wrc

Buxworth 5 - a new race

Goyt valley Striders Race News.

The Buxworth 5 is a new 5 mile road race from the Buxworth, High Peak on Wednesday 4th May 2011 at 7.30pm.  This race will replace our Shady Oak Tough 10k that will no longer take place. The route has a few climbs, the last mile is fast and flat, so should be suitable for most.

Race website: http://www.goytvalleystriders.org.uk/index.html

(Sent to us by Kevin Day of GVS.  I wonder what he means by 'a few climbs'! - Andy)

Cheddleton 10k

A few miles out of Leek is the small village of Cheddleton which each year stages this popular event .

A three lap 10k race with some hill climbs , undulating stretches and a couple of sharp down hills.

Bitterly cold but credit to the council who had gritted the course .

1. Mark Dalkins : Telford AC : 33.21

12. Malcolm Fowler:35.53(4th V45 but a prize winner as 12th home...Bottle of Scotch )  

33. Nick Bishop : 38.58 (2nd V50...Bottle of wine)  

38. Rob Gilbert : 39.14

60. Tony Hulme : 42.08 (1st V60...Bottle of scotch)

99. James Gowin : 45.09

130. Don Bullough : 47.11

160. Alan Turner : 49.15

349 finishers.

http://www.racephotos.org.uk/cheddleton_2.htm

Nick.

    

Sherdley Park XC Race Two

As the post below shows all results are now on line . Any errors please let myself and Kate know please . 

I would encourage you all to take a look as they are excellent !! See what you are missing if you were not there and also take a look at the pictures .

We used a gazebo for the first time and it proved a great success : Virtually all of the 40 that ran from Wilmslow congregating in and around following the finish of the mens race . A real team atmosphere and for that reason I comment only as a team below ......Go see how your colleagues did on the results site !

With promotion and relegation between divisions , awards for B teams etc , everyone makes a contribution , all helping to push further down the pack other competing rival club runners .

Cold conditions , damp underfoot with less mud than previous years . Three laps for the men and two for the ladies.

The ladies had 18 run , being lead home by Clare Stevinson in 5th and 1st Vet with everyone playing their part in making such a success of the day :

• 3rd Ladies team overall
• 8th , 10th and 20th B,C and D Teams from 26 teams overall
• 1st Vets team overall
•  4th , 9th , 11th and 16th B,C,D and E Vets Teams from 24 overall......and 1st in each of those categories.

The men had 22 run and were lead home by Damian , but again the success was achieved by all that ran .

• 3rd Mens team overall
• 13th and 26th B and C teams from 32 overall
• 1st Vets team overall
• 6th , 14th and 21st B,C and D Vets Teams from 24 overall.......and 1st in each of those categories.  

A marvellous turn out and a real team effort : Many thanks to all that ran and those that supported .

For individual placings , check the results !! 

The league is run over five races with end of season placings for both individual and club determined from the best four results : I suspect that we will drop Heaton Park ( and hope so too !!) . We are up and running and back in the mix ........We go again on Saturday 4th December at Boggart Hole Clough and welcome regulars or debutants !!

PS , Gazebo being ordered and WRC flag ordered .

Nick.    (Click on the image to see full-size)

 

Manchester XC League > Race 2 - Sherdley Park, St Helens

Sunday 21st November 2010

Results are expected tommorrow (Tuesday) but in the meantime photos can be seen at http://hsphotos.co.uk/site/#/page/home/

The gazebo seemed popular .

Well done all : See you at Boggart Hole Clough : Saturday 4th December.

Nick.

Truly brilliant Club results all round now available to view at :

Women >    http://www.race-results.co.uk/results/2010/maccl2.pdf

Men >        http://www.race-results.co.uk/results/2010/maccls2.pdf

Same again at BHC ...... be there !!

Manchester XC - Heaton Park

Saturday 23rd October 2010

The videos - everyone stars, just don't blink.

