• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4

Horwich Jubilee Race June 2011

Well done to the Lostock ladies winning the 1st team prize at the Jubilee race.

The mens team finishing in 5th place.

Well done everyone!

37  Anthony Wilcock           Lostock Ac  34:46
38  Robert Smith              Lostock Ac  34:47
52  Geof Sale         V55   4 Lostock Ac  36:48
59  Kev Elliott               Lostock Ac  38:58
66  Brian Halton      V50   7 Lostock Ac  41:12
67  William Smith     V60   4 Lostock Ac  41:32
68  Ian Johnson       V45   7 Lostock Ac  41:59
76  David Wilcock     V50  10 Lostock Ac  43:55
78  Joanne Higham     L     9 Lostock Ac  44:18
79  Gwen Franklin     L45   4 Lostock Ac  46:26
81  Emma Davies       L    11 Lostock Ac  47:03

Full results

In the horse racing calendar this was definitely “Ladies Day” and no Mr Elliott I don’t mean it was a chance to have a sneaky peak at the skimpy outfit being worn by a certain Horwich runner! I didn’t look once, honest!!

Well done the Lostock Ladies with a first place finish in the Team Event. Great effort!!

So after registering at the building behind Rivington Primary School it was off over the reservoirs to gather at the start on a warm summers evening. There Geoff pointed out Anthony, who was also running for Lostock and told me I should run with him, but having never seen Anthony run I decided to do my own thing, a decision I would regret. The start was somewhat of an informal affair as we waited for the organiser to synchronise his watch before he told us the top three from Mays event were not running!

Before I knew it we were off and I had been caught out chatting. As if to make up for this I showed less restraint than a 10 year old on his Sports Day Mini Marathon and found myself in the top 15 runners barrelling along the Street. I’ve no idea what I was thinking. As we came out of the tree line I could see three runners still finishing their warm up and now frantically running back in the direction of the start. Suddenly chatting and being pushed forward didn’t make me feel so dopey. I gave them a smile and a wave as we went past. I’m sure one of them shouted words of encouragement back. It certainly wasn’t “Go On Lostock!”

So we climbed to the top of the Street and left at the gate passing the Yew Tree on the main road on your left hand side. There for the first time you get a glimpse of Nickleton Brow. Undulating isn’t the word. It looks like the Blackpool big dipper in road racing terms. I’ve done this hill many a time on my bike and it really isn’t as bad as it looks but there you can use momentum. Running I just had to dig in and plod on. At the top Leo offered words of encouragement and I mustered a raised hand of acknowledgement before turning left onto New Road. Here I did my best to try and sort my breathing out but it was over far too quick and I was charging down towards the reservoirs and back onto the Street for my second circuit. By this point I don’t mind admitting I was seriously considering dropping out. Ridiculous I know for just a 5 mile race but I was paying dearly now for my quick start. Anyway I didn’t and I struggled on back up to the gate and past the Yew Tree to face the infamous dip again.

On the way down a Wigan Phoenix lady past me and big mistake number two kicked in at this point. Male ego told me to overtake on the way up the other side. I managed to hold my position in front of her to the top of the climb where I had seen Leo but by this point I was that cross eyed I don’t know if he was there second time around or not. Needless to say the Wigan runner coasted past me on the flat and finished a good 1m:40s before me.

I struggled on over the reservoirs and left towards the Village Club where I became aware of Anthony on my shoulder. I did my best to stay in front of him but he past me in the last 25 yards for us to come in a second apart. Truth be known he had a lot more left in the tank and I was just glad to hang on the back of him and come in together. I was glad this one was over. Suffered all the round and the pain continued at the finish where I picked up several migy bite souvenirs as we cheered in the rest of the Lostock runners. Surprise of the night has got to be Kev Elliot coming in 11th overall, and that’s with a bad knee people! Well done Mr Elliot.. and well done Lostock!!!

Bob Smith