On Tuesday 8 A&T turned up for the Liver Hill Fell Race at Marl Pits. It should have been 9 but unfortunately most of us were late and Helen Minshall was left behind wondering what had happened. Sorry Helen!
The start time for this race isn’t ideal and it was a frantic dash up the M66 to get to there on time. Keystone Cops at the M61 roundabout as Marcus thought he’d keep driving round it until someone pointed him the right way.
Eventually we all arrived safely meeting Pete M and Craig Little there.
It was pouring down on arrival and it was obviously going to be a muddy one. No time for a warm up, straight to the start line and GO!
Off through a big puddle and then the sprint to the end of the field and upwards. This is a race to the top of Liver Hill then back the same way. Mark Ruscoe set off the quickest as we ran over footpaths towards the first of the climbs. Not too severe a climb but conditions under foot made legs very heavy.
The rain kept pouring and the path up to the hilltop soon became a mud bath. People were sinking up to their knees at nearly every stile approach and the odd runner taking the plunge into black bog (Brenda).
Mark was first A&T at the top of Liver Hill and was soon coming back down past the others, me next followed by Marcus, Cragsy, Pete (Post Op), Brenda, Lyndsey and Abbie. The downhill was quite tricky with rain in your eyes and rocks hidden in muddy puddles to be wary of but is was still great fun.
Mark was first A&T over the line followed by me, Craig, Marcus who performed a Jurgen Klinsmann type dive at the finish line to the delight of the organisers, Pete followed closely by Brenda, Lyndsey and Abbie who had a beaming smile on his face having really enjoyed herself. Either that or chuffed at being presented a Crème Egg at the finish line.
After a quick shower it was time to watch United in the clubhouse with a pint of the black stuff... at least the beer stayed good til the end!
Brenda popped upstairs for a copy of the results and returned with a box of free range eggs! That a fellow runner was selling...only at a fell race!
What more could you ask for, free entry, a hard run out in the rain and mud, a free crème egg, a pint and some cheap free range eggs. Only a United win would have topped it off.
Well done to Lyndsey in her first fell race and Marcus for his fine effort (and dive), and apologies again to Helen. Thanks to all for coming along.
1st Ashley Holt- Rossendale Harriers 34:56
23rd Mark Ruscoe 40:29
42nd Paul Jackson 43:41
66th Craig Little 46:27
69th Marcus Taylor 46:57
107th Peter Mulleady 52:43
109th Brenda Wane 52:56
118th Lyndsey Carter 55:10
123rd Abbie Eckersley 57:08
139 finishers
Next up- Wardle Skyline Fell Race 10th April details to follow.
Any one who needs further info re fell runs my details are on the Fell Section link on the website.
Paul Jackson
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