Women's Race:    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mf_QBPNsqP0&feature=related

Men's Race:    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3hDFwPtWHA

Also, pictures courtesy of Flaming Photography at:

Women :  http://www.flamingphotography.co.uk/portfolio128336.html

Men :  http://www.flamingphotography.co.uk/portfolio128568.html

Roaches Fell Race ( 15m / 3700' )

Sunday 14th November 2010

 

1         Peter Vale (Mercia)    2:04:24

16       Tom McGaff              2:27:46

22        Malcolm Fowler         2:31:59 *

88        Andy Watts              2:57:55

149      Angela Maziere         3:26:15

151      Don Bullough             3:26:57

165      Geoff Gilbert            3:33:36

DNF      Mike Cooper

 

* includes time taken to return to start to change shoes !!

Preston 10

Preston 10 mile - Sunday, 21st November

1 Steve Littler 52:10
22 Trevor Morris 59:53
387 finishers

Results: http://www.ukresults.net/2010/preston10.html

Trevor

BMAF Events

In light of recent events I just wanted to make you all aware of some Masters events that are coming up next year that I would strongly recommend to you all to have a go at. It's a good opportunity to compete against your age equivalents (I'm afraid for once you youngsters of the club are ruled out). The two impending ones are:-

 

February 20th 2011 - Northern Vets Athletic Club (NVAC) X country championships - Warrington

 

March 12th 2011 - British Masters Athletics Federation (BMAF) Open X Country Championships - Perry Barr, Birmingham (The big event)

 

These are open to men & women age 35 or over & we could really do well with the team awards as it's 3 to count in each age category. Let Nick/Kate know if you fancy it.

 

More info found at www.bvaf.org.uk/fix/fix.asp

 

Louise

Snowdon Training Day 2010 - the video !!

Great video from Tony, now on YouTube at this link

I hope that Andy won't mind me piggy-backing this post but having just watched the video, it's outstanding and if I may just add my highlights:

• Loved the music !!
• Loved the start "off you go ......you know where you are all going !!".....Hmmmm !!
• Malcolm's almost sprint like crouch at the start !!
• Don with camera and then running again once on video !!
• Patrick's own version of "race the train" !!  
• The look on Gail's face with arms raised both at the top and the bottom !!
• The banter between all, be it group one or group six .... six groups but one club !!
• The thoughts of Tony running down, video camera in hand and capturing Ians's masterful descent !!
• It makes me feel so lucky to be part of such an amazing club !!
• One thing missing from the credits : Thanks to you Tony for making it all possible.

You all looked awesome !!!

Nick

THE 23RD BRITISH & IRISH MASTERS CROSS COUNTRY INTERNATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

SATURDAY 13TH NOVEMBER, SANTRY DEMENSE, DUBLIN

 

There was a real excitement in the atmosphere, even at the airport (lets face it you can spot a runner a mile off!) and a great friendliness from whomever you met. Our hotel was facing the course & was certainly a beautiful setting.

 

Jane & I had scoped out the course of Friday, 4 laps, 1 hill, lots of mud.

 

Jane's reserves race was up first & it was mix of men & women & all ages categories. Jane looked strong throughout & really pushed it on the last lap, polishing it off with a great sprint finish. She was pleased as her time was 50 seconds quicker than the 4th V55 in the main race, which bodes well for her next year when she has some more races under her belt.

 

My race was all the women's age categories plus the men 65 to 70+. It was incredibly busy at the start with lots of pushing after the gun. It never really thinned out & you really had to battle past people & through the heavy mud over the 4 laps. My Garmin bleeped at 6.26 for the first mile & I was well back from the leaders already. It was a tough 6k & the calibre of the athletes was amazing, England had a 1st & a 2nd in the overall race with a V35 & a V40. I was the 3rd V35 of 4, and 3 count for the team, I had first thought that we had won the team gold but was hugely disappointed to find out at the gala dinner to find out that we were beaten by the Republic of Ireland who had put out some very strong teams on home ground. I couldn't help thinking that if only I'd gone faster......

 

All in all England won most of the age category team golds & were overall champions. It was amazing to be part of this event & breathtaking to experience how fast they run (we sat next to the ladies winner who was averaging 5.55 per mile!) It's Glasgow next year & Jane & I certainly want to be there representing our country again, with some more WRC runners too!

