This is the first in the series of Wednesday night summer races organised by Rossendale Harriers. This first one is a cracking race. After running up a lane, the race branches off to ascend through an old quarry on to the tops. On the night of the race, it was raining and whilst it felt like gentle rain at the start, once on the tops, the conditions were quite wild. The course is brilliant in that there are many features through which you have to run. Steep ascent, steep descent, bogs and on the night, there was even a bit of mist, just to make the navigation a bit more tricky - this race had it all, before completing a circular route on the tops and descending back down through the old quarry and along the lane to the finish.
Everyone, including the marshals, were thoroughly wet through by the time the race finished and it was decided to postpone any presentation until the the Whittle Pike race next week.
The race winner was Ben Coop of Bury in a time of 49:37. The leading Barlicker and 1st V40 was David Poole.
4 David Poole 52:35 1st V40
11 Robert Cranham 56:13
37 John Boothman 1:09:24 2nd V60
83 finishers