Sat 14 Oct 2017
With the weather more like the summer we didn’t really have, the opening fixture of the 2007/18 cross country season took place last weekend on a series of testing and well-designed courses at Cuerden Valley Park. There were plenty of hills and inclines and some really deep, thick mud to negotiate.
Preston Harriers men got their campaign off to a great start in Division One, with a team win and had four runners finishing in the first ten. Nathan Dunn, an under 20, was 2nd in 35.04 over the 10k course to James Douglas (from Border Harriers) who recorded 34.52. Dan Bebbington was 4th in 35.31, Chris Livesey 5th in 35.48 and Andy Benson 9th in 37.48. Chris Durney was 17th and Matt Livingstone 24th and there was an excellent supporting turn out. 233 finished.
In the ladies’ race, Lindsey Berends was the club’s lead finisher in 31st and the other two team counters were Loy Kalasiram and Amanda Ridgley. There was a very good turn-out of juniors, with many of the under 11s making their debut at cross country. The under 13 boys race over 3k saw Charlie Haigh finish 4th and the team finished 4th too, with the other counters being George Denye and Vladimir Wiggins.
Darcey Lonsdale had a great race for 3rd at under 15 girls, and with Abigail Earnshaw (8th) and Caitlyn Preddy (13th) ensured a team 2nd place. Emma Fulton and Sophie Rotherham were 6th & 7th respectively in the under 17 women’s race.