 

OPEN RACE 6K:- Jane MULRYAN - V55 - 27.01

 

MAIN 6K:- Louise Rudd - V35 - 25.01 41st / 14th V35

2010 Summer Series > Final Tables

All over !!!  Well done everybody.

The final tables have now been published. 

Sorry about the glitch with the G5/6 table, the correct one is just below the one you see first.

Don

Race 20 - age/sex adjusted times and form scores

 

Tom, already 2010 champion, again topped the adjusted time.  Mick and Malcolm also had adjusted times under Damian's race-winning time.  However, it is Damian who is second to Tom for the year with Mick third, Tony fourth and Malcolm fifth.

Ray, Andy, Graham, Jim and Clare are 6th.-10th. for the year

Nicky, Christine, Jamie, Kate, Steve Dempsey, Ian, Steve Smith, Pete, Louise and Geoff are 11th.-20th.

Langley 7
		age/sex adjusted		form	score
	discount	time		100=	37:22
Tom McGaff	14.4%	35:41		Damian Nicholls	102	0:37:56
Mick Fairs	19.4%	37:30		Jim Pendrill	110	0:40:59
Malcolm Fowler	8.2%	37:46		Malcolm Fowler	110	0:41:09
Damian Nicholls	0.0%	37:56		Tom McGaff	112	0:41:42
Ray Eagle	14.7%	39:16		Phil Smith	112	0:42:01
Jim Pendrill	3.3%	39:38		Rob Gilbert	120	0:44:50
Nicky Mowat	21.6%	39:58		Nick Bishop	121	0:45:12
Nick Bishop	11.5%	40:00		Steve Dempsey	123	0:45:47
Andy Watts	17.9%	40:05		Ray Eagle	123	0:46:02
Christine Geraghty	19.2%	41:53		Mick Fairs	124	0:46:30
Phil Smith	0.0%	42:01		Steve Smith	128	0:47:40
Steve Dempsey	8.0%	42:08		Paul Garnett	130	0:48:40
Ian Ashcroft	21.5%	42:48		Andy Watts	131	0:48:50
Rob Gilbert	4.3%	42:54		Paul Norris	133	0:49:35
Gavin Mendham	18.0%	43:10		Gareth  Trimble	136	0:50:43
Patrick Grannan	17.5%	43:12		Nicky Mowat	136	0:50:57
Steve Smith	9.1%	43:20		Katy Green	136	0:51:00
Paul Norris	12.6%	43:21		James Gowin	137	0:51:03
Katy Green	12.8%	44:29		Owen Ashcroft	139	0:51:45
Paul Garnett	8.4%	44:34		Christine Geraghty	139	0:51:50
Janine Ellis	14.7%	44:48		Patrick Grannan	140	0:52:21
John Porteous	15.7%	45:40		Janine Ellis	141	0:52:32
Don Bullough	12.8%	46:41		Gavin Mendham	141	0:52:40
Catriona Marshall	15.6%	47:28		Don Bullough	143	0:53:31
Trevor Faulkner	24.3%	47:35		Andrew Dodd	144	0:53:42
Kate Sutton	19.0%	49:17		John Porteous	145	0:54:08
Gareth  Trimble	2.2%	49:37		Ian Ashcroft	146	0:54:32
Julie Lucas	18.1%	50:02		Catriona Marshall	151	0:56:16
Roy Pownall	19.1%	50:21		Alan Turner	154	0:57:41
James Gowin	0.0%	51:03		Gail Hill	163	1:00:48
Owen Ashcroft	0.0%	51:45		Kate Sutton	163	1:00:49
Andrew Dodd	2.6%	52:18		Julie Lucas	164	1:01:07
Gail Hill	13.0%	52:52		Roy Pownall	167	1:02:16
Alan Turner	6.6%	53:51		Trevor Faulkner	168	1:02:49

Hell Up North - Sunday 7th November

The "Hell Up North", Delamere Forest Park.

