Saturday 13th saw Centre Vale Park host the latest round of the Red Rose Cross Country. The event was managed superbly by Tod Harriers Dan Taylor, along with a great team of marshals. The weather was great, with a lovely sunny autumn day greeting the 500 runners and their supporters. The course covers the main field then goes round the old golf course and back out near the skatepark for the finish. Starting with the Under 11s the competitors do different numbers of laps depending which category they are in with Under 11s doing a Short Lap and Senior Men 4 x Large Laps. The wet weather all week made for an interesting and muddy course, with competitors slipping and sliding their way around. Tod Ladies again put up a great show with Rebecca Patrick 1st Vet 50, Kate Mansell 2nd Vet 50 and Mel Blackhurst 2nd Vet 55, between them they came 2nd Vet Ladies Team. In the men’s race Graeme ‘Sideshow’ Brown had a great run starting steady then working through the field for 13th position and 2nd Vet 45. All the feedback from competitors was positive with many agreeing the Tod course is one of the most challenging in the area. The series now moves to Marl Pitts at Rawtenstall for the finale. Tod Ladies Vets are poised to pick up a team medal again and there are a few people in contention for individual awards as well.
For anyone interested in starting to run or joining the club, we run beginners’ runs on a Monday at 7pm from Bramsche Square next to the market and pack runs on Wednesday from a different pub each month.
