The winter head torch runs are proving very popular as there were a cracking turnout of around 20 runners tonight.  The improvement in the newer runners was there for all to see especially Karen Naylor.  So because of the high turnout we split the group into two so people wouldn't feel overawed by the more experienced pub run goers.  No Sellors, Massive, satnav or Palin so I was tasked with route choice.   Pinhaw is roughly 3.5 miles away from the Punch Bowl so I decided on an out and back to stop the running breaking into beer time.  So off we set, for a change no getting lost and no messing.  To the front group's amazement, Danny Butterworth had bridged the gap between the two groups, which shows how much he's improved.  Not far behind was habitual faller, Karen Naylor.  We all regrouped at the top and it was great to see runners who 12 months ago had started their journey, make their way up to the trig not far behind.   After the group gathering at the top the descent quickly gathered pace with that whipped man Collins leading the charge.  Back at the pub the majority were present with well over 20 lads and lasses supping ale and wine and generally abusing one another.  Danny Butterworth brought his spends in what can only be described as a blunt butt plug.  Aside from Danny's love of strange purses it soon became apparent the newbies were more serious about their running than their drinking.  Especially as half pint Childs was drinking them under the table.  Hopefully the good turnouts will carry on.  Special mention to Doc Bryan, first time we've seen him in months and as always he was welcomed by the pub run posse.   Jock was also  missing, telling the group he was going with the big hitters from  PF.  When me and Screw got to the Rodney, we learnt Boothman had sloped home at Thornton.  A bit weak really!

There was a great atmosphere in the lovely setting of Cuerden Park as everyone set off to compete over what the purists would say was a proper cross country course.  It had everything.  Water, bogs, hills and streams, with some runnable bits in between.  There were lots of Barlick vests on display with nearly as many juniors out as seniors.  Most of our juniors are new to running and new to racing, yet they proved formidable opponents with our U11 boys running out first team.

Our women too are also now looking like formidable opposition , with Sarah Tipler finishing 4th overall and with her two team mates, Jen Hird & Rachel Villers,  also finishing in the top twenty, it was enough to secure them 1st place. Our ladies B team finished 12th out of 32 teams and our women's vet 35 team also secured first place.  

What a challenge for the men to emulate.  Tom Corrigan looked like that he meant business and from the start, he was in the leading bunch of runners. Further down the field, his team mates were battling with each other.  Before the race, Livers moaned about not running on tarmac, but in the race, it didn't look a problem and Jimmy Craig had all on to force him into finishing 3rd Barlicker.  Marc Hartley and Luke Maude were also having a ding dong battle with Marc just edging it at the finish.  The result of all this inter team rivalry was that the others did not stand a chance and we had five finishers in the top twenty which was once more enough to secure first place.  

So, a good day for the club with four first team places.

Men
4 Tom Corrigan 33:16
12 Jimmy Craig 34:24
13 Ian Livesey 34:35
19 Marc Hartley 35:42
20 Luke Maude 35:44
30?  Nick Treitl 36:39 ??
39 Andrew Chew 37:41
49 Virgil Barton 38:26
59 Carl Pawson 39:05
120 Tim Piggott 42:42
151 Gary Bradley 4:13
160 Scott Boardman 45:15
214 David Cockell 48:03
1st team
16th Barlick B team

Women
4 Sarah Tipler 20:24
13 Jennifer Hird 22:28
16 Rachel Villiers 22:45
23 Leanne Dinsdale 23:28
47 Rachel Lowther 25:06
48 Laura Craig 25:15
76 Karen Naylor 26:51
128 Nicola Muller 31:21
1st Senior Team
1st WV35 team
12th Barlick  B team

U11 Girls
36 Lucille Pickles 8:24
39 Chloe Boothman 8:38
44 Clover Edwards 8:44
50 Annabelle Hoyle 8:58
53 Charlotte Porter 9:24
7th team

U11 Boys
3 Jacob Reeday 6:23
6 Jayden Whitelock 6:38
9 Harley Treitl 6:47
14 Jack Latham 6:59
21 Arran Byrne 7:16
30 George Fitzpatrick 7:44
1st team

U13 Girls
24 Jenna Boothman 12:47
25 Emily Shuttleworth 12:50
33 Teigan Judson 13:19
7th team

U13 Boys
10 Jack Villiers 13:52
33 Oliver Hartley 15:21
42 Connor Fitzpatrick 16:24
6th team

U15 Boys
15 Daniel Chew 14:48

12 Paul Elcock 21:30
132 Susan Hird 30:16