Distance not sure but in the region of 10 miles. Category, We're talking REAL trail running . The first race where the blurb states ' It is not necessary that you have to be able to swim but ..... '.

We ran as a team, not for a good time but to 'Just do it ' and to finish. Led by Pete, driven by Richard, literally, in a team mini bus, and supported by Sharon, her daughter Beth and youg Joe, Zoe and James' youngster, who ate and slept for most of the time.

The morning was bright and sunny but cold and boy did it get colder. The event was great, very rough terrain the distance no great problem. Crossing streams, through woods, up and down some severe hills and through two bogs, the worst of which was waist deep and 200 yards long with the bottom strewn with tree roots and sunken logs.

Race winner Jonny Mellor in 58:28 . The team :-
  Pete Stock 1:58:17
  Richard Hirons 1:58:18
  Jon Harper 1:58:18
  James Eyre 1:58:19
  Zoe Houghton 1:58:20
  Carolyn Hirons 1:58:21
  Chris Cannon 1:58:22
  Giles Leeming 1:58:22

Special mention for Giles who badly sprained his ankle with a third of the race left. Also noticed two other Wilmslow Club members in the results, Sally Johnston 2:01:26 and Andy Dodd within 24 hours of his appearence at Langley, providing it was the same Andy Dodd, in a time of 1:29:42. We all ended the race covered from head to toe in mud, wet through and only then did we feel the cold. Great day out ........honest.

Chris Cannon

Summer Series - Race 20

Langley 7

Saturday November 6

It was sunny when we left Wilmslow but Langley was more overcast and at 8^o the last of the Summer Series had a wintry bite. There was no wind and on a perfect running day the views from the top were glorious.

I suspect this first paragraph will stand but the rest may need to be re-considered when Don's computer agrees to release the results

Damian has dominated the Series from start to finish. He has not always won at Langley but he retained the title he won last year by a comfortable margin. Jim, who takes silver for the Summer Series, was third. Malcolm, who takes bronze, was fourth as well as 1st.M45. Tom, who is age/sex champion, was 6th. and 1st.M55. Phil was 7th., Rob Gilbert 8th., Nick's re-habilitation continued at 19th, Steve Dempsey was 23rd., Ray was 25th.  Mick, 29th., beat Andy to the 1st.M60 prize.

In the main table, Steve Dempsey passed Tony to finish 6th. Ray Eagle, in what was effectively his seventh race, moved-up to 8th. Nick took Katy and Matt for 17th. Nicky overtook Chris Watts and Jamie for 28th. Gavin expunged his Sizzler disaster for 31st. James moved ahead of Roy and Angela to 41st. Cat outsprinted Monique and Sharon to 49th. Gail sneaked by Martin and Trevor for 55th. Carolyn has the honour of carrying the lanterne rouge.

Nicky edged Katy by 3 seconds to take the Ladies' 60 points for the second time in three races, she was also 1stL50. Louise had already secured the Series' Ladies' championship. Katy, as well as second on the day, was runner-up for the year with Clare taking bronze for the Series. Christine, despite third at Langley, ceded fourth overall to Nicky. Janine claimed to be less than 100%, but I soon lost her pony-tail in the distance. Catriona chose a tough course to find her form but was well rewarded for a finishing flourish that took her ahead of Sharon, Penny and Nina into 12th. for the Series. Last year's Ladies' champion, Kate, ostensibly paced Gail to another PB but the conspiracy theorists had her part of a female Guy Fawkes plot to get Gail above Trevor in the main table, a scheme in which Julie was also rumoured to have played a role.

Steve Smith emphasised his supremacy in League 3/4 taking 60 points for the 8th. time in 10 races. Paul Garnett continues to move up the pecking-order but joined too late to get seven qualifying races. Andy's 58 points ensures him third place in the league but it was insufficient to get him on terms with Tony, who takes second place for the Series. Paul Norris came-in  third and Gareth fourth. Only 6 seconds separated  Nicky, Katy and James Gowin.  Christine , who was also 1st.L45, was followed by Patrick, Janine, Gavin, Don and Ian.

