Julian sizzles at Smithills
Eleven Chorley runners completed the Trotters 5 mile race on Sunday morning at Smithills in Bolton. It was the turn of Burnden Road Runners to host this second fixture in the Central Lancs Grand Prix programme of races that sees Chorley compete in a league with ten local running clubs.The race was very well supported with a decent turnout of runners and spectators – a field of 311 finished to collect their t-shirts and goody bags following the testing multi-terrain race.
Julian Goudge once again led the way for Chorley with another classy run to finish 15th overall (30:14).
Darren Fishwick put his beloved fell specialism to good use around the hilly course to finish 38th (32:27) just ahead of Martin Quinn (41, 32:39). Paul Wareing (53, 33:26) delivered another classy Grand Prix performance, and recovered well after gashing his leg on a gate post. Meanwhile, Paul Jackson had clearly eaten his Weetabix earlier in the morning as he put Saturday’s cross-country test behind him to power home in 69th place (34:45).
Then came a chasing knot of Chorley runners that had stuck together closely during the final uphill slog of the second lap. Simon Townsend paced it the best (94, 36:18), despite an earlier collision with a gate, just ahead of Dave Kershaw (95, 36:22) while Michael Hendry managed to hold onto a top-100 place despite fading in the latter stages of the second lap (99, 36:45).
Tash Fellowes swapped her fell shoes for trainers to bag an impressive third-placed category finish (120, 37:48) while Anna-Maria Crabtree ran another strong race in the series (133, 38:34), and veteran Chorley athlete Tom Hilton completed the Chorley team (303, 55:43).
Chorley was well supported today with a good mix of runners complementing one another throughout the field. The club was able to build upon its initial success at nearby Bolton, and this time happily exceeded the league’s requirement for at least ten runners to represent the Club at each event in the series.
The Trotters 5 was new to many running today and it’s a cracking little race that presents a test of fitness on varied terrain. The route itself could win the prize for the most bizarre circuit in the calendar: down along a bridle path, between stone farm buildings, then up onto the pavement for a gritty uphill slog through a Bolton housing estate (watch out for those vicious metal gate posts!) - then through some more cow farms
This morning’s sunshine brought with it a crowd of supporters at the end of the first lap and at the finish (oh, and coach Gilly with his words of “encouragement” at mile 2!)
Julian Goudge leading the Chorley male veterans to a fifth-placed team finish.
Results
The next Central Lancs Grand Prix event will be the Radcliffe 10K on Sunday 14 April. Please come out and race for Chorley. The events in this programme have been chosen to be suitable for experienced club runners and beginners alike– there really is something for everyone.
Radcliffe 10
Central Lancs GP page
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