Cotswolds 24-Hour Relay

The club group picture before the Wesham Inter Club GP race on Monday

There were 294 runners in the Wesham fixture of the Inter-Club Grand Prix series on Monday evening but unfortunately the first 110 took a short cut down Dune Lane and through Salwick Hall Farm much to the surprise of the farmer. It was a very bright evening and the full on sun and the fact that the direction arrows in Harbour Lane at a sharp right hand turn had been tampered with lead to the lead bike and the runners following the straight line ahead, despite many of those present knowing the correct route. Such is the racing mindset that switches in during an event. Subject to final confirmation the race result is declared null and void, although a good evening was had and the competition was high quality as usual.

Wesham fielded an 8-person mixed team in the second running of the Cotswolds 24- hour Relay last weekend, and completed 32 laps in 24 hours 9 minutes 18 seconds with David Taylor on the glory leg completing 5 laps of the 9.1km multi-terrain circuit in Cirencester Park, a large country estate on the edge of the Cotswolds. His fifth and final lap was his fastest at 35:13, with his slowest run at 6am clocking 38:48. The other team members all completed 4 laps with Alex Rowe the second fastest at 35:39 for his first and fastest run with his 5am run his slowest at 37:57. Next fastest was John Collier with 41:19; Helen Lawrenson with 43:35; Elliot Costello 43:40; Gemma 46:33; Steve Brown 47:06; and Chris Moss 48:05. Chris pulled his IT band on his second run and courageously fought back on his third run to run a tremendous 53:42 after a few hours well earned recovery. The weather was kind with very warn sunny conditions and bright moonlit nights, absolutely perfect for a continuous run through the night. The team finished 9th overall out of 255 teams and soloists, and 6th in the category of 8-person mixed teams. Having gradually picked up places during the first 8 laps further progress was ruled out as the teams ahead had an extra lap each so were unassailable. The occurrence of the 24-hur relays over the weekend in Gloucestershire and Staffordshire had some impact on the Lancashire Fire Service Relay at Herons Reach in Blackpool around the De Vere, although 24 largely visiting teams took part in this final event as race organiser Dave Waywell retires the event. Fastest team with Wesham runners came in 8th with a combined time of 51:27 for the 15km; “You’re the one for me FATTY!” comprised Steve Myerscough (15:42); Peter Cruse (16:430 and Rick Pinches (19:02). All-Wesham mixed team “Albino Kenyan Running Team” finished 15th with 59:21 (Carmel Sullivan 17:51; Mick Edge 19:11; Dette Dickinson 21:19). “Two Wesham and a Preston – Presham” were 18th in 67:19; Vladimit Wiggins 18:51; Finlay McCalman 21:44; Olga Wiggins 26:44).

David Taylor finished 8th in the Lancaster 10k on Wednesday evening, running a good 36:27 for the course from Salt Ayre. Steve Myerscough was 17th in 38:33, 3rd M40. Peter Cruse placed 2nd M50 in 21st place with a time of 39:37. Steven Gore was 26th in 40:17 with Helen Lawrenson 4th woman and 2nd W45 in 46:19, 57th overall. Alan Taylor ran 49:17 for 71st place; there were151 runners overall.

Steve Myerscough finished 47th in the third Harrock Hill race this year at Bispham near Parbold running 42:18 for the 6 miles and 900ft of climb, faster than last month (42:51) but not as quick as the first race in May where he clocked 41:39 for 41st place.

In the Towneley Park 10k on Sunday Kath Hoyer was 167th woman and 3rd W55 in 51:04 for 108th place overall. Dave Waywell was 2nd M70 and 137th overall with a time of 55:22, and travelling regular John Howorth was 163rd, 8th M60 in 59:57.

In the Horwich Jubilee 5 mile race on Wednesday evening George Kennedy was 43rd in 37:15, 3rd M55 leading in Nicola Unsworth who finished 6th woman, 3rd W45 and 44th overall in 37:17. Mick Edge was 48th and 4th M55 in 37:44.

Last week in the Pendle Running Festival 5 Mile Trail Race Kath Hoyer finished 50th in 48:00; Alan Taylor was 54th with 49:13; and Dave Waywell was 71st in 54:57.