Gareth climbs above Mathew for 7th., Paul Norris above Katy for 9th. and Christine above Jamie for 14th. Gavin had a highly productive Langley, also going ahead of Kate and Clare to 16th. as did Nicky, who forced her way in front of Sarah Waite and Chris Watts. James Gowin eased his way off the bottom at the expense of Angela.

Do you run or walk when the hills get hard? Trevor, as always, is blunt, we're a running club. My tactics are less pure. I believe that when you slow to a certain pace it is better to walk; the distance you lose through not running is more than compensated by reaching the top with fresher legs. For no good reason, I abandon this tactic at Langley, running the hill is about self-esteem. This was fortunate as halfway up was Penny, who would never dream of walking, and has dragged me up in previous years. To have been caught walking by the poet who put the Langley 7 into verse would have incurred serious loss of face. However, Andy and John, just ahead, each took a short respite; I gained nothing on the climb and failed to catch either on the descent, further evidence in favour of the walking theory. I probably take the form guide too seriously, but being beaten by Andy and John, who are both below me in the rankings, marks this a disappointing performance whereas I thought I had run okay.

John had dominate the early season 5/6 races and, but for his leg operation, would surely have had the championship sown-up before Owen hit his purple patch. Even more unfortunate was his getting snarled-up in traffic, when at the peak of his form, and missing the start of Goyt Valley. In the final analysis, however, someone who is twenty-five years younger has lost weight and gained commitment holds all the aces and Owen, with only one 60-points in the first 15 races, eased to his fifth 5/6 first in a row and is 2010 champion.

Just before the start of Owen's charge, the form man had been Andrew. Langley could have been John vs. Andy for the title, which would have been fascinating because they were swapping places throughout the race.  Finally  Andy, who finish third for the Series, took the 59 and John 58. Cat got her best points haul since April. Then came Alan, Gail, Kate, Julie, Roy and Trevor.

In the 5/6 table Catriona's good day got better at the cost of not only giving Rod more heartache but also moving ahead of Nina and Soraya. We await news of Soraya, away at the New York marathon. Trevor, in the 5/6 table, managed to resisted the advances of Gail.

Roy, who hates hills and is suffering a painful knee injury, was determined to be outright "most races" champion and defied medical advice and common sense to match Don's record from last year of 19 races. Other enthusiasts (anoraks?) were Ian (18), Owen (16), Tony (15), Don (15), Gail (14) and Clare (14).

Support came from Paul, Monique, Mike, Nina, Penny, Stuart, Bill and possibly others.

Thanks to Tony for devising the programme and Don for (usually) being so quick in getting the tables onto the web.

Please email me with your loves and hates of this year's Series and your hopes for 2011.

Ian

 

2010 Summer Series > Race 20 (final) ~ Langley 7

	Saturday November 6
1		Damian Nicholls		37:56	1	M
3		Jim Pendrill		40:59	2	MV40
4		Malcolm Fowler		41:09	1	MV45
6		Tom McGaff		41:42	1	MV55
7		Philip Smith		42:01	3	M
18		Rob Gilbert		44:50	5	MV40
19		Nick Bishop		45:12	2	MV50
23		Steve Dempsey		45:47	3	MV45
25		Ray Eagle		46:02	3	MV55
29		Mick Fairs		46:30	1	MV60
40		Steve Smith		47:40	6	MV45
46		Paul Garnett		48:40	7	MV45
48		Andy Watts		48:50	2	MV60
51		Paul Norris		49:35	4	MV50
59		Gareth Trimble		50:43	9	MV35
62		Nicky Mowat		50:57	1	LV50
63		Katy Green		51:00	3	LV35
64		James Gowin		51:03	14	M
76		Owen Ashcroft		51:45	16	M
79		Christine Geraghty		51:50	1	LV45
82		Patrick Grannan		52:21	3	MV60
84		Janine Ellis		52:32	3	LV40
86		Gavin Mendham		52:40	4	MV60
92		Don Bullough		53:31	12	MV50
95		Andrew Dodd		53:42	14	MV35
99		John Porteous		54:08	5	MV55
101		Ian Ashcroft		54:32	5	MV60
121		Catriona Marshall		56:16	4	LV40
143		Alan Turner		57:41	15	MV45
169		Gail Hill		1:00:49	8	LV35
170		Kate Sutton		1:00:49	8	LV45
172		Julie Lucas		1:01:07	10	LV45
178		Roy Pownall		1:02:16	12	MV60
186		Trevor Faulkner		1:02:49	2	MV65
	Anyone missing, any errors to iantrefin@btinternet.com
	and d.bullough@which.net, please
						Ian

