Wesham 10k – 29 Nov 2014
Todmorden Harriers’ Road Championship came to an eventful conclusion on Saturday at the Wesham 10k near Preston. Tod athletes were part of a 400 strong field.
Sarah Glyde has already secured the ladies road championship, but that didn’t stop Mel Blackhurst storming to her quickest time ever on this course. Mel suffered a setback in having to have a pacemaker fitted earlier this year, but she has bounced back producing some of the best running of her career. Moyra Parfitt moved up to the aged 70-74 category this year and completed the course in under 9 minutes per mile ahead of 80 other runners. Moyra and Mel also secured 2nd and 3rd in the club’s Grand Prix championships.
In the men’s race John Allan and Richard Butterwick pushed each other to personal bests with Butterwick winning the head to head by just 5 seconds. Paul Brannigan just had to complete the race to secure the men’s Road Championship, which was fortunate as an accident the previous day meant his speed was curtailed finishing 20 minutes down on his usual time. Brannigan is this year’s Grand Prix champion too.
Further down the field Simon Galloway completed his 10th grand prix becoming only the 3rd person to pick up the commemorative silver tankard. Simon was part of an ultra competitive trio with Mel Blackhurst and Tod’s Andy Glyde who looks a shadow of his former self having shed 4 stones since joining Tod Harriers. Anyone planning a New Year Resolution to lose weight should follow his lead and head over to Tod Harriers in January.
Results:
Postion Name Time
39 Richard Butterwick 00:38:51
41 John Allan 00:38:56
102 Steve James 00:43:05
110 Melanie Blackhurst 00:43:31
118 Simon Galloway 00:43:46
119 Andy Glyde 00:43:54
172 Kevin Coughlan 00:47:22
269 Kirsty Patten 00:52:52
279 Mandy Goth 00:53:27
280 Paul Brannigan 00:53:27
320 Moyra Parfitt 00:55:41
332 Peter Ehrhardt 00:56:15
395 Myra Wells 01:09:03
Todmorden trio of Matt Flanagan, Dan Taylor and Richard Butterwick took the 1st team prize at the Tod Park Winter 5k series. Myra Wells and Jackie Hesketh won their age categories.
Todmorden Harriers welcome and look after runners of all ability. Check out www.todharriers.co.uk for details.