This was the final race in the brilliant mid-week series put on by Rossendale Harriers.  As with the other races, plenty of Barlickers turned out with plenty of good performances too, although Jimmy Craig & Andy Collins did not get off to the best of starts, by going the wrong way early in the race.  Both did well to recover, but the mistake probably cost them both a place.

These races seem to attract some good runners and this one was no exception.  Nick Leigh from Horwich RMI looked very good at the front of the field, but then so did Rob James from Royton Road Runners and Joe Mercer, Nick Leigh's team mate.  

In 4th place was Jimmy Craig who did well, after the cock up at the start of the race, to get within striking distance of 3rd place.  Then all the Barlickers started coming home in quick succession, Andy Collins, Jon Cleaver and David Poole, filling four out of the top ten places.  Carl Pawson continued his recent good form to make it into the top twenty, but surprisingly did not manage to secure the 1st M45 place.  The honours for age related places went to Andrew Smith (M55) and Pete Jackson (M60).  After never winning a prize, Andrew has got one two weeks running.  Of course, the number of Barlikers in the top ten meant that the club once more came away with the men's team prize.

In the ladies' race, the honours fell to the cheerful, but determined Annie Roberts of Todmorden Harriers and she was followed home by Jackie Collins.  Surprisingly, Lorraine Slater was down in 6th place and although Lorraine is always at the peak of physical fitness, she admitted afterwards that on the night, her head was not in the right place on the night.   Hannah Newbold made up the Barlick team and together secured the ladies' team prize.  Not only that, but Jackie Collins also came away as the series winner.  Once more, it was a night when Barlick came away with more than their share of prizes and it was a good conclusion to this mid-week series.

This is well organised series and full marks should go to Rossendale for hosting these races.

4 Jimmy Craig 40:30
6 Andy Collins 41;13
7 Jon Cleaver 41:31
10 David Poole 41:57
19 Carl Pawson 43:02
29 Barrie Charnley 45:35
52 Zac Kaye 48:24
55 Andrew Smith 48:58 (1st M55)
61 Jacqueline Collins 49:32 (2nd lady)
74 Lorraine Slater 50:53 (1st W45)
76 Pete Jackson 50:58 (1st M60)
80 John Boothman 51:20
135 Hannah Newbold 59:26 (1st W23)
140 Gavin Spencer 1:00:24

Running ultra races is something else.  This particular race was 82 miles in length.  To put that in perspective, a marathon is a fair challenge for anyone.  Well this is three marathons, one after the other, with a park run thrown in at the end, just for good measure.  To do that, you have to be physically fit, but you also need mental toughness to get you through the stress to which you are subjecting your body.  Lucas Payne has both, having done lots of Ironman Challenges when he was younger. but this was something else.  Although he is fit, he probably did not put the hours in on his feet when training and it was his sheer determination that saw him come through in the end.  

He has written an account of the day, which is below.

Report

64 Jackie Hodgson 45:28 (1st LV35)

U14
1 Jacob Reeday 9.25
8 Jody Whitfield 12:57 (5th girl)

U12
1 George Collins 6:24
6 Michael Rigg-Moya 7:27

U9
1 Isaac Reeday 4:16