Frecklleton Half Marahopn Rob Danson 2Nd 1:10:49; James Mulvaney 8Th 1:17:16; David Taylor

Wesham at the Freckleton Half Marathon

The main event of the week was the Freckleton Half Marathon, a very historic local race now in its 51st year and 39th for women, the oldest half marathon on the UK. Usually dominated by hot weather this year it was raining, coming on just after the start and affecting the spectator support and the after race presentation. Rob Danson was given a surprise defeat by rival David Rigby following his defection to Salford Harriers, and the Wesham man came in second in 1:10:49, his second fastest time over the distance, so he had a great run. James Mulvaney was 8th and the second runner for Wesham in 1:17:16, finishing 1st M35. David Taylor was 20th in 1:21:33 and Jason Barlow 23rd and 5th M45 with 1:23:27. On a three-man score the Wesham men were 2nd team behind Blackburn Harriers but on a four-man count Wesham were clear winners. Paul Gregory placed 26th with 1:24:56; Paul Hetherington was 56th in 1:30:31; and Michael Rawcliffe was 86th 1:34:25. In the ladies race Helen Lawrenson was 16th woman and 1st W45 in 1:43:03, 151st overall. Karen Davies was 120th and 418th overall in 2:15:16; Diane Blagden 122nd and 418th in 2:15:39; Julie Rooney 153rd and 461st with 2:30:23; Jayne Hurst 154th and 462nd in 2:30:24; and Rachael Frampton 161st and 475th in 2:34:48. Chris Moss finished 192nd in 1:48:07; Pater Bartlett was 3rd M65 in 1:57:04, in 293rd, place overall. Paul Carter was 344th in 2:02:57 and Ben Wrigley was 388th with 2:08:59.

On Thursday evening runners just escaped the threat of rain at the Aggies Staircase Fell Race the second fixture in this year’s Inter Club Grand Prix. Over 6.5km and 350m of climb (4 miles and 1150ft) Lee Barlow was the first finisher for Wesham in 22nd place with 36:11. Steve Myerscough was 51st in 37:32; Nigel shepherd was 65th in 39:05; John Collier 67th and 1st M60 in 39:12, and Sarah Sherratt was 75th and 5th woman, 4th W40 in 40:08. Wednesday evening saw the third race in the Kendal AC 10k series in Hawkshead and the most popular of the four events of previous years; this year there is an additional race in Staveley. There was a good standard in this race and David Taylor finished 14th in 37:09, a good time in warm conditions over a hilly course. Alex Rowe was 22nd and 2nd M50 in 38:44; Steve Myerscough 25th and 4th M40 in 39:30; and Chris Moss was 85th in 48:11.

In the second round of the Horwich Jubilee Series, George Kennedy finished 7th M55 and 119th overall in 37:03. Nicola Unsworth was 19th woman, 5th W45 and 121st in 37:05.

The Pilling 10k was staged on Saturday morning and saw a good turnout by Wesham in pleasant conditions. Lee Barlow finished 8th in 38:05; Peter Cruse was 13th and 2nd M50 in 39:03; Steve Myerscough in his fourth race of the week finished 24th in 40:21. Alan Taylor was 44th with 49:03; and Tanya Barlow was 12th woman and 2nd W40 in 55:22, 55th overall.

Beating the rain on Sunday in the Fathers Day 10k Elliot Costello finished 24th in 44:35. Gemma Owen was 3rd woman, 2nd W35 and 29th overall in 45:11. Troy Watson finished one place behind in 30th and with the same time 45:11. Ryan Azzopardi was a little further back in 32nd with 45:26.

Wesham had a good turnout in the Lytham Hall parkrun on Saturday morning and mainly new personal best performances; George Kennedy 20:41; Stuart Topping 20:50; Ryan Azzopardi 21:16; Jonathan Lawson 22:27; Nicola Unsworth 22:31; sara Ward 23:33; Phil Leaver 24:19; Robert Brown 24:35; Peter Cooke 25:48; Debbie Davies 30:49; Debbie Bell 31:23; Lyn Brown 35:01; Caz Wadsworth 35:37. Alex Rowe ran the Pennington Flash parkrun; 18:58 for an M55 age graded performance of 83.83%. Nigel Shepherd ran 22:17 at Cuerden Valley for M55 70.76%. Steven Gore cloeked 20:53 at Lancaster for M35 63.13%. Which way did we go wrong then, Billy?