Having been knuckling down to get some fat off, I've avoided the pub runs a bit this year, but when I go they still remain my most enjoyable run and social of the week. What's not to like, run, beer and like minded folk who'd rather be out than sat at home watching Emmerdale. We had a few familiar unfamiliar faces at the run this week with the famous Craig, Ian Beresford and David Poole joining the regular pub run goers. It was good to see Bez as his build up to Weets starts to gather momentum at this time of year. His strava bagging is down right embarrassing. First and foremost, we must mention that 2 of our Runners were in Ron Hill Tracksters last night. They even had the infamous stirrups on the bottom of the leg. To mine and Screw's horror, the route choice had been delegated to race machine John 'satnav' Boothman. He warned me from the off saying not to blame him if we took a wrong turn. After a mile or so it soon became apparent that he was using an app on his phone to guide us through Dodgson's land. Some proper crappy running through bogs and sticky mud and we eventually came to a 2 mile stretch on the canal. Andy 'whipped man' Collins was off and instantly took 60 metres out of the following pack. It took me a mile to catch him. Then it was time to get changed and sample the delights of the Cross Keys. Whilst getting changed we realised four things, Jock had no shoes, Pooley was wearing what he had run in, Bez still dresses like a Polish refugee and the worst pair of shoes I have ever clapped eyes on were on our new recruit Baz's feet. We must've looked a right set of scrubbers. Mercilessly the barmaid/waitress/Jimmy's next bird ruined Poole. Pooley asked her where the toilets were and she responded that the "disabled toilets are shut so you'll have to use the normal ones I'm afraid!". That will teach him to stop being a scruffy Ron Hill Trackster wearer. Good craic once again and I still love the pub run although it is better when we know where we're going. Punch Bowl at Earby next week as we've kicked the Red Lion into touch due to its damp interior and poor quality ales. It's also one of the few pubs Wadsworth is allowed to frequent in the region due to his lambasting of Landlords.

During the race, Lorraine led Angela to the summit.  Then the positions changed and approaching the finish Angela was in the lead.  Seconds after this picture was taken, Lorraine moved alongside Angela trying to regain the lead, slipped in the mud and went down like a sack of potatoes.

Lorraine is unable to drive and is on crutches.  She has ligament damage, but not sure of extent until the swelling goes down.  Stitches out a week on Thursday.

Three Barlickers went over to Blackpool today and completed this half marathon in 50mph winds with 30ft waves crashing over the promenade,  making the conditions interesting to say the least.

219 Emma Bailey    1:44:37      (20th lady)
311 Richard Starkie 1:49:02
633 Jackie Hodgson 2:05:19

A very muddy and a wet and windy day did not put off fifteen of our youngsters from having a a go at the junior races today.  Although conditions were far from idea,  there were some good performances from our new group of youngsters.

U12s
32 Elliott Phillips 9.29
49 Aaron Slater 10.11
53 Connor Fitzpatrick 10.31
67 Jenna Boothman 11.04
69 Oliver Whipp 11.12
75 Bobby Mason 12.35

U10s
13 Jack Latham 9.54
15 Harley Treitl 9.57
40 Logan McCredie 12.01
59 Clover Edwards 14.05

U8s
5 George Fitzpatrick 4.43
14 Grave Hindley 5.24
27 Chloe Boothman 6.47
37 Annabelle Hoyle 7.32
38 Isabelle Chew 7.44