Impressive Harriers hitting peak at Pike
THE Easter weekend saw Harriers running the second race of the Fell Grand Prix (FGP), at Rivington Pike on Saturday.
A very creditable 14 Harriers ran the cat B race (short, medium accent), 5.2km (3.25 miles) with 800ft of ascent.
This was the 100th running of the race, which is claimed to be the oldest in the fell calendar, attracting a record entry of 396 runners.
The race starts from the Crown Hotel in Horwich and is a straight up and down race to the monument and back. So there is no rest on the race, it’s an all action, thigh burning descent.
First Harrier back was John Bramwell, V50, 72nd position, in 23m, 38s.
To her credit the next Harrier to finish was Kay Welsby, V40, 99th in 24m, 57s.
After Kay came Jake Warwick, SEN, 105th, in 25m, 12s, following Jake was Decland Harrison, SEN, 118th, Philip Lockett, V40, 133rd, Pete Butterworth, V50, 156th, Nick Walsh, V55, 183rd and Mark Walker, V55, 205th.
The next Harrier to finish was Ian Stainthorpe, V60, 212th, who must have thought running the Salford 10K on Good Friday wasn’t enough punishment.
Molly Howell, SEN was next in 220th, followed by John Mayall, V60, 243rd, Susie Hirst, V50, 245th, Matthew Cox, V65, 250th and finally Julie Smith, V55, 390th.
Next up in the series is the Wardle Skyline Fell Race, which is run from Wardle Village on Saturday 6 April at 2pm.
Taking in the glorious views as runners traverse around the moors surrounding Watergrove Reservoir.
As mentioned earlier, a certain Ian Stainthorpe ran the Salford 10K on Good Friday accompanied by two other Harriers.
The 10K is a fast two lap course run around Lower Kersal. Juliet Smith, F45, was first Harrier home in 177th position, in 41m, 10s.
Next was Mr Stainthorpe, M60, 348th, in 48m, 35s (saving himself for the Rivington Pike), followed by Ray Dalby, V65, 472nd, 55m, 21s.
One Harrier, Jennie Ransome enjoyed the Easter Break in North Wales, running the very picturesque Dyfi X Trail Half Marathon.
Apart from being a half marathon, the race has 860m of ascent, starting and finishing at Aberdovey.
It’s a mixture of coast, trail, hill, river and forest, run in the beautiful Dyfi Valley.