My apologies, due to a computer software problem (I can't access my spreadsheet) the publication of the final tables will be delayed.  I'm sure those eager enough will have worked out their final positions anyway.  Hope to rectify by Thursday?  Don

Grand Prix races - 2011

Kate has now heard from Adrian Thiemicke (Cheshire County Athletic Association) with the list of race fixtures which will form next year's Road Race Grand Prix.  The races are:-

1) Sun 23 Jan Four Villages Half Marathon
2) Sun 27 Mar Wilmslow Half Marathon
3) Sun 10 Apr Air Products 10k (Crewe)
4) Sun 24 Apr Runcorn Bridge 5 mile
5a) Sat xx Jun Lymm 5k (MEN ONLY; the race itself is open to women, but will not count as a GP race)
5b) Wed xx Jul Forest Park Ladies 5k (WOMEN ONLY; the race itself is women only)
6) Wed xx Aug Pie and Peas 5
7) Sun xx Sep Sutton 6 10k

Missing dates will be filled in as the organisers of those events make their minds up! As per 2010, it will be 5 races to count for team awards, and 4 for individual awards.  For more information (including past-year results) see the CCAA web-site. 

44......49......60......????

Unless you worked it out already ,those are the numbers of people completing the Wilmslow Running Club Summer Series in the last three years , and a massive 20% hike this year from last year .

Its fun , its competitive , its great rivalries , its races we don't always think to run (Stainland 7 and Green Drive 5) , its a journalists delight .....Thanks Ian ......Its a statisticians dream .....Thanks Don.......Its a challenge for the race planner ......Thanks Tony ........All supported by the excellent website ......Thanks Andy.

Its a fantastic series that we all revel in and eagerly await the next race .....Spring 2011 ?........eagerly await the race schedule .......eagerly await the design of commemorative mug and T-shirt .........eagerly await the choice of venue for the ceremony !!

I hope you have all enjoyed this years series as much as I have .

Congratulations to all that took part and made it such fun . I will leave the official naming of champions to the always excellent report from Ian , supported by the excellent stats from Don .

Thanks for making it such fun everyone and thanks to those that have turned out to offer support and encouragement at the races . Looking forward to 2011 already !

Nick. 

  

By-Pass Run - more pictures

Remember this one - taken by the Wilmslow Express at our Edge training session?

 

See also a collection of pictures from Tom McGaff in our 'Bypass' photo album.

Plus of course the pictures taken by Bryan Dale, which include this one...

 

Halloween Hellraiser - Sunday 31 Oct

Halloween Hellraiser – Nantwich October 31st 2010

Organised by South Cheshire Harriers, this event was described as a 9 mile (approximately!) multi terrain race through the Cheshire countryside – too good an opportunity for Louise to pass up ahead of her Dublin cross-country trip later in the month.

After spotting Trevor at the start line occupying a very lowly position (yes folks it does happen), we were off to the loudest sounding horn you’re ever likely hear! We started off on the road but quickly found ourselves in the fields and farms of Cheshire ankle deep in mud (after two miles we passed a guy who’d lost both his shoes to the stuff). The route was pretty flat with just a couple of hills. It took us through a graveyard (you run over old headstones!), round a lake and through fields populated by bemused and inquisitive livestock.

The event was spot on. The marshalling was first class, the goody bag excellent (banana, chocolate and beer!) and a very friendly atmosphere. Louise came home as third lady and was chuffed her training schedule remains very much on course. So happy was she that I seem to remember some talk of donating her winnings to me!

