• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

Wed 16th May – 1st Horwich Jubilee 5mile Race.

An excellent turn out by Lostock AC in our first Club Road Championship race of 2012, our club had the third highest entry of all clubs who took part with 20 members(even though it was a Central Lancs Grand Prix event) donning the famous green vest. We were all blessed with a bright,sunny evening for the race, the regular route was unavailable due to work being done on the Street by United Utilities and the new route took in a bit of uphill trail running on a 2 lap course, this made it a hard start and added an 1/4 mile to the race. Having had no extra training I found the going very hard, after a reasonable first lap I began to struggle keeping up wiith Allan, whose hillwork showed, going up the trail below the reservoir and again on Nickelton Brow. It was great to be welcomed at the end by a sea of green vests. Also just to rub salt in my wounds Allan picked up the Vet 65 prize, he did not know until we were in the club afterwards, Leo had picked up the prize on his behalf at the presentation.

This was a great start to our road championship and good to see our fell runners joining in, the challenge is now on to better this total at the next race on 20th June.

John

95 40 Mark Liptrot V50 16 LostockAc 37:17
98 32 RobertSharkey LostockAc 37:24
108 26 Mark Shuttleworth V45 21 LostockAc 38:07
111 97 MarkCheckley V45 22 LostockAc 38:26
114 162 Paul Speed V40 16 LostockAc 39:10
118 205 Kev Elliott LostockAc 39:19
131 195 Brian Halton V50 21 LostockAc 40:33
140 123 Kris Boden LostockAc 41:39
148 154 Rob Knight LostockAc 42:16
150 217 Peter Noble V50 23 LostockAc 42:31
152 157 Cath Schofield L50 2 LostockAc 42:49
163 196 Ian Johnson V50 26 LostockAc 43:45
165 188 Sally McCoy L45 6 LostockAc 43:58
182 74 Allan Jones V65 1 LostockAc 45:44
188 29 John Smith V65 2 LostockAc 46:58
193 204 David Wilcock V50 28 LostockAc 47:53
198 158 Gwen Franklin L45 9 LostockAc 48:45
206 214 Nicola Walsh L35 18 LostockAc 51:35
209 151 Fiona Salt L35 19 LostockAc 53:02
212 215 Emma Davies L 60 LostockAc 55:31

Full Results

The Race
 
Yet another sunny evening for this race and a great turn out for Lostock especially for the men 12 of us in all, and 7 Ladies
A slight change of route this year, as the route across then western dam wall is closed due to engineering works
This meant we followed Ray’s Sunday morning trail route uphill for the first half mile or so.
We had the usual pre race banter with me getting some stick about my tight blue shorts
Start time came. The race starter said something about going single file through a narrow gate, and we were away.
I started fairly slowly so I thought, but I was leading the Lostock team off. I think the others just got stuck in race start congestion
They were soon past me on the hill. My Rocket fuse wire was a slow burner tonight, then all of a sudden once at the top of the hill I exploded into the down hill as though shot from a gun soon tore passed Mark S then a little further on Rob S then just before the gate tore passed Mark L and nipped in front. However they were all soon back in front me before we see Leo + Sheila although they were all in striking distance. The status quo remained until we hit the downhill to the causeway across the res. I again soon passed Mark S all the time gaining on Mark L and Rob, and just before the corner I was back in front again Yeah!! I was leading on the first lap. Mark L + Rob were a bit disgruntled at me passing them, although I don’t why they were just ambling along having a right good old social, I heard something about a Hairy AR** erm backside and some reference to my tight shorts, So I gave them a half moon, Rob said “something about it putting him off his tea”

This fired them up again and they were back in front I said “that I would end up paying the price for my efforts on this first lap.”

And sure enough Mark S caught me on the hill. However I was back in front on the downhill but not as far, and no where near enough to catch Mark L + Rob I was hanging on now, hoping Mark S would tire before I did. Mark did’nt tire. He was in front before the end of the uphill section. I thought I could hang on to Mark until the downhill, and get passed with my superior ??? downhill speed but he just pulled away. I just could’nt go any faster. Ah well lost that battle, but I still had to keep going for I knew Paul Speedy Speed would’nt be that far behind and sure enough he was’nt just 30 sec+
Our times were slower this time although I don’t think we were slow

Checkers
 

Great to see so many Lostock runners. Never seen so many green vests.
It was a good night for a race, clear and bright but not too hot. The route change probably aided the fell runners, the uphill cobbled trail forms the start of Rays Sunday trail run so it was familiar route to Checkers, Speedy and myself, the slight incline hardly noticeable to a fell runner.
From the off the Bullet was true to his name, elbows out and off he went. I settled into ‘my’ pace and was surprised when Mark L and Rob were only just in front with Checkers floating between me and them at various points on the 1st lap, Checkers racing down the hills then gradually being hauled in on the uphill sections. The 1st lap was ok then the second was difficult along the cobbled trail the runners stretched out now and Mark L & Rob 50 yds ahead seemingly on a Sunday amble hardly breaking sweat. Checkers raced past me on the downhill to the narrow gate – unmistakeable in those extremely tight shorts – i caught him on the flat section before going downhill by the Yew Tree pub where he again shot off in his ungainly downhill style – arms everywhere.
I gradually caught him on the uphill Nickleton Brow where Leo & Sheila were shouting us on but i could hardly raise a hand in acknowlegement, Checkers was no doubt plotting a late surge. My Garmin indicated 4.75 miles as we turned into Horrobin Lane and i thought i could see the finish only to get there and find out it was 100 yards down The Street – a quick glance over my shoulder to make sure the sneaky Checkley hadn’t stalked me and then a final sprint for the line. 5.25 miles in total.
A great race with Checkers and myself swapping places all round the 2 lap race. Speedy came in right after Checkers showing how much he has improved over the last few months…..reminds me of a certain Mike Ernhill. Mark L & Rob had there own race going on further up the field – they made it look easy. Good to see Kris & Rob and the ladies all put in good times. Well done everyone.

Mark S