Selection headaches welcome for Harriers
WE talk about the proverbial buses, two weeks with no races, then everything goes crazy and not just with the racing side.
There were a few tough decisions to be made by Harriers last week. First off we had the Fell Grand Prix presentations evening, held at the Norden Bowling Club on Friday night.
Then on Saturday evening, a Harriers social “do” at the Bellavista, attended by 22 Harriers.
Meanwhile there was the Red Rose Cross Country on Saturday and Lee Mill Relay and Wilmslow 10k on Sunday.
So which event to go to, if at all, due to running either on the Saturday or Sunday or both in some cases.
The Cross Country on Saturday was the third out of four races in the Red Rose X Country League held at Sefton Park Liverpool.
Eleven Harriers made the journey down the M62, with the Hirst family providing four runners. In the U11 Girls, Lily Hirst came a creditable 2nd, with a time of 8m, 16s, so well run Lily. Lottie Peacock then came 14th in the U15 Girls race recording
a time of 13m 32s. Four Harriers ran in the Senior Ladies race, with the team finishing 8th overall.
Zara Hirst was the first home in 23rd position, with a time of 37m, 30s, followed by Jennie Ransome (L60), 26th in 38m, 14s (more of Jennie later). Susie Hirst (L50), 42nd, in 40m, 22s and Bryony Sherry 58th in 43m, 35s.
Five Harriers ran in the Senior Men’s race, with Danny Bennett (V50), first home in 27th place, in a time of 37m, 11s.
Next home in 48th position was Richard Stirzaker in 39m, 52s, followed by Jeff Mccarthy (V50), in 101st position, 46m, 20s, Neil Hirst (V50), 114th in 48m , 43s and finally Matthew Cox (V65), 124th in 54m, 11s.
Sunday saw the Harriers split into two groups, the road runners who competed in the Wilmslow Festival 10k and the fell runners facing the bogs of the Lee Mill Relays.
Eight Harriers disappeared down the M60 to Wilmslow, a short race starting and finishing in the town centre. Five of the Harriers achieving
PB’S (personal bests).
Thomas Mitchell, Gareth Bright, Isabel Brandon, Julie Smith and Bruno Rohinha, so a big well done to all of you. First Harrier back was Danny Bennett (yes of X Country fame from Saturday, so a remarkable achievement running two races back to back), in 94th position and second V55 in 34m 57s.
Danny was followed by Kevin Holland (V40), in 39m, 36s, Isabel Brandon (Sen), in 40m, 41s, David Bentley (V50), in 41m, 55s, Gareth Bright (V45) in 41m, 46s, Bruno Rolinha (Sen) in 42m, 29s, Thomas Mitchell (Sen), in 50m, 33s and last but not least Julie Smith (V55), in 1hr, 26s.
Nearer home, three teams of Harriers raced in the Lee Mill Relays, starting and finishing at Stubbylee Hall in Bacup.
The course is 10.7k and traverses around the moors above Bacup and Whitworth.
Each team consists of four runners, who complete one lap of the course before handing over to their team mate.
At least this year the weather was kind to the runners, being dry but cold, unlike last year when the runners faced strong winds and torrential rain.
The one inescapable thing was the bogs, yes due to all the rain recently, the bogs were at their best and you can tell the respect runners have for them by some of the teams names; Bowland Bog Snails, Bogmorden Ladies (nice one I like that).
Three Harriers teams took part, with the Harriers men’s team being the first to finish in 32nd place (76 teams took part), consisting of Dave Parton, Chris Gee, Kurtis Vincent and John Bramwell.
Second Harriers team was the Ladies in 55th position, with Kay Welsby, Jennie Ransome, Molly Howell and Jill Barton.
A very good run from Jennie Ransome, considering she had run the X Country the previous day, so two tough races in one weekend.
The third Harriers team (Rochdale Allstars – really?), finishing just after the Ladies in 56th position, consisting of Steve Leak, Pete Butterworth, Mark Walker and Michael Jackson. Finally mention must be made of one brave Harrier who passed on running in the glorious British winter sunshine and suffered for his cause by running in the Lanzarote International Running Challenge in 21 degrees heat.
Well I suppose someone has to do it, it’s grim being a runner sometimes – the person concerned being Ian Aitchison (reported on Ian running the same race last year).
On the Sunday it was a 10k, followed by a 13k trail race on Monday, then a 5k beach race Tuesday and finally a 21k trail race on Wednesday. We will let you know how Ian did in a later race report.