The season starts of with ever popular Parbold Hill  (13^th February) six and a bit miles of  mixed fun. Very muddy so make sure that those off road shoes are well tied up. Can you hurdle the carpet covered fence?

Then we’re into Roddlesworth Roller. