PRESTON CITY GAMES

PCC with UCLAN have organised a series of sporting events, on Saturday June 8th. We, “Preston Harriers” have been asked to present a 5k. race and a 4 x 1500m. relay. The 5k. will be at 10.30 am and the relay at 1.00 pm. Are you available to help at either of these ?  (marshalling; timing; finish funnel) Please contact me This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it   or 01772 493098

RACE FOR LIFE

On Sunday June 16th. at 11.00am, many ladies will be running/jogging/walking around Moor Park. They are raising funds to support  Cancer Research. If you can be there to support this event, by being around the course. Again, please get in touch. 

Lytham St Annes Road Runners hosted the latest Inter Club Race along the sea front at Lytham. After a tentative start, by mile 1 the race developed into a real Preston Harrier rip up with David Rigby, Rob Affleck, Gethin Butler and Gary Pennington pushing hard for outright victory on the night. At the line Rigby outsprinted Affleck to record 25.51 for 1st overall with Affleck at 25.53 for 2nd overall and1st MV40, and Butler in close order with 25.59 for 3rd overall just four days after his superb run in the Manchester Marathon. Pennington recorded 26.16 for 4th place. Creditable top ten places were also seen from Steve Hallas and Paul Lightfoot with Hallas posting 27.40 in 7th and Lightfoot 28.19 in 9th.

Following some misunderstandings at the first Mid Lancs of the season I would like to clarify the 'selection' policy I used. As in previous seasons, Mid Lancs  has always been a turn up on the day and compete competition, with this in mind I followed the same format that has been used for many years (although it appears has never been written down) of first come and you get a place.
We are allowed (track) 2 counters and 6 non counting runners. (field) 2 counters and 3 non counters except HJ which is 1 non counter.
I would like then to explain how the 'selection' for the next mid lancs will work. There will be 8 track places available. The first 8 athletes to declare on the day will get those places and the same with the field event. I have said to those athletes that were unable to compete in their favoured event last weekend I will give them first choice at that event on the 18th, if they turn up early enough to register.
I would like to point out that talking to other clubs at the weekend we are not alone in this 'selection' policy, Blackpool even move athletes who compete regularly out of events to allow new athletes to compete.

Caroline Warden, Mid Lancs T&F Team Manager

Last Sunday saw the streets of Manchester full of athletes taking on the re-routed Manchester Marathon with 6 Proud Preston Harriers toeing the line outside the Old Trafford Stadium. British Legend Dr. Ron Hill got everybody away with Andi Jones making his intentions very clear with a storming start, putting clear distance between himself and the chasing pack. Gethin Butler was the lead Preston Harrier, making his presence felt amongst the cream of the north.

Preston Harrier Emma Essex-Crosby was first lady in Saturday’s 10km Hawkshead trail race. Clocking an impressive 1.02.04, she was 16th overall and over a minute ahead of the next lady. The race, starting and finishing in Hawkshead village and taking in tough multi-terrain trails, including the infamous coffin trail, was won by Helm Hill athlete Will Jackson in 47.46. There were 249 finishers. Meanwhile, husband Chris (Blackpool, Wyre and Fylde ), finished a delighted 9th in the 15km event.

Twelve Proud Preston Harriers ventured south to the capital for the annual London Marathon last weekend, all keen to put the months of training to good effect for the finishing line opposite Buckingham Palace. Metronomic pacing saw Rob Affleck storm the half marathon point at 1.16.32, giving him the confidence to push hard to record an elite overall placing of 56th and 5th MV40 in a fantastic new PB time of 2.33.25.

Another creditable performance was seen from Gema Adams to rank 68th in her age category in 3.05.40 and she was followed in by Darren McDermott (3.11.22), Brian Dewhurst  (3.13.01), Kevin Curran (3.11.12), with Preston Harriers’ next lady Claire Mc Dermott in close quarters with 3.37.28. Steve Townhill finished in 3:29.31 and Catherine Slater, who had prepared very well,  recorded a personal best for the marathon distance and completed in 3:31.59. 

Two Harrier double acts worked effectively together with Stephen Mort and Stephen Needham crossing the line in 3.39.36 and Vince Walker and Greg O`Brien, good friends, ran together through the whole route and finished in 4:27.09.  Completing the Preston Harrier entry was David Wakefield, who had a rough last few miles due to the heat and was forced to slow down, finishing in 4.56.32.

On Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st April 2013 seven Preston Harriers competed in the Lancashire and Lancashire Schools Combined Events Championships at the Wilson Playing Fields track at Clayton le Moors.
The combined events ranged from decathlon over two days for the U20 and Senior Men to mini pentathlon for School Year 3 girls and boys.
For Preston Harriers, the performance of the weekend was by Luke Farnworth who competed in the County U17 Mens and Schools Intermediate Boys age group.  This age group completed an Octathlon over two days.  Luke’s first day started with 5.60m in the long jump and then 28.33m in the discus, 33.71m in the javelin and 53.3s in the 400m for a score of 1949 points.  On the second day Luke started with 14.6s for the 100m hurdles and then 1.66m in the high jump, 8.80m in the shot put and finally 4:57.0 in the 1500m for a total of 4160 points, and the gold medals.

The start of the much anticipated local road inter-club season at Blackpool last Wednesday saw a first defeat for Preston Harriers’ open team since June 2009. A strong Blackpool team took 1st place by only 6 pts from Preston, with the first ten to count for each club. There was a big field, with 235 runners completing the course.
The ladies, also reigning Champions, had a 3rd place but that was also the case for last season’s opener at Blackpool, so there is plenty of time to mount a challenge again and a number of runners were also missing.

Entries close on 4th May for the Lancashire T&F Championships.

Click here for an entry form