On Sunday morning A&T had a good turn out of 27 athletes for the opening race of the 2012 CLGP campaign at Leverhulme Park, Bolton. The distance was 5k with one particularly difficult hill to climb at between the 1 and 2k marker. The race, for A&T, produced some outstanding performances, some PBs, some prize winners, some comebacks, some new faces and some faces worthy of winning gurning competitions as people took their bodies through the pain threshold! I know I for one was in alsorts of pain hanging on for the best part of 4k after a more than exhuberant start!
A total of 246 runners completed the event in which Michael Sawrey of Stockport Harriers was first home in 15.42. For A&T Lewis Eccleston carried on from where he left off in 2011 with another outstanding race to claim the 5th position prize with 16.22. Next home was Colin Rigby who put in another good run taking 20th place with 17.26. John Lee just managed to finish ahead of Jason Owen, who was running in A&T colours for the first time, as they both put in good times on a difficult course with 19.05 and 19.10 respectively. Next was Josie Maley, our first lady home and 5th lady in the race with a great time of 19.37. Ian Newcombe, I believe running his first road race in A&T colours, came next with 20.03. Robin Chan was hot on his heels and finished like a train with 20.07. It was good to see Terry Gardiner nearing his best with 20.22, which was a great run considering he'd done a 17 mile, 15 mile training run the day before! Next home it was good to see Craig Little racing in A&T colours again with a very solid 20.27. Following Craig home was Craig Bradbury with 20.51. Another getting back to somewhere near his best was Dave Crowe producing 21.46. It was good to see and I think I need to buy a bike! The Baron came next with 22.07, with Suzanne Gregory closing me down toward the line with 22.15 and taking the female vet 35 prize in the process. Both the Baron and Suzanne managed to hold off the self proclaimed 5k specialist Nasser Ismal-Egal, who ran in 22.17. Mark Crowley produced a good run with 22.40 to out race Andrew Howell, who was running for A&T for the first time, with a solid 22.50. KellyAnne Towns, another recent addition to A&T, came in next with a very good 22.57. Steve Eldridge thought he'd make a guest appearance and come for a Sunday morning run with 23.04. Next came Kim Oneill in her first 5k race and putting those track efforts to the test with a good opening account of 23.35. Ian Bushrod put in a decent performance with 24.23, and just managed to outrun Barry Allman, who appears to be starting to move back in the right direction with 24.30. Let's hope so! Next came Anne Garvey, who fresh from a night out on the tiles ran in a very creditable 25.21. Not sure I could have done it! Majorie Leigh, whilst admitting 5k's are not really her thing, put in a good performance to take the female vet 60 prize with 26.33. Next home it was good to see Brenda Wane back racing in an A&T vest with 26.55. Let's hope we see more of her in the races to come. Cath Hodgetts ran in next with 27.51 and completing the A&T line up was Clare Unsworth attaining her PB with 30.35. This is after being out with injury so perhaps more to come from Clare in the near future.
A special mention goes to Louise Dobson who started the race but pulled out after about 300m unable to breathe properly. Hopefully Louise will get everything sorted soon after recent illness and injury. Maybe when we hear she's back drinking cocktails rather than lattes will be the sign. Thanks also to the numerous supporters and cheerleaders along the route as it certainly does help, even if some of us are too busy concentrating on just breathing to acknowledge it at the time. The next race in the CLGP calendar is the Trotters 5 hosted by Burnden Road Runners which is on Sunday 4th March. Hope to see you all there.
Full Results http://ukresults.net/2012/clancs5k.html
Video of start http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WpaFqxIUc9Y
Video of finish http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOfjjtf8NIk
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