Four Preston Harriers attended the first ever West Coast Half Marathon on Sunday the 9th October. This was a ‘point to point’ half marathon which started at Preston Docks, and finished with a loop around Fairhaven Lake in Lytham. The conditions were perfect, and luckily there was no dreaded head wind as runners hit the coast.
Victoria Duckett was 7th lady overall and first Preston Harrier back, with a personal best of 1.42.35, frustratingly missing the FV40 prize by 28 seconds. Phil Berry (1.58.54) and partner Nikki Fulcher (1.58.55) were the next Harriers over the line. They were followed in by Felicity Cross, who was delighted to win the FV55 category with a time of 2.10.53.

Conditions were clear and sunny for the last race in the English fell running championships, which was one of the long famous Lakeland classics, the Langdale Horseshoe. With 13 miles and 4,000 feet of ascent the race starts from the Old Dungeon Ghyll. To begin with, there is a steep climb to Stickle Tarn, then a traverse across Martcrag Moor. Some of the most rugged high ground in the Lakes follows, across Bowfell, Crinkle Crags and a steep descent off Pike O`Blisco into the finish.
Nichola Jackson needed a high finish in the ladies race to ensure she won a medal in the English Championships and she finished a magnificent 2nd in 2:27.07 behind winner Victoria Wilkinson of Bingley Harriers, who also won the English Championship. Jackson finished 2nd equal and was very pleased with the outcome.
Also taking on this long challenging race were John Rainford and John Griffiths who were together for the majority of the route, both completing in just over 2:58. Roger Taylor finished in 3:10.35 and Tony Livesey, who suffered from cramp, completed the race in 3:21.12. Michael McLoughlin started the race, but an upset stomach saw him pull out after the first climb.

Latest update to this year's road race champs with all races now completed is now available to download here, see attached file. It is each athlete's responsibility to check their results are correct. Please check and if you wish any amendments to be considered please advise Kari Edwards by 21/10/16 at the latest.
Remember to count for the final reckoning runners need to complete EIGHT races and these must include the following:
THREE 10k (from six listed races) - BEST 3 scores to count
ONE 10 mile / half marathon (from four listed races) - BEST score to count
FOUR Inter-club races (from six races not including Preston) - BEST 4 scores to count
Full rules are on the website.

Individual Results for Road interclub series here...

2016 Prize Winners

Actual prizewinners in various categories to be confirmed and will be posted when they are made available.

King George V Playing Fields-Patterdale. Weather- cool early mist soon burning off, then warm and sunny with excellent visibility. A cracking late summer day in the Lakes.
Mick McLoughlin, club fell captain, tasked me with organising the Harriers team to take on this classic relay first run in 1986. It has every ingredient for a testing day for fell runners. At 24.5 miles it is not the longest but has some near vertical climbs (Red Screes), exposed ridges, manic rocky descents, boggy sections and some good running - if you pick the right lines. The race is split into 4 unequal sections and is always fully subscribed; 70 teams took part this year. Could Borrowdale make it 20 yes 20 consecutive wins? Not according to our stats man.
Preston Harriers fielded one team (that is all we are allocated) and on Leg 1 Tony Livesey and Dave Parkington set off from the event venue in Patterdale getting us off to a good start, covering this section with a prolonged steep descent near the end in 46:05. They almost had to keep running as they were both due back in Preston to attend a 12:00 christening. Steve Jackson kindly drove them straight back to the race HQ to enable them to get away quickly.

The first Mid Lancs cross country league fixture of the 2016/17 season was held at Astley Park, organised by Chorley AC and Tri with Preston Harriers helping out with the marshalling of the event.
The day stayed relatively dry despite some heavy rain in and around Preston later on. The stand out junior performance, in her first competitive outing for the club was Abigail Earnshaw who finished 7th in the u13 girls race over 2.5k. There was a good turnout of under 11s, many running their first cross country event, and despite the effort, and some lost shoes in the mud, there were plenty of smiles at the end!
It was left to the seniors to take team honours, with the men finishing first on the day, second at the vet 40 category and first at vet 50. Patrick Dever ran a measured race over the 9.9k course to finish 2nd in the men’s race behind Christopher Farrell of Horwich. Daniel Bebbington placed 5th, Chris Durney 10th, Gethin Butler 14th & Richard Smith 15th.