The annual Guys 10 Mile Road Race at Bilsborrow attracted just eight Preston Harriers.  In bitterly cold and very testing conditions, with patches of frost making for some tricky conditions underfoot, the first Preston Harrier home was Rob Affleck, 10th overall in 58.03, having had to fight off a fast late charge from local runner Paul Mannion. 

The second Preston Harrier over the line was Neil McDonald who had a strong run but ultimately lost out on his target going under 60 minutes by just 50 seconds, finishing 20th overall and 5th V40.  Dave Watson came in 34th overall and 6th V40 in 1:02.25 followed by the ever improving Stephen Mort who finished 61st in 1:07.34, for the second week running posting a PB.  Stephen Young crossed the line in 1:12.21 and Colin Lambert finished in 1:11.25. John Langhan had a storming finish with a PB of 1:13.24.  Completing the team entry was Carl Wynne who finished in 1:29.17.

The race was won by Simon Mills of Sale Harriers in 52.24.

The second Mid-Lancs Cross Country race at Liverpool also saw the second race in the UKA/Mc Cain Cross Challenge. Freezing fog enveloped Sefton Park for most of a very cold day. There were not too many Preston Harriers out but Florie McLeish entered the Cross Challenge and had a magnificent run in the U13 girls over 3k finishing 2nd in 11:05, with the winner Abbie Hetherington of Carlisle also taking the tape in 11.05.  Helen Clitheroe ran the senior women’s race over 8.1k, also in the Cross Challenge, and finished 7th in a strong field in 27.35.

On the 29th November Dolly Capstick of Preston Harriers ran in the undulating Ravenstonedale 10k, near Kirkby Stephen, finishing in 51.36.

Preston Harrier, Margaret Parkinson ran the Salford Women’s 5¼ mile road race on the 30th November, finishing in 49.30.

In the David Staff Memorial Fell Race on the 30th November, over 5.1 miles and 1200 feet of ascent from Sunnyhurst Woods, Darwen, Preston Harriers Alan Metcalf was 22nd in 39.48 and Leon Mabire 24th in 40.04.  Ben Fish of Blackburn broke the 2004 record of 31.43 with his time of 31.29.

The first Best 5k Memorial Race took place on the 30th of November in and around Moor Park, with six Preston Harriers competing.  Philip Nicholson and Dave Watson pushed each other throughout the race with Philip just beating Dave on the line; their times of 17.51 and 17.52 giving them 4th and 5th overall.  Neil Mc Donald was next in 9th overall in a time of 18.40. 

Carla Dawson was the first female Preston Harrier and 4th woman in a time of 22.08.  Carla was followed by Felicity Cross in 25.45 and Maggie Lees in 26.22.  There times were a testament to their coaches and efforts down at the track on Wednesday nights.  Also a well done to the organisers who had to contend with locked gates, computer failure and the bitter coldness, but never the less delivered a great days racing.

Eighteen Preston Harriers ventured into the murky fog at the Wesham 10k.  In freezing conditions Matthew Livingston won the event in 33.28.  Fatherhood has certainly put an extra bounce in his stride.

Steve Hallas was pushed all the way to the line by Charlie Pass of Wesham but was able to power his way to 2nd overall in 33.40.  Gethin Butler, finishing in 33.46, had to fight off a strong finish from Jim Pendrill of Wilmslow Harriers. The top 5 places were decided by just 20 seconds difference which shows how healthy the competition was on the day. 

Next to cross the line was Dave Watson in a respectable 36.45. With Matthew, Steve, Gethin and Dave finishing in 1st, 2nd, 4th and 17th Preston Harriers won the team prize; remarkably for the first time in 10 years. The strength of competition was still evident throughout the race with Neil Mc Donald being pressured right to the line with a dead heat in 37.24. 

The ever improving Darren McDermott completed the race in 41.03 and other Preston Harriers running on the day were Phil Davidson in 43.03, Phillip Lakeland in 43.38, Anne Moir in 46.08, Andrew Ashcroft 50.01, Janet Glasgow in 50.26, Teresa Cepesa-Lucas in 51.09, Carl Wynn in 52.41, Stephen Massam in 53.45, Maggie Lees in 54.20, Karlyn Forrest in 54.24, Janice Johnstone in 57.43 and Maureen Whitmann in 59.17, a PB to round off a cracking day for all.  Special thanks go to the event organisers and marshals who endured the bitterly cold weather.