New faces out in force for latest Brough Park event
IT was another great morning for getting out and about in the Couch to 5K over the well-trodden footpaths of Brough Park, which attracted a clutch of newbies and many returning after several months of absence.
The new members were spread over the distances with notable differences; James Laverty paced behind regulars Isaac Elkington, Jason Burgess and Martin Pigott to maintain that position to the line, with Joe Hirst in the top ten and the aforementioned partner, Catherine Donald a couple of places adrift.
The latter overhauled a couple of those in front to complete her inaugural event in 24.47.
The previous quintet reached the tape in 24.54, 19.58, 19.52, 22.46 and 23.17, respectively.
In contrast, Ruth Houstonsmith registered for the event alongside of a reluctant daughter, Annie (12).
Ruth was determined to complete the full distance and was worried the staff would have packed up and gone home before her arrival which she achieved in just over 46 minutes to applause from many regulars.
A wary and weary Annie eased more favourably into the route lap-by-lap to finish ten minutes ahead before returning to the last hill to accompany mother through the hardest part.
Another newbie, Matthew Clews (11), reached the 5K line eight seconds ahead of a PB for Neil Flavell in 23.28, with the youngster’s father, Mark clocking a score less than 30 minutes.
Meanwhile, six-year-old Jennifer Brough covered the 1.5K distance in 15.29, and v40, Matthew Copeland the 2.2K in 11.59, while Laura Towers made the 3.6K line in 24.55.
In addition to Max Clowes (5) reaching the 2.2K line alongside Jade Preston, Jack Robinson (10) followed on two minutes behind.
Lucas Rowley (10) and Ryley Hulme (11) were unable to match their previous 5K bests as they clocked 24.18 and 25.37, the former a dozen seconds ahead of Karl Birch with Jo Hackett returning after a dozen events absence to record a minute from her best in 24.44.
Dave Hinton staved off the pursuit of v60, Steve Bourne to cross the line a good dozen ahead in 24.58, with the latter dropping behind his last event best by a similar amount.
Jan Percival set a PB of 27.36 exactly two years ago and, after being spurred on to regular improvements over the last handful of events, finally chipped a second off that amount.
Wayne Pettitt made a solo and rare appearance over the full distance to reduce his inaugural time by over two minutes and is two-monthold best by four dozen to 26.04.
Charlotte Statham’s finish times are up-and-down, on this occasion she recorded 25.41 which was a minute quicker than the last event, but an exact minute from her best, while John Lagan and Suzie Noble once again ebbed and flowed over the route with the latter dropping back by a minute to 26.52 with the former pushing on to reduce their last event joint time by the same amount.
V40, Alex Spragg was fourscore from her best in 27.27 while Richard Dodd improved by almost half of that amount to 28.33, as Sandra Jeffery reduced her record by half-a-dozen seconds to 29.21.
Jo Phillips eased around to finish well below her best 31.24 and a dozen ahead of v70, Bill Mould with Dawn Brown recording a slower 35.32.
Claire Williamson was on pay-back as she escorted Anita Hirst throughout the full distance to record a joint 36.36.
The entire entry for the 800m had missed many events, ranging from 10 weeks to 10 months or more.
They consisted of the Lloyd family group who set off in good faith, Alexa and Ellie completed the 800m in 10.54, whereas Ian and Eugene (4) reversed their path after less than 100m. Morgan Davies (4) and Pippa Waddell (8) returned almost as though they had never been away with the youngest failing by 20 seconds to lower his best in a time of 5.55, while the elder equalled her eight-month-old PB of 6.18.
Kelly Woolley wanted to continue on to the next distance with Annie (3), however, the youngster headed for the finish from the cut-off point to lower their joint-best by two score to 6.12.
Four-year-old Sophie Hinton put mother, Rebecca, through her paces to lower their threemonth-old 1.5K record by a score to 11.40, while Huw Davies (6) was three minutes away from his six-month-old last and best in 13.54.
The Carney family quartet split their efforts for a change, with Jamie escorting youngest daughter, Izabella (5) to gain an improved time by a score in 18.48, and despite Heidi limping throughout the distance managed to create a best by half-a-minute in 20.20, with Keira (12) at her side.
Julie Bourne reached the finish almost five minutes behind son Sam (9) in the 2.2K, as they returned after five weeks of absence and were over half-a-minute away from their best from the youngster’s 10.51.
Harvey (11) and Charlotte Murfin (8) were a couple of strides apart from the elder’s 11.59 and three dozen away from their last event best, as Laurie Hinton (8) crossed the line less than a handful from his record in 11.20, with Luke Mcmullan (8) a good minute behind and two score from his best.
There was a joint finish of 12.31 for Noah Phillips (8) and Aaron Walker (9) with Ella Tideswell (12) just a stride behind; the latter pair around a dozen away from their records and the former a good fourscore from his.
Maria Arapi lowered her best by half-a-dozen seconds to 12.48, and the same amount ahead of Imogen Phillips (12) who was around a minute away from her quickest as was Connie Statham (8) in 13.25.
Archie Woolley (5) returned to lower his fastest by a dozen to 13.33 as he finished half-a-minute ahead of Kyla Tideswell who was 50 seconds away from her record alongside Lisa Walker who lowered her last event PB by ten seconds and a minute reduction over six events.