A&T x-country – Liverpool 27 November 2010 by Mark Riches

The second Mid Lancs race was also the first McCain Cross Challenge race, which incorporated the European Cross Country Trials so there were a lot of class athletes on show like Andy Vernon pictured above who won the senior men’s race

A&T managed to turnout 14 runners despite the freezing temperatures. However, only 13 of them managed to finish

5 of our 6 ladies set off at 13:20 to tackle 1 small & 2 large laps (8.1k). Amanda didn’t make it & joined in just as the leaders completed the small lap (I will make a manual adjustment to the Club Champs results!) Our ladies all did themselves proud in a very strong field. Josie Maley (34.56) was first A&T lady (just inside the top 100) with Amanda (35.55) 1 minute behind having joined in part way through. Brenda Wane (37.25), who currently leads the veteran standings in the Club Champs, was next followed just under 2 minutes later by Michaela Shaw (38.59). Michelle Fuller (43.27) & Abbie Eckersley (44.05) finished strongly completing the line-up

No sooner had she finished, Brenda was heading home to go swimming! Where does she get the energy?

Next it was the turn of the men with 3 large laps (9.8k); first A&T finisher (as usual) was Simon Ford (36.05) with another impressive run. Gary Atherton (37.32), in his debut season on the country, finished next with another good run. Troy Topping (38.12) was next A&T finisher despite ‘misplacing’ the envelope containing his number & timing chip in the 20 minutes since I gave it to him & having to stop at the registration desk on his way to the start to get another number! Gary Stevens (40.32) & Jonathan Hyde (40.33) had a terrific battle. Terry Gardiner (41.04) & Steve Foster (44.14) both ran well

Next race Leverhulme Park, Bolton Saturday 4th December – see you all there