As usual this Mid Lancs fixture was held in conjunction with the UK Cross Challenge, which means we get to run with Britain’s best runners like this year’s men’s winners Andy Vernon pictured above. When I say run with I actually mean run in the same race as (the top men & women had done the obligatory post-race interview & started their warm-down by the time us mere mortals finished!)
Only 14 A&T runners made the 40 minute journey to Liverpool this year with a few of our triathletes taking part in an organised swimming event
The 3 A&T ladies Carole Baines, Emma Higgins & Kim O’Neill with timing chips attached were the first to tackle this very run able course. It was a very big field (163 finishers) & the winner, Hatti Dean, completed the 8.1K course in a remarkable 27.05! Carole (38.52) was 1st A&T finisher followed by Kim (42.45) & then Emma (48.52) – well done ladies
Next it was the turn of the men (9.8K this time.) We queued for quite a while to pass through the chip activation tent, which meant that the 500+ runners were set off about 10 minutes late. It was a very fast start but luckily we started near the back so had time to get into our running! Lewis Eccleston had another good run finishing in a time of 35.46. Simon Ford was next A&T finisher (37.39) but Alan Hilton had the run of the day finishing just 10 seconds behind Simon. Yours truly (Mark Riches) was next A&T finisher (38.14) followed closely by Troy Topping & Shaun Moran, who were neck & neck right to the finish with Troy just nicking it 38.32 to 38.33! Scott Christie (40.05) & Terry Gardiner (42.51) were next home with Steve Foster (44.44) Ian Hamilton (46.00) & Paul Basnett (50.09) completing the line-up – well done lads
We had all resigned ourselves to the fact that Brenda’s café was ‘closed’ as Brenda was swimming with some of A&T’s other triathletes so we were all pleasantly surprised when Emma had brought warm Vimto & chocolate fingers – thanks Emma
Next race Saturday 3 December at Marl Pitts – see you all there
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