Report from Matt Podd:

My wife’s aunt lives in the village – near Clitheroe, and has been tempting me with their local race for years, and this was the year. So after an unplanned visit to the Vets with Bobby the poorly cat off I went to Lancashire to have a coffee and get changed for the race at Miss Great Britain’s house (Sally’s aunt was this in 1963). So up to the local pub to collect my number for this 5’ish mile mainly off-road race. The birth of baby Jesus was celebrated by about 90% of the runners wearing some form of fancy dress, some of which was appropriate to the season and some was not in the best possible taste. Not to be outdone I sported a Santa hat. Man stands on the wall, shouts things we can’t hear and we’re off, at which point the running waiter opened his champagne. A mile or so of uphill road shook the field down and we got ahead of most of the extreme fancy dress. So onto a mix of fast and slippery uphill trails; fell shoes were the order of the day. Out onto the moor and two thigh deep wades, which didn’t dignify those in costume and so to the descent through fast and treacherous woods, at this point I was battling with Donald Trump – running in a suit with a latex head of the future of the free world. I’m pleased to say that he can be beaten by fair means. Lovely descent to a surprising finish – racing hard uphill – just came round the corner and there was the funnel!

It had attracted a quality field and was won by Chris Farrel of Horwich in 26.54 with Tom Adams second in 27.23. Julie Briscoe of Wakefield was 1^st Woman and 4^thoverall!! in 32.39 with 3 women in the top ten. Chorley’s finest was there and I had the privilege of meeting Mrs Fishwick who was also racing. I finished in 77^th/265 place in 42.49 and was 6/13 MV 55. A very muddy day out, but a big bar of chocolate for all finishers, and I got to use Miss GB’s shower.