Pennine Bridleway Relay- by Paul Jackson 

Last Sunday saw A&T first ever entry into this 47 mile relay around the Mary Towneley loop of the Pennine Bridleway.

We entered a Mixed team consisting of 5 male 5 female runners, split into pairs to run legs varying in distance from 5.5m to 12.5m.

This event attracts all the top fell running clubs and other renowned road clubs and is very popular.

Leg 1- Jean Mann/Maria Lowe

At the mass 8.30am start from the Fearns Community sports Centre in Waterfoot, Jean and Maria set off on their 8.5 mile/1361’ ascent leg. The leg culminates with a climb from Holme Chapel to Long Causeway road at Blackshaw. Both ran into the change over point having put the club in a very respectable 50^th place out of the 101 starters.

Leg 2- Mark Ruscoe/Paul Jackson

Maria handed over the dibber, and off we went on the longest leg of the route, 12.5 mile/1560’ ascent around Gorple and Widdop reservoirs. We had a reasonably strong run and picked off more runners than passed us, despite having being nearly run over by a tractor. We were happy to be running into a chaotic changeover at Callis Bridge to hand over to ….

Leg 3- Craig Little/John Foulds

This leg is 8.5 mile/1570’, so the hilliest of all the legs. Nevertheless, Cragsy and John put in a really strong run, picking off 5 more teams and letting no one past. Cragsy’s bike training paid dividends on the climbs, and John has returned to A&T in fine form ready for this year’s fell season. The final run in is to the Summit pub, Littleborough where the next team were waiting.

Leg 4- Lyndsey Carter/Sarah Jackson

At 5.5 mile/753’ascent, this is the shortest of the legs, but one which some clubs put the ‘racing snakes’ in as it also has the least ascent. So the girls were up against some good athletes. They dug in hard and put in a fantastic effort to get to the hand over at Whitworth Golf Course with the club still in a great position.

Leg 5- Brenda Wane/Marcus Taylor

The final leg is 9.5mile/1390’ ascent , so it’s no easy run-in. Brenda was carrying a niggle, but put that to the back of her mind and ran hard. Marcus’ hill training is paying off too. Both ran in strongly back to the Community Sports centre where we were waiting and was only a matter of time before we were having a ‘team debrief’ in the café over a brew and a hot pie.

Having spoken to all the competitors from A&T, it is clear that was a really worthwhile day out. A cracking event, superbly organised by our Run The Moors friends at Rossendale Harriers.

Considering the quality field of competitors that run in the event, we can all feel proud of our team effort which gave us 50^th team out of 101 overall, and the 8^th team out of 19 in the Mixed team categories.

Thanks to all who took part for being in the right place at time, with the right kit. Well done to all.