The Lostock race of Leo Pollard Memorial Fell is again a huge success

There were a good number of runners during the annual annual race of Lostock AC, the Fell Leo Pollard Memorial race.

It was the fifth race of the race which bears the name of the deceased president of Lostock AC, Leo Pollard, who was also an eminent member of the climbing club of Achille Ratti and a very accomplished falling runner. This year’s race was the second time that it was managed in collaboration with the Horwich race festival.

It was a fantastic event with 151 participant. The course was to be the same as last year, however, the mast route was closed at the end of the limits around the buildings of the mast, and the decision was made to miss the road outside and rear to the trig point. This reduced the route to 5.25 miles, with an altitude gain of 1,000 feet. As a result, it was a more competitive and rapid race.

The highest point of the race is the section of mast with a merry -go -round to the pike where the runners are entitled to a good old -fashioned mud and a magnificent view by looking towards the pike and in the surroundings.

Due to the hot evenings, the finish line swarmed with flies, so to avoid being bitten, the prices were given quickly while the runners crossed the finish line.

The winner was Ben Coop, from Bury AC, who finished in an impressive 36 -minute 50 seconds, followed by Luke Foley, Horwich Harriers, in 37:14 and Patrick Brown, of Preston Harriers, in 37:53. The first woman was Anya Grindley, from Chorley AC, in an epic 49:50, followed by Kelly Stauton (Wigan Harriers) in 50:13 and Louise Waller (Rossendale Harriers) in 50:18.

It was good to see the family of Leo who was there to support the race and the grandchildren Rob Green Jr, Yves Pollard and Rob Garstang who ran the race.

The spot prices were given by the family and were awarded to Mark Checkley, to be the happiest runner, and Tony Varley and Karen Moorfield, for having finished the five races of Leo Pollard Memorial Fell.

A thanks went to Woodland Trust and United Utilities for allowing runners to run on their land and the family of the salmon of Rivington Barn for the use of the parking lot and the field. As usual, all the profits of the race are given to Bolton Mountain Rescue which offer security coverage for the race and £ 750 have been collected.

Janet Rhodes, Paul Lacey and Gareth Pratt went east to participate in the ultra trail skyline ultra run race. Starting and ending in Otley is a nice route of 32 miles and 3,500 climbing feet on trails, fields and a very good quality road, with incredible views throughout.

This is an incredibly sympathetic little event in its second year. A huge 41 of athletes cut the line at 9 a.m. in the pouring rain and cold temperatures more in line with March than in June. The rain sold after a few kilometers and the participants could pack the raincoats for the duration.

The trio remained together, chatting along the route and enjoying the landscape. They only got lost two or three times and have probably added an additional mile to the distance. The highlight of the race for the runners was to discover a photo shoot for a pair of newlyweds and to have to wait to avoid them!

Thelostockers all crossed the hand line in hand in about seven and a half hours. Rhodes was also the third woman and received a special medal.

In total, 13 Lostockers participated in the third race on the Champions in the middle of the week – Astley Park Race Two.

Dave Parry took over the house for the first return of Team Green in 26:24, followed closely by Rhodes, who finished in 26:27 with another fantastic age category victory and the fifth woman in the general classification. David Wilkes was hot on his heels, in 27:08 – his first attempt on the course with a very credible third place MV60.

Philip Holland ran another big race despite his difficulties with his breathing towards the end, ending in 28:41. Johanna McManus improved her time for the first race of a second in 29:01 to finish third in a very competitive age category and was also ninth woman.

The other improverses of the first race were Gareth Pratt (29:22), Chris Baker (30:37) and Heather Soden (31:25). Mike Berry was another to make his first attempt in this year’s series, finishing in 32:45.

Solid performances in a similar time came from Terri Alléd (33:34), Katie Edern (35:10) and Lynda Hardman (35:14), while Rachel Stevens (35:25) was an appropriate soldier, in competition despite a breast infection.

Luke Baker participated in the Junior race and obtained a PB series, traveling a mile in an extremely impressive 5:49.

What do you get when you mix nine enthusiastic lostockers, 580 companions of 5K runners and a load of 10,000 runners, and a more zigzag city center than Strava can not manage? The Ironman Night Run, of course, Bolton’s own tour of roads, park trails – and the favorite taxi drop by Peter Kay.

The Ironman Night Run is the official “Racult Act” for Ironman and Lostock by Bolton, who presented themselves in force for their second race of the week. The Le Mans Crescent burst with hundreds of runners ready to face the most beautiful 5k roller coaster from Bolton. There were 580 5K runners, a swarm of 10,000 warriors and nine brave lostockers ready to make their mark.

The route was your usual Bolton labyrinth: Sprint out of the Le Mans crescent, Dodge Potholes, turn left at the confusion, loop in Queens Park and vice again via enough twists and turns to make your navigation cry by Steelle. The great finish? The welcome of a hero on the emblematic Ironman carpet, outside the town hall.

Luke Barker was the first at home for Lostock, stealing the course in a brilliant 22:22, finishing 37th in the general classification. Jo McManus was hot on his heels, finishing in 22:29, knowing 39th place in the general classification, the sixth woman and a brilliant second place in the FV40 category.

Hazel Hatfield stormed shortly after with a 22:43, obtaining 43rd place and the third in the F45 category. Soft, fast and making it all to be boring effortlessly.

Then comes Chris Baker, crossing 23:06 for a solid 52nd place, followed by Rachel Hancock, who propelled the house in 24:24, finishing the 82nd and replacing third in the F50 category.

Markus Stevens deserves a special “cry”, he grafted hard and paid with a performance under 30, at 29:47 for the 209th place.

Lynda Hardman kept well tidy and consistent, ending in 27:57, slipping in 163rd place, while Gillian Caldwell put a phenomenal performance, blocked 30:57 to take the first in the F70 category and finish 251st.

Rachel Stevens could not finish the race as she stopped halfway to help her sister, who took a fall.

Parkrun results: Bolton – Rachel Hancock 28:38 (second age category); Haigh Woodland – Chris Baker 24:15, Brian Halton 24:59, Beverley Atherton -McKenna 27:15 (Second age category), Matt Withers 27:38, Ian Burns 29:15 (Second age category)) Markus Stevens 31:27, Greg Kilshaw 33:40, Andy Lycock 33:55; Heaton Park – Lynda Hardman 28:07; Peel – Louise Read 26:04 (second age category); Princes Park – Mark Checkley 31:32.