11 Nov 2017, Astley Park
The second race in the series, but first for most Harriers, took place at Astley Park, Chorley on a pleasant day for a cross country race although the ground was soft going after the previous twenty-four hours’ rainfall. While most Clubs had posses of youngsters running, Preston had the occasional runner such as in the U11boys where young Kaden Foley had a good run taking 9.27 to cover the course. He must have been one of the youngest in the field of 104 runners but one of the most determined to finish. No U11girls for the Harriers but 94 took part in the race.
In the U13boys Ned Gilkes gave a good account of himself coming 36th in 12.36 with 53 taking part and in the U13girls Emily Knell ran a good race in 12.47 for 40th position in a field of 84. Darcy Lonsdale, our only U15girl, put in a good controlled effort to come 1st in a close finish with a Chorley girl posting 17.31 against 17.33. Well done to those youngsters for taking part, hopefully your efforts in the cross country will bear fruit in next year’s racing.
In the senior ladies we had just four taking part, Kari Edwards, Sue Wickham, Judith Deakin and Vicki Sherrington. After a lot of mud slogging and splashing Vicki came home in 78th taking 25.48 Sue followed in 30.28 for 124th, next was a cheery Judith in 33.06 for 135th (2nd L70) and Kari, glad to be finished, was 146th in 34.52.
Finally, the senior men had one small and three large laps of a well churned up course to battle through. Chris Livesey had a good run coming 2nd although he was in Salford’s colours. The first Harrier was steadily improving Simon Collins (39th in 42.31), next was Kaden’s dad Lee, (62nd in 44.20), followed by returning stalwart Colin Shuttleworth (47.05 for 98th). Chris Wales and Mark Billington pushed each other to 125th and 131st places, 48.43 and 49.02 with Dougie Potter on their heels in 138th and 49.21. A bit of a gap before Alan Appleby came in at 171st position in 52.02 followed by Roy Parkinson 194th in 54.08 and Steve Taylor 202nd in 54.59. Michael Brown was 218th in 56.47 and a gallant Phil Lakeland out running for 1.04.11 and coming 242nd.