Thur 5 July 2018, Tockholes, Darwen
A delightful, if very warm, evening for the Tockholes fell race saw a record entry of 142 runners and over £1,000 raised for the East Lancs Hospice. It was dry and very dusty up on Darwen Moor, with not a lot of give in the ground, although the race is run mostly on tracks and fell paths. Views were good, if a little hazy. The race, over 9.4k and 310 metres of climbing starts from the Rock pub on Tockholes Road, goes past Earnsdale Reservour, and Sunnyhurst Hey Reservoir, before looping back past them again after a circuit of the Moor.
Richard Smith finished in a great 3rd place in 37.35, and Jon Green had good run for 6th in 39.58. Simon Collins was the next Preston counter in 10th, with a time of 40.28. With this the last race in the local inter-club fell running series, those placings were replicated in the final individual standings of the championship, with Smith taking inter club wins in all the three races he ran. The rule being the best three of the four to count. Andrew Harrison finished in 21st place on the night, and Andy Whaley was only four seconds behind in 42.29. John Rainford was second vet 55 in 46.00, whilst Colin Shuttleworth, also a vet 55, crossed the line only three places later. There was a good turnout of Harriers, and Olga Wiggins cemented her second place overall in the women’s individual interclub standings.
The winner was Josh Boyle, a GB u23 international from Ribble Valley Harriers, in a new record time of 35.42. The ladies’ winner was Katie Walshaw, also of Ribble Valley, in 8th overall, and her time was 40.20, breaking the ladies record by 4.59.