Preston
Harriers Fell Section
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Relays
2006 Mary
Towneley Loop Relay
PENNINE BRIDLEWAY RELAY –
Sun 5th Feb 2006
The
third running of this popular relay race dividing the 47mile Mary Towneley Loop
into five unequal sections to be covered on foot as quickly as possible.
The
pain anguish and pressure were difficult to overcome. There was a strong urge to
quit – but I knew for the good of the team I had to press on. Then it
happened, the goal was reached. I received a message saying there was a 10th
runner to complete my team……..phew ! It
was close.
Race
day dawned in all its foggy, damp, cold splendour. Great ;- proper fell running
conditions. Not for us warm weather training in exotic locations- pah !
Well
57 teams lined up to tackle the 5 sections. Each leg run in pairs. That’s a
not inconsiderable 570 runners !
The
winners and hats off to them were local team Bowland fellrunners clearly getting
ever stronger, in a time of 5: 02:45 just 12 seconds ahead of the next team !
Preston
harriers fielded
2 teams. Jim Doherty captaining the B team and me the A team.
There
was an interesting mix of management styles – Jim, obviously a delegator
stayed in the background (some said with his feet up at home – but I wouldn't
hear any of it) and me a more hands on (panicky) approach.
Off
first for the A team were Neil Macdonald and Dave Watson. They covered the 8.5
miles 1361ft of climb in a very respectable 1:05:14 and 19th
position. Neil had worked hard but Dave looked unperturbed – like he could do
it again ! Both said they were looking forward to next year and are confident
they could do even better.
On
leg 2 were the dependable Ash Nixon
who always pulls out all the stops for the team and Willie (lets make it quick
– I’ve a family do to get back for) Garner.
At the end
of the leg it was clear Ash had been through relay hell. Even so the pair picked
up a place covering the 12.5 miles 1560ft in 1:34:28.
Leg 3 paired Jason Parker and John ( I’ll let my new fell shoes do the
talking) Rainford. They had a fine run 12th quickest on the leg in a time of
1:10:07 gaining
2 more
places to put the team in 16th pos.
Leg
4 - “should suit the speed merchants” stated the pre-race blurb. And so it
did. Gordon Thompson and Ray Kenny covered the 5.5 miles 753ft in an impressive
40:02. 11th fastest on leg ( only 7 secs away from 8th) to
move the team up to 14th pos.
They
were so quick, they got to the end of the leg before I could drive there ! In my
defence it was Gordon’s car I was driving !!!
Leg
5 saw the reliable Matt Livingstone and relay debutant Dave Barker paired up-
both made my job much easier than it might have been- thanks and are very
welcome to be involved next year. They covered 11miles 1390ft (plus a little
extra) in 1:17:55
dropping
a place to bring the team home in 5:47:46 and 15th place. Very
creditable.
Thanks
everyone for your efforts.
The
B team got underway with the enthusiastic Steve Jackson and Alan Appleby on leg
1. Contender for Preston Harriers run of the day here from Alan who looked in
agony afterwards. He had obviously run in a lot of pain to come home in 1:12:06
an impressive 30th place.
They
handed over to Fell captain Mick Mcloughlin and cousin Nick Conlon, clearly
worried about his lack of training prior to the event. A little slower than last
year in 1:47:26 dropping 5 places to 35th overall.
On
leg 3 the mixed pairing of Karen Nash and Roy Parkinson both taking a break from
child rearing duties ran a solid leg and maintained 35th pos in
1:20:02. They were also 35th quickest on leg – nice touch of
symmetry there.
Leg
4 – Don’t forget this was the leg for speed merchants and so it proved as
the venerable Joe Howard and venerated Brian Dearneley covered the leg in 57.55.
A good run to put the team in 38th pos.
Leg
5 Saw Dave (what's the rush?) Simpson and Pete Carter underestimating Joe and
Brian’s speedy arrival. Dave enjoying the minibus heater as Joe and Brian
looked in vain for someone to hand over the dibber to at the changeover point !
Nonetheless
they finally did get away to cover
the section in 1:34:33 to bring home the team home in 41st pos
overall in a total time of 6:52:02.
Roll
on next year and potential organizers please form an orderly queue !
John
Griffiths
Thanks
John, you're better at writing than running.
Mary
Townley Loop Relay 2005
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