3 days Ago
Horwich Harriers were well represented as the Last Drop 5k concluded the 12-race Central Lancs GP. Circumnavigating Turton Tower and golf course on paths and trails, Harrier Marcus Taylor finished a remarkable eighth overall and first MV50 in 21mins 41secs - after his 17-mile leg loosener at the Tour of Pendle the previous day. He finished the series seventh overall and first MV50.
Michelle Tunney blitzed around in 22:58, finishing first lady (as a V40) and 14th overall, while Chris Fielding was first MV55, stopping the clock at 24:04. Gary Porteous returned to complete the series and wrap up the MV55 series title, while another Gary, Chadderton, was first MV60 and two measly seconds behind Porteous. Lawrence Pinnell, another competing in his second race in as many days, finished in 50th place in 27:11, while Mary White (29:43) recorded another commanding victory in the LV70 category to dominate the series overall.
The Tour of Pendle, at 16.8 miles with 4,833 feet of climbing, is a late-season epic and marked the final chapter of a long year on the fells for many. The first Harrier home was Matt Fawthrop, capping off his a stellar season with 25th place (2:46:40).
Julian Goudge clinched first place MV50 (2:55:40) and Lindsey Brindle second FV40 (3:05:52), while Marcus Taylor finished in 3:09:56 a day prior to his Last Drop heroics. On the roads, the Lancashire 10-mile championships took place at the prestigious Preston 10 and it proved to be a successful outing for the RMI veterans. Gareth Webb added to his five-mile success in Lytham a few weeks earlier with a victory in the V65 category.
He broke into the top 10 in the UK with a V65 personal-best time of 1:08:25, knocking nearly a minute off his time from two years ago to take the title. Adrian Bramham was third V60 (1:04:09), Colin Rigby came fifth V55 (1:05:34) and Jane Counsell finished third FV50 (1:16:10). In cross country, Phil Marsden competed for England at the British and Irish Masters Home International in Belfast, finishing 13th overall.
Back in Greater Manchester, the South East Lancs League was once again at Heaton Park where Louis Yates came up agonisingly short of the podium in the Under-11 boys’ race, just four seconds behind third place. Imogen Meakin was a fine seventh in the U11 girls, ably assisted to sixth-placed team by Harper Day and Jennifer Irving. Matthew MacDonald was eighth in the U13 boys, while Grace Freary had a fantastic race, placing second in the U13 girls.
Harry Yates (21:31) just pipped Finlay Mann (21:49) for fourth place in the U13 boys and Tia Harris was fourth in the U17 women’s race. Helen MacDonald (39:00) led the charge in the Senior Ladies’ race, finishing in 13th, while Alice Tucker (40:53) was not far behind in 18th. They combined with Helen Shan to place seventh team.
while Adam MacDonald capped off the family day out with 16th place (35:23). Doug Fleming (first V65 again, 40:05), Lawrence Pinnell and David Barnes completed the team, which finished in seventh place..
