Leg 1 runners fresh and ready to go. Two mens and two ladies teams. Andy Gibbons, Lesley Watson, Mary Green, Dave Stephenson, Andy Siddle, Paul Mitchell, Sue Hall and Jenna Killock. Dave’s photo.
Sue was on her first off-road relay and had stepped in as one of the precious reserves. Sue ‘was absolutely dreading doing this, and was worried I would let the B team down and was not looking forward to it at all. Even noticed at the start it looked like I was the only one without any proper trek/off road shoes. However, the sense of achievement I have got going from a very average 10k road runner to a ‘bit of a fell runner’ is amazing.
Lesley & Mary take a well deserved sit down after Leg 1. Lesley noted ‘ I love the relays as they are fun, you meet new people and the reccies are a laugh. I had an amazing partner who gave her all on a very tough uphill run’. Photo – Barbara Carney.
Leg 2 runners ready to go Lisa Pearson, Ghazalah Shah, Sue Becconsall and Ali Dewhurst. (PS – team numbers the wrong way round). Ghazalah was new to off-road relays and ‘enjoyed her recce and the race’. Lisa and Ghazalah are ‘definitely on for next year’ . Great to see Sue racing again after a long struggle with back trouble, and Ali running despite a few post-marathon niggles. Photos – Barbara Carney.
Before Leg 3. Joanne Sutcliffe, Sophie Findlay, Becky Weight and Vicky Omelianovicz. All looking forward to getting back to Laycock for the tea and cakes in the village hall. Photo – Eliza Findlay. Eliza, fresh from being part of the winning ladies team at the Eldwick Gala Fell Race, was very proud of her Mum.
Joanne & Sophie still smiling as they set off. Vicky & Becky pushing hard to catch the next team after helping some lost Horwich Harriers lads round Leg 3. Photos – Eliza Findlay.
Marisol Carerra-Vivar, Annmarie Roper, Michelle Woodrow,and Alana Gill at the start of Leg 4. Photos – Barbara Carney and Geoff Thompson.
Leg 4. Great action shots. Fantastic scenery. AnnMarie said ‘big thank you to Marisol for staying with me its the hardest race i think i have done xx’. We’ve all been there; doing leg 5 with a very patient Ruth Whitehead is indelibly printed in my (Becky) memory. Photos – Geoff Thompson.
Michelle noted ‘ Post race leg 4 ladies teams – we are all shattered but look deceptively fresh with the sun shining! Well done all today’
Meryl Levington (Dodd), Faye Firth, Shona Stone and Jo Buckley at the finish. Meryl happily joined in from her Durham base with ‘ I’d love to run – happy to take on whatever leg I’m given as I’m slowly getting fit at the moment’. Faye, just getting back to running after the arrival of her second baby who is now 6 months, said ‘we were a fair match. Meryl was stronger on good surfaces and I was better on the rough and downhill’
Shona and Jo after the 11.4m on Leg5. Jo was glad to be paired up with Shona and Shona, who has been racing well this year enjoyed a pushy long run with Jo.
Gathered at the end, to cheer Leg 5 runners in, pick up a bit to eat and a drink and meet some of the others in the teams. Many thanks to Barbara Carney for on the day support and lots of great pictures from Dave Stephenson, Barbara, Geoff Thompson, Michelle Woodrow and Eliza Findlay