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Emma Gregory completes BG
May 17, 2010Emma Gregory completed the Bob Graham at the weekend in a time of 23 hours 8 mins.
The Bob Graham Round of 42 Lake District peaks is one of the most demanding challenges in England. With a ascent of app’ 28,500ft and a app’ distance of 74 miles.
Well done!
Belmont Winter Hill fell race 8th May 2010
May 12, 2010
Images from sportsunday.co.uk
“Craig joins in the craic in Belmont cracker”
There is something really enjoyable about this race. Maybe it’s because there’s no navigational problems getting there, the sun always turns out just before the start, or the way the village welcomes a hundred and odd runners into the fold. For me and many others it’s the race itself. It’s short four and a half miles has plenty to offer.
Lostock’s new recruit Craig Sefton joined this seasons campaigners in this fell championship race for his first race in Lostock colours.
The race got under way with the usual short road section which is over in no time and so begins the ascent up the hill, across Winter Hill flats and the diagonal climb to the summit ridge. The first section off the road even offers some route choice with the field splitting into two on the ascent to the flats. I decide on staying to the right (i don’t think there’s much in it). At the top myself and Craig were neck and neck at the stile at the top. So now begins the enjoyable bit! And who can say it isn’t. Nice running past the cairn and you are really in a rhythm as you hit the swamps. That’s where the one’s in road shoes come a cropper! At Noon Hill, I have passed my new team mate and the least enjoyable bit of the race is upon us on the cobbled track. A minute or so ahead, Adrian is holding a slight lead on Mark who is holding on to his tail.
On the traverse to the last climb i have a Horwich runner who i have done battle with in the past on local races. This is motivation enough to dig deep and keep him in sight. The climb or scramble back up to the ridge seems like nothing compared to Arthurs Pike at the recent Askham Fell Race. That was about 20 minutes of torture where as this seemed over with in a flash by comparison. The wind on the ridge was very strong.
Then the best bit of the race….anyone beg to differ? A superb run off the top on the route back where we came up. Fantastic, I let everything go and go past numerous runners who are more tentative on descents than me. Can’t ease up now it’s over the flats to the final drop to the swamps. I feel in control on the descent but like all others the wind is making my eyes water that much I can’t really see much. Just don’t come a cropper on the stone path….that would be painful.
Oh yes the final small route choice now to pick some places off. Straight across the swamps to the final wooden bridge then its the final run in. Adrian 2 minutes or so ahead of me is a minute or so ahead of Mark.
The finish is the field has seen many close runins, the finish is there but you have to run to the field corner and across. I glance behind and no one is imminently close. A relief to finish. Time to cheer the rest of the field in.
Congratulations to Craig on a good race had, appetite wetted for many more and the more the merrier.
Really would be nice to see some ladies competing on the fells. Come on where are you?
So it’s back to the Belmont Bull for a pint and the results. Congratulations to Albert Sunter our guide for Wednesday night on finishing 8th and first M60.
Jason
44th Adrian Hope 00:44:09
49th Mark Shuttleworth 00:45.01
58th Jason Tonge 00:46:17
76th Craig Sefton 00:48:28
Bolton 10k April 2010
May 11, 2010I had this mad idea about doing the Bolton 10k again and when John told me that there was an entry going I said I would be interested. Thanks go to John Hill who originaly entered but was unable to do it and he managed to get the number swoped over for me. I must admit that when the day dawned and it was raining heavyly I did have second thoughts and if it wasn’t for the effort that John had gone to I probably would have got back into bed. Luckily by the time I got to the race to collect my number and chip the rain had eased of.
There is a problem with a shortage of toilets at the start so some of the bushes come in handy. The start of the race has changed since I last did it but the rest of the race was on the same course. I wasn’t doing to bad until about 5k when the effects of the glass of wine and the Bombay mix from saturday night began to show (thought when I was eating it it was a bad idea) You forget just how many hills there are in it so by the time I got to the end my time had slipped somewhat but I had enjoyed it. I decided that I wouldn’t wait for the prizes as my time was a bit dire and I needed to find a solar panel at the camp shop. I was a couple of days before I down loaded the results and was pleasantly surprised to find that I has won my catagory and not just because I was the only one in It there were actually four of us. As I type this my winners cup is shinning at me and a trip to Tobutts is on the cards with my voucher.
