stormtrooper and a Sumo.
Really recommend this race, plus you get the bonus of a bottle of Old Leg Over beer at the end.
Results
Ben 113th 57.10
Suzanne 329th 72.29
Cheers Ben.
Sunday saw the Cheshire County XC Championships, John Whitehead has kindly sent in this report.
So after days of rain on the lead up to the County Champs it was inevitable it was going to be a wet and muddy course so much so the course inspection the day prior brought a revision, The Senior Ladies would now run 6.2km and the Senior Men 9.3k… On the Day the weather at Reeseheath College was overcast, threatening rain and of course very muddy perfect XC conditions.
The Ladies were off first at 13A:40, as the gun went a charge from the line was made for two Laps of the surrounding fields and woodland, conditions underfoot were wet and gloopy in the mud to say the least especially through the cabbage patch. Support as always from Joe and Mario was there with a “Come on Helsby” at the points when it was really needed. June Swift led the Helsby charge for the Ladies holding her own and within touching distance of the leaders until ½ a lap to go when the mud got the better of her and she hit the deck (they don’t teach you how to stay on your feet in slippy mud, running in circles, on a track and over only 800m) fair play to her she got back up and recovered to finish in 10th Place and secure an invite as a reserve for the county team. Jane Ashbrook followed home shortly afterwards in her newly refurbished spikes courtesy of Joe and Vanessa claimed 1st place in her age category with a lovely gold medal to match.
Next onto the Men who were given an extra lap round the fields of mud, my personal aim “Don’t get lapped”… 14:30 on the dot the gun sounded and we were off with Paul Frodsham and Ian Rutherford in his new spikes leading the Helsby charge for the men. Ian unfortunately had a nightmare keeping his shoes on in the cabbage patch with his Garmin recording in graphic detail the nightmare of losing his Left Spike 9 times and the right 6 times (if anyone is looking for a new pair of spikes size 9 please see Ian), fair play though most people would of given up but not Ian he kept going each time and made as much ground up as possible to Mario’s encouraging words “If you can keep your shoes I think you’ll make up a few places”. I bet my suggestion at the start of the race, we should of used Gaffer tape to hold our spikes on doesn’t seem so stupid now!
Paul Frodsham was the first Helsby Male home, though we thought it was Mo Farah with his celebratory pose coming into the finish, The good news for myself though is, I didn’t get lapped, though Daniel Cliffe from Liverpool Harriers who won the race in a very impressive 31:03 came close if it wasn’t for a sprint finish on my second lap. So all in all a good day out for Helsby RC.
Full results from the day are below
http://www.thepowerof10.info/results/results.aspx?meetingid=148170
Cheers John
Also getting a notable mention this week is Darren O’Connor running Disney Marathon in a commendable 3:40 while taking time to soak in the sights and enjoy the experience rather than flat out race. Well done, Daz.
And finally a great piece of news from June Swift…..
Mario and Joe were nominated to receive a #BigThankYou as part of BBC Sports Personality of the Year. I’m delighted that both Joe and Mario were chosen to represent athletics and received a call from Steve Cram and Paula Radcliff. Please click on link below:
http://tinyurl.com/jekortx
Cheers
Gaz