THIRTY-FIVE years on and the Freckleton Half Marathon is stronger than ever, attracting a record of 510 entries.
Yesterday’s gathering proved something of a Greater Manchester monopoly as Salford’s Duncan Mason fought off the challenge of Bolton rival Andrew Parker to return the fastest winning time since 1985 in the Men’s race.
And Great Britain road racer Kath Charnock (Wigan Phoenix W35) collected a third Freckleton Ladies victory, ahead of another two-times winner, Joan Jackson (Northern Vets W40) from Tameside.
Conditions were more suitable than the usual Sunday roast associated with the race.
The Fire Brigade staged their Half Marathon Championships within the event. And many runners, starved of races due to the foot and mouth crisis, flocked to Freckleton, all of which helped to swell the entry.
A frantic start saw a large group of quality runners vying for position, with the lead changing hands rapidly
But by the two-mile point, reached in a speedy 10:05, the eventual first three finishers had broken clear.
At three miles Parker kicked clear and opened a gap of 100 metres, but the experienced Mason clawed him back and from five to eight miles the two Freckleton first-timers battled shoulder to shoulder.
“It was controlled aggression by Andy, he kept pushing it,” said Mason. “In the end, I got fed up of the tension and decided to go for it!”
Go for it he certainly did. From about nine miles, the 32-year-old physiotherapy lecturer at Salford University, pulled clear and stormed home in an impressive 67:08.
Parker, a languages teacher in Bolton, dug in for second, finishing 34 seconds adrift, saying: “I trained hard for London, but got injured. I ran this to get some motivation back. It’s a good course, I enjoyed it.”
Bingley Harrier Chris Cariss took third at 69:20, Salford’s Dave Milliken fourth in 70:04 and Graham Hill, a winner here in 1999, fifth with 70:16.
Clayton’s Roger Brewster (M45), twice a Freckleton winner in the 1980s, was sixth overall and first veteran with 70:38.
Another former winner Paul Muller (Wrekin M40), had led the local challenge for most of the way, but in the final stages Poulton joiner Steve Littler (North Fylde) came storming through.
He finished eighth in a top-class line-up, returning 71:21 and carving five minutes off his personal best for the ‘half.’
“It’s the first time I’ve run Freckleton, it was good,” said Littler, who took up running to improve his football fitness. “I’m concentrating on my running now and it’s getting better all the time.”
For his part, Muller, finished 10th with 72:49, ten seconds ahead of Sunderland’s Dave Wyatt who took the Fire Brigade title.
Salford enjoyed a comfortable Men’s team win, with 16 points to Bolton’s 50, while North Fylde, led by Littler with Les Endean and Jason Barlow in support, were fourth in the team stakes.
Kath Charnock, returning to the Freckleton fray after a three year absence, posted 81:03, well clear of Joan Jackson, second at 81:03, with another prolific veteran, Sue Cariss (Bingley W50) third in 87:37.
Leading local lady was in-form Christine Toft (Lytham W35).
Fresh from her Blackpool Marathon exploits, Toft posted a very creditable 96:47.
The first Fylde resident home was Blackpool’s Brian Hall with 77:47 and John Burns (Wesham) posted 92:49 to collect the President’s Cup, awarded to the first Freckleton resident, for a fifth successive year.
Despite the quality and record turnout, Ron Hill’s course record of 64:45, set in 1969 when 45 finished, was never in danger.
The running legend himself, now 62- years-old, finished 199th with 95:45, saying: “It’s a great event here at Freckleton. I know my record will take some beating. In the meantime, I’m just delighted to be running here.”
Race organiser Richard Lancaster added: “I know there are very good reasons why so many turned up, but it’s gone really well. And I am grateful to everyone who has helped.”