Gill Caldwell
82nd David Ashworth 43:42
306th Gill Caldwell 54:54
466 runners
Chairmans trail race Wednesday 12 May 2010
May 5, 2010Just to remind you that it is our annual Chairman’s Trail Race next Wed. 12th May at 6.45 for 7pm start from the Junction of concrete road, ramp to Chinese Gardens and track behind Rivington High School reached by the road to right of School, up by the tennnis courts.
This is a handicapped event (anyone could win) over a marked route, over the trails and tracks behind the school, of approx 4.5 miles.
All members are expected to try and take part in this event, there is a small charge of £2 each towards costs of prizes and supper. If you can’t compete your help to marshall the race would be appreciated. Please let me know.
The presentation and supper is in the upstairs concert room at the Conservative Club at 9pm.
Club Vests are to be worn in the race, if you haven’t got one they can be obtained from Tobutt Sports.
Because of the above there will be no training session from the Leisure Centre on that night.
PLEASE MAKE THE EFFORT TO ATTEND AND MAKE IT A GOOD EVENING. IT IS JUST A FUN SOCIAL EVENT.
Regards
John
Saturday 8th May – Belmont Winter Hill Fell Race 1:15pm
May 4, 2010This race is the 4th in our Fell Race Championship – see Club Championship page. This is a local race and a tough un, but only 4.5 miles long! all over in approx. 45 minutes then off to Black Bull. Details as shown on fellrunner.
SAT. MAY 8. BELMONT WINTER HILL (R). BS. 1.15 p.m. 4.5m/1000′. Venue: Belmont Bull. GR 673163. £4.00, on day. PM. Hosting the Greater Manchester AA Fell Running Championships for Seniors and Juniors. Details: Dave Bateson, 92 High Street, Belmont Village, Bolton, BL7 8AL. Tel: 01204 811515. Email: dave.bateson@talk21.com.
Treasure Hunt – Wednesday 28th April
April 30, 2010Many thanks to everyone for turning up to Wednesday nights event on what turned out to be a glorious evening, with competitors from Lostock, Chorley Harriers, Horwich RMI and not forgetting the golden oldies from Horwich cycling club. First place was shared between “The Orienteers ???”, (Albert, Tony and Mark) and “Randall, Hopkirk and Deceased”, (Anna Maria, Pete and Tony) with our own “Phoenix from the flames” (Adrian and Jason) narrowly behind.
Hopefully everyone enjoyed the evening and appreciated the finer points of some of the more dubious clues as well as the sometimes menacing approaches of householders and landowners, curious and sometimes annoyed at runners gawping through windows, quizzing occupants about the clues and sometimes manually removing pub drinkers from a bench displaying one of the answers.
It certainly makes it worth the effort of putting on an event like this when we hear the comments afterwards and that nearly all the checkpoints had been covered and correctly answered.
Finally can I thank Alan and Pat , first for all the hard work they put into this, preparing the food during the day and then along with Mark cooking, serving and providing drinks and second for allowing us to use their home for the staging of this event, I know that everyone enjoys the experience.
Geof Sale
Alan’s mystery tour – Wednesday 28th April 2010
April 19, 2010The date – Wednesday 28th April
The time – From 6pm until it’s too dark
The place – Nightingale farm, off Rawlinson lane , Adlington
Directions – Leave or cross the A6 at the junction with Rawlinson lane go over the canal bridge take the first on the left, go through the gates and enter another world.
The Event – Alan’s mystery tour
The details – Make up a small team, collect a map and a sheet of clues, some straight forward , some cryptic then over over the next 90 minutes find as many of the locations and solutions as possible.
No experience in Orienteering is necessary, it’s just a fun event (hopefully !!)
