Four Villages Half Marathon

The first major race of the year took place on Sunday 21.1.06 with 22 of the EPRC Glorious Gold athletes competing in the 26th running of this prestigious and challenging event. Oblivious to the overnight torrential rain and early morning grey skies and drizzle, the usual hardy bunch of race addicts descended expectantly on Helsby. Their fortitude and dedication was suitably rewarded as the sun made a welcome appearance to bathe the race in a warming glow, which despite the cold swirling wind had a beneficial effect on finishing times. 

First home for the club was Paul Robertson. After administering numerous Machiavellian understatements as to his intent and fitness along the way, Paul finisihed in a time of 1hr22m55s. He, like several of the club’s runners, would surely have registered an even quicker time had he started closer to front of the field and avoided the early congestion. Hot on his heels was his old mucker Keith Jones clocking a very respectable 1hr 24m26s. Next in, and setting a testing marker for others to aim for this year, was wily veteran Matt Whitfield in a course PB of 1 hr25m9s. Matt’s last mile sprint was sufficient to see off young buck, Steve Laker, who bagged 1hr25m20s. Despite suffering through the middle part of the race, Mike Burns was not too far behind in 1hr27m25s, keeping just ahead of the now seemingly obligatory cavalry charge of large numbers of the club’s closely matched seasoned racers, which had Danny Legg clocking a much improved 1hr30m52s, Brian Griffiths 1hr 32m40s, John Jennings 1hr35m38s, John Hawker 1hr35m46s, Dave Nalder 1hr36m14s, Keith Musson 1hr?, Alan Durston 1hr41m31s, Tommy Downey 1hr45m9s, a suffering Mark Dodd, who unusually found himself ensconced in this bunch of racing desperados, 1hr42m42s, Nigel Crierie 1hr50m3s, Chris Bennion 1hr51m, and Keith Curtis 1hr52m9s.

Not to be outdone by the men, the Ladies ensured yet another excellent turnout did not go unrewarded. Leading home the Ladies was Alison Macdonald, showing a return to form and a glimpse of better things to come, finishing in an encouraging time of 1hr36m14s. Next home was Madeleine Bird in a sensational new distance PB of 1hr 47m42s, thereby surely putting herself in early pole position for most improved runner of the year. The provision of mutual support and encouragement helped Debbie Hawker and Natasha Hadley finish strongly in times of 2hr6m28s, and 2hr7m7s respectively, with both ladies showing that with some sustained and focused training there is a great deal more to come from each of them.

Sunday’s performances bode well for the forthcoming Borders League race on 4 February 2007, when maximum attendances for both Gents and Ladies is required if we are to maintain our challenges for the Division 1 Titles. See you all at Christleton.

Paul Robertson

Keith Jones

Steve Laker

Brian Griffiths