A baker’s dozen of Horwich Harriers took part at the first round of the 2025 Central Lancs Grand Prix - the Bolton 5k at Leverhulme Park - last Sunday.
Marcus Taylor led the charge, stopping the clock at 18mins 29secs to take first place MV50 to open his GP title defence. Nipping at his heels was young Harry Yates, with a brilliant 18:34, while Adrian Bramham was first MV60 (18:52) - just 24 hours after winning his age category at the Parbold Hill race, despite vowing never to race on consecutive days again. Another super-vet was Gareth Webb (19:48), kicking off his season as the fastest V65 over the distance so far this year.
Chris and Emma Essex-Crosby have been running for more than 30 years, but this marked the first time they competed for the same club, as Emma debuted her new Horwich vest. Emma’s 23:42 was her speediest 5k in a few years and meant she was sixth FV40 and first Horwich lady. Meanwhile, Chris ran a perfectly-paced race to take fifth MV45 (20:15). Sean McMyler clocked 21:24 and relay stalwart George Butler 22:09, while Gary Porteous (21:40) was back for another bite of the cherry after tasting overall series victory in the MV55 category last year. Another husband-and-wife team was Jason (23:15) and Janet (30:22) Middleton, who took a week off from their regular parkrun programming, and Diane Furlong clocked 25:13, while Mary White was second FV70 in a time of 26:41.
Ryan Snee continued to mine his rich vein of form en route to the London Marathon with fourth place and a new PB of 1:13:29 at the Media City Half Marathon. It bodes well for his ‘A’ race in ‘the big smoke’ in April, where he’ll be hoping to better his 2:36:30 from Malaga in December of last year.
Rob Jackson took a significant step up in distance from his usual 5k. The man has some serious pedigree, though, and proved he could still go the distance, clocking 1:25:26 to finish second in his MV55 category. Jonathan Jenkins also took on the twisty course, crossing the line in 1:35:50.
At Parbold Hill Race, with the first V60 Adrian Bramham (49:15) were Layne Mercer (second MV55, 53:46) and Michelle Tunney (third FV40, 59:04). The 54th edition of the prestigious race was the usual muddy 6.75 miles up and back around the eponymous hill near Skelmersdale.
In the clag-shrouded hills of Bowland, Sam Fairhurst and Steph McKee took on the five-mile (1,250 feet) Bleasdale Circle Fell Race. Competitors cursed the poor visibility in a race which usually affords views of Cumbria, North Wales, and Blackpool. McKee was sixth lady in a time of 53:05, while Fairhurst was second in 39:11, 30 seconds in arrears.
Parkrun tourists this week were Andrew Storey (28:21) at Waterwork Parkrun, in Belfast, Paul Kaye (22:30) at Burgess Parkrun, in London, Isaac Parker (18:51) at Storey’s Field, Cambridge, and Brendan Bolland (36:20) at Keswick.
