Neilands' Notes - 2010


The most up to date reports are in eNibble

March

Garstang Running Club had a record turnout of ten male competitors at the last cross country event at Barrow – you may well ask why would ten grown men ever want to go to Barrow? First home for the club and first MV40 was Mike Whyatt in 8th place – obviously keen to get back to civilisation, followed by a flying Craig Menzies in 50th place, Colin Jennings 65th, Richard Jones 75th, Graham Tagg 81st, Gary Heyworth 88th, Geoff Lyons 95th, a disappointing Tony Pritchard (probably suffering from jet lag) 109th, Jos Snalam 119th, and Pete Gelderd 157th of the 159finishers – not last as he thought he was so they must have been well behind! Perhaps because they know what the shopping is like in Barrow only four ladies made the trip with Sheena Cottam 46th, Denise Hughes 57th, Jane Sherriff 59th and Debi Spencer outsprinting the 63rd and last competitor. Looking to the future Harry Tagg finished a creditable 13th in the under 11 boys race – won’t be long before he is beating his Dad!

The usual “suspects”, mainly ladies were out on the tarmac, firstly at the Blackburn 10k where Marc Saysell finished 177th of the 264 finishers in 52.48, with Julia Patefield 189th in 54.13, Denise Hughes 198th in 55.33, Jane Sheriff 215th in 58.08 and Debi Spencer 222nd in 59.19. Julia was “billie no mates at the St Annes 10 where she completed the flat but breezy course in 1.24.22 for 233rd place out of the 351 finishers. Perhaps no-one told Julia they were going to the Burnley 10k but Marc Saysell finished 106th in 52.17, Denise Hughes 125th in 54.27, Jane Sherriff 129th in 55.11 and Debi Spencer 150th of the 180 finishers in 58.44.

London Marathon training often brings some unusual destinations into the event book with Richard Jones and Gary Heyworth travelling to Spenborough for their 20 mile event with Richard finishing 52nd in 2.24.01 – perhaps yet another pb and Gary 103rd in 2.36.33.

For something different Marc Saysell finished 38th in the Catforth Duathlon a 5k run, 20k bike, 5k run event completing the course in a total time of 1.36.12 well ahead of the 49th and final competitor.

 

February

It was personal best time for Garstang Running Club members at the Central Lancs Half Marathon at Catforth. Richard Jones set yet another pb when he finished 20th of the 235 competitors in 1.25.58 – just how bad was he before he got his act together – and Gary Heyworth knocked six seconds off his pb by finishing in 63nd place in 1.34.46.

Things did not go so well for Richard at the Mid Lancs cross country fixture where he badly wrenched his ankle – does this mean a pb at the London Marathon is a distant hope – only time will tell. Only four members turned out at Hyndburn, could it have been the thick clingy mud that put people off or that it had been the club dinner the night before? Graham Tagg finished 93rd of the 194 finishers with Tony Pritchard 133rd, Gary Heyworth getting the hang of things on his second attempt at cross country in 138th and Richard limping home in 142nd place.

Tim Warner, something of a tarmac lover, had a rush of blood and decided to do his first ever (and now last ever) fell race at the Winter Hill Fell Race at Rivington. Anxious to do at least one fell race before retirement beckons he managed to fall over and damage his already dodgy knee but struggled on to the finish so that he would not have to attempt another one! Tim finished 190th in 2.54.18 in a field of 196, confirming his admiration for the “mountain goats” who zip up and down the fells at break neck speed. This included Mick Cottam who finished 31st in 1.47.57

 

 

January

The ice and snow took its toll on races of all sorts over the last few weeks. Races that did take place, just four in the area, were well attended by the ladies of Garstang Running Club with Jane Sherriff turning out in all four and Julia Patefield, Denise Hughes and Debi Spencer competing in three of the events. For the men Marc Saysell took part in all three road races but passed, wisely perhaps, on the cross country. At the Lancaster 5+ mile race Marc finished 29th in 44.59, Julia 34th in 47.08 and Jane 40th in 51.14. Gary Heyworth led the club home in the Preston 10k in 89th place in 42.49 with Julia 304th in 52.17, Marc 319th in 52.58, Denise, Jane and Debi 410th, 429th and 434th in times they intend to improve upon in 2010. Lo and behold Jane did just that Jane did just that at the rearranged Garstang 10k setting a new personal best of 57.33 for 272nd place in a field of 321 finishers. Marc was 204th in 51.09, Edwina Parry 228th in 52.38, Denise 255th in 55.47, Mike Hall 260th in 56.32 and Dedi Spencer 279th in 58.51. In the fun run Millie Parry finished 25th of the 62 competitors – at the current rate of improvement she will soon be overtaking mum!!

No surprise to find the Mid Lancs Cross Country fixture at Blackpool had mud as its main feature. Six Garstang ladies competed which meant they actually had two teams! Sheena Cottam finished 60th of the 84 finishers with Julia 72nd, Denise 76th, Edwina 77th, Jane 78th and Debi 81st – good bunching and absolutely no suggestion that they all held hands all the way round to avoid falling over. For the men Graham Tagg finished 114th, Richard Jones 118th, Geoff Lyons 119th, Jos Snalam 145th and Gary Heyworth 153rd of the 207 finishers – trying cross country for the first time in the wrong sort of footwear – not the first runner to that and probably not the last.