Horwich 5 (and a bit)

On Wednesday evening an excellent turnout of 32 A&T athletes competed in the 4th race of the 2012 CLGP, the Horwich 5. This race is pretty tough at the best of times but due to part of usual course being closed to access it was rerouted. The reroute entailed a long steady climb, on a mostly cobbled surface, before almost falling off a cliff to make the run down into a narrow gap. It then made it's way back to the usual course route and to the hill everyone loves to hate. Then we had it all to do again! The race distance in the end was slightly above 5 miles with most people measuring it on their Garmins at around 5.3 miles, so it was the Horwich 5 and a bit!

Alex Foster, who recently qualified to represent Great Britain in the 2013 European Triathlon Championships in Turkey, was first back with 31.51. He said he only came for a training run! Well done Alex. Next back and hot on Alex's heels was Simon Ford with 32.02. Mark Riches had another good race and finished just behind this duo with 32.19. A quartet of runners all finishing one after another came next with Scott Christey (33.44) just finishing ahead of Mike Reason (33.45) and Gary Stevens (33.57) just getting the nod ahead of Ian Newcombe (34.00). Steve Coleman, more accustomed to longer distances, must have just started to warm up as he finished with 34.50. Shaun Moran and John Lee on their first race back since the Manchester marathon finished a second apart with 34.57 and 34.58 respectively. Colin Kay, who I got the feeling later regretted entering the series, finished with 36.02. Dale Kenyon, who just about managed to make the start on time, had a good race to clock 36.22. Terry Gardiner (37.45) just about managed to pip our first lady back Josie Maley who finished with 37.47. It's good to see Josie back racing and I should stop the habit of being ahead of her for the first half mile as it's not good for me! Craig Bradbury finished not too far behind this duo with 37.58. Carole Baines had another good race to complete in 39.17. Steve Foster (40.02) managed to outrun an improving Susan Fletcher (40.09). Ian Hamilton had a decent race to finish with 40.41. Suzanne Gregory (41.32) finished just ahead of the Baron (41.43). Next came KellyAnne Towns who put in a good performance with 43.10. Ian Bushrod (43.27) had a good race to out run Nasser IsmanEgal (43.33). Garry Baines came in just behind this duo with 43.41. Kim O'Neil had a good race and finished with 44.23. Next was Louise Dobson running off her Sangria and double dessert belly with 45.46. Good to see Brenda Wane in an A&T vest again and she finished with 47.06. Michelle Fuller opened her 2012 road race account with 47.54. Michelle Fairclough stuck to the task, helped by Mark Lysycia taking pictures at the top of the hill we love to hate, and finished in 51.04. Catherine Hodgetts followed Michelle in shortly after with 51.56. And completing the A&T line up and sprinting in was Clare Unsworth with 57.30. I've never seen Clare move so fast but I think she may have set a dangerous precedence because we'll all now be expecting to see it again in the races to come!

The next race is a new addition to the CLGP calender being the Three Sisters 5k to be hosted by Wigan Phoenix on Wednesday 13th June. Hope to see another good turnout for this one. Pictures courtesy of Mark Lysycia.