Results:
1. M Bigley (Macclesfield) 53.30
41. L Rudd 68.25 42.
42. S Smith 68.25 (ladies first I guess!)
138 T Faulkner 89.02
196 finishers

Steve

Tony's Training Day - Snowdon!

Tony's Training Day, Sunday 31st October.

We set off from the Rugby club early on Sunday, to a destination still a closely guarded secret.  A momentary hush fell in the bus when Tony announced that we would all be climbing Snowdon.  A few could be heard rehearsing excuses.  But in the event all 16 of us triumphed over the hill - and felt a tremendous sense of achievement in doing so.  This was not just a 'hilly run', but a major mountain route, and with Tony's guidance and encouragement everyone climbed it well.  We rewarded ourselves with cups of tea and hot chocolate in the cafe at the top.  The descent was almost as hard, and there will be many stiff quads for a couple of days.

 
 
Many photos were taken, and will be placed in the Snowdon photo album as I receive them.

Congratulations to Tony for arranging an exceptional event.

Andy

Manchester Area XC League Race One : Heaton Park 23rd October

Its winter , its cold , its muddy , its cross country !!The eagerly awaited first round of the Manchester XC League took place at Heaton Park last week.

For those who are new to the club , the league is the amalgamation of the old Cheshire XC League and the Manchester and District XC League : The two leagues merged some six years ago.

The series comrises five races . 

Match 2 - Sunday 21st November - Sherdley Park, St Helens

Match 3 - Saturday 4th December - Boggart Hole Clough, Blackley

Match 4 - Sunday 2nd January 2011 - Woodbank Park, Stockport

Match 5 - Saturday 12th February - Clayton Vale, Manchester

Start times and distances:-

 - Ladies generally 13:50 and 8k
 - Men generally 14:30 and 9.6k (but check each event in case of changes).

Its very different to road racing as you plough through mud and woodland with a large support from spectators and team mates alike , as men cheer on the ladies and vica versa .Again with two divisions , competition is high, but its great camararderie .

The club has fared well in the league over recent seasons particularly the men winning the vets event for a number of years in succession . For once Heaton Park was damp and we arrived to drizzle , not the bright autumnal days of recent years . The ladies were out in force while the men were a little down on usual numbers . Mike had a wedding to attend ( his own ) , while Tom was best man : Malcolm was nursing an injury from too much racing up and down the bye pass , Rob was AWOL and Damian selling running shoes !! But we had many good men to stand in !!

Nearly 150 raced in the ladies event with 2008 champion Clare Stevenson making an eagerly awaited comeback appearance and having a tremendous race to finish 7th.

Sally in 25th and Sharon Johnstone in another comeback 27th with Nicki in 40th completed the "A" Team counters. 

Some great tussles followed with Christine 44th , Jane Mulrayan 49th and Sally Johnston seconds behind in 50th.Kate and Claire placed 55th and 56th with Sarah 78th.Sharon Jones 82nd , Ang 84th and Huma 91st.Nina and Julie were right on their tails in 91st and 115th.With runners coming in thick and fast only seconds separated numbers of runners .

Our A team finished 6th , our B team 11th and C team 16th from 30 teams finishing . Our vets team placed second and we even had a D team finish 15th out of 24 teams finishing .Well done ladies , a great showing.

After all the excitement attention turned to the men where a quality field lined up with 296 finishers.For the spectator it was marvellous to see the Norman brothers battling out for the victory , neck and neck after two laps with Andy coming out on top on the third and final lap .

Jim was first home in 32nd with Stuart 34th.Trevor Morris  63rd , Ray  97th , Rob Gilbert 105 and Ian Smallwood 130th made up the A team placing 9th out of 37 teams.

Our B team all played their part and placed 27th ,145th  Mike Cooper , 160th Steve Smith , 162nd Andy Watts , 195th Geoff Gilbert , 198th Gavin and Don 206th. Owen made a cross country appearance in 222nd and the reliable Trevor 295th .

The good news ......Our vets team won , with the B team 15th and C team 23rd.

A big field and of a high standard .....Sherdley Park comes next .

Thanks to all that supported .

Nick.