Afterwards enjoy a hot supper expertly prepared and cooked by our cordon bleu chefs (Oh alright Alan and Simon)
Leo’s Duathlon results 14th April 2010
April 16, 2010| Pos. | Name | H/cap Time | Race Time | (Run Time) | Act Time |
| 1 | Geoff Sale | 11min | 55.24min | (18min) | 44.24 min |
| 2 | Tony Varley | 10 | 55.44 | -16 | 45.44 |
| 3 | Gill Caldwell | 2 | 57.22 | -20 | 55.22 |
| 4 | Clive Worthington | 18.25 | 58.32 | -17 | 40.07 |
| 5 | Michael Ernill | 12 | 59.11 | -18 | 47.11 |
| 6 | Albert Sunter | 18 | 59.44 | -15 | 41.44 |
| 7 | Sheila Anderton | 0 | 61.3 | -23 | 61.3 |
| 8 | Ray McGloin | 13 | 64.09 | -17 | 51.09 |
| 9 | Ray Nuttall | 18 | 68.4 | -18 | 50.4 |
We were treated to another clear sunny evening for the race, even though it was very cold for the marshals. It was a good fun night with a fiercely fought contest, there were a couple of entrants who decided to forge their own routes albeit in the wrong direction but made it to the finish. The prize winners were Geoff and Tony for the men, Gill and Sheila for the ladies. The fastest time prize went to Clive (who only just made the start due to broken chain) Pete Ramsdale from Horwich would have competed but for two punctures and wrong directions to start given to him by Ray McGloin.
My thanks go once again to the people who turned up to marshal, inc The Pollards, Chris, Matt, Mark, Neil and Danny Hope with girlfriend. It was also great to see Brian Holt supporting us and well on his way to a full recovery from his recent problems.
Wardle Skyline 10th April 2010
April 11, 2010
Another Lostock excursion on the fells saw 5 members competing in what was with the exception of Pete Noble , a first time running of the event.
The morning started well (me and pete have before now turned up to races on the wrong day!) and we arrived in Wardle in plenty of time. On the drive through Rochdale i learned where Gracie Fields was buried, saw the classic pub the cemetery inn (must call in next year on the way back) the five sisters (no not a mountain range but the 5 tower blocks you can’t miss in the town centre. A cultural excursion on a spring Saturday.
Some 200 and odd runners were milling around before the start as if soon became apparent this was a large field. The usual vests you see at local races all prominent. The sun was out but we had pete’s reassuring words that it would be nice and breezy up on the top.
The starting gun sounded and we were off, up the lane towards Watergrove reservoir and then began the slog up onto the fell. My sweatband was already soaking and with just over a mile in the heat was going to be an issue for me.
From my point three quarters of the way down the field i could see team rivalries being fought out on the fells. Adrian had made a quick start with Mark tucked in shortly behind. I was blowing and my game plan of staying just behind pete until on the tops was going to pot.
The slog up Brown Wardle was a tough one and the breeze i hoped for on the tops never materialised. By Rough Hill the legs were working better and an enjoyable descent was in store with the breeze finally offered some respite from the heat.
Over to Crook Hill and then down towards what many who haven’t done their homework would think was the finish. But this race has a sting in the tail, yet another climb, not a large one but one that could would establish who had saved enough from the recent descent.
I managed to find some energy in the tank and hauled myself past a group of about 5 as we could smell the finish. And there is was, the welcome sight of the finish, the shouts of ‘well done’ and the good feeling you get when you have just flogged yourself round the fells for 7 miles.
What a great sport we compete in.
After a quick change it was time for a refreshing drink in the Globe Inn and a chance to analyse our race and look forward to the next one.
Mark Shuttleworth had again had another good run and came in first for Lostock. Second went to Pete Noble who pipped Adrian somewhere near the final descent. Good running Pete. And for me fourth but with a time that i can beat next year if it’s a bit cooler! Closely followed by Craig, well done all.
Jason Tonge
Images from the Rochdale Harriers
Saturday 10th April – Wardle Skyline Fell Race 2pm
April 8, 2010This race is the 3rd in our Fell Race Championship – see Club Championship page. The race is organised by Rochdale Harriers and AC and although i have not run this race before i am told it is a cracking race with a sting in the tail. The weather forecast is good so it could be a fast race. Anyone interested contact Adrian or Mark S.