The Biggest Athletics Event Last Weekend Locally Was the Birchwood 10K in Warrington, On

Michaela Dempsey and Carmel Sullivan enjoy a moment in the park

The biggest athletics event last weekend locally was the Birchwood 10k in Warrington, on a revised course that was not as fast as in previous years, but the Wesham men won the team race in fine form. With blistering heat of over 25 degrees it was tough for the runners, and Rob Danson was on form but disappointed with his time of 33:21 finishing 2nd and 16 seconds behind Nigel Martin of Sale Harriers. The races still attracted a good quality with 30 runners inside 38 minutes. Lee Barlow finished 22nd in 37:33, 2nd M40. David Taylor faded in the heat and unexpectedly dropped to 36th place with a finish time of 38:28. Steven Gore placed 111th in 42:30and clinched the team win. Elliot Costello was 259th in 47:44; Gemma Owen was 264th and 13th W35 in 47:53;and Alan Taylor finished 451st in 53:14 suffering in the heat. Kirsty Longley of Liverpool won the women’s race in 38:04.

Sarah Sherratt was the first Wesham finisher in the fourth and final Horwich Jubilee 5 Mile race on Wednesday evening, completing the hilly course in 36:15 for 53rd place; 10th woman and 2nd W40. George Kennedy was 56th and 3rd M55 in 36:16, pacing Nicola Unsworth to 57th place in 36:17; 11th woman and 3rd W40. Chris Moss was 65in in 37:21, 7th M50. Alan Taylor was 79th in 39:41, 6th M45. Sharon Cooper ran well for 80th place; 18th woman and 6th W40 in 40:11. The Wesham women placed 2nd team behind Burnden and only by 5 points, a good result. In he series overall, George Kennedy placed equal 28th with 205 points, 21st veteran and 5th M55 with Nicola Unsworth 5th woman overall. Sharon Cooper was 12th woman, and the Wesham women placed 3rd team over the series.

Peter Cruse finished 20th in the Fleetwood Half Marathon in 1:27:14, 1st M50 on Sunday in hot conditions that saw many competitors drop out of the running. Simon Eaton finished 28th in 1:29:27, 5th M40. Rob Affleck won the race in 1:13:35, with the winning woman Annika Stumpf of DH Runners first woman in 1:29:54.

Ryan Heaps was the first Wesham finisher in the fourth race in the Pilling 10km series Over Wyre, placing 8th in 38:33 with a good run. Troy Watson was next to finish in 9th place cocking 38:53 for the gently undulating course, placing 1st M45. Anne Mayers was 5th woman and 37th overall in 47:32, 1st W35. Kath Hoyer was 6th woman and 1st W55 in 47:54, 39th overall. Dave Waywell ran 50:45 for 50th place, coming in 1st M70. The winner was Ray Edgar of Lancaster in 32:36, and the wining woman was Suzanne Bailey of Preston in 43:40.

Steve Myerscough completed his 81st parkrun on Saturday with 18:59 for an M40 age graded performance of 72.43%. Catherine Carrdus recorded 19:43 for W40 79.80%. Nigel Shepherd ran 20:54 for M55 74.80%, with John Bertenshaw 22:12 for M55 71.62%. Debbie Myerscough clocked a new personal best of 25:11 for W50 68.23% and Dave Young had 25:13 for M65 67.75%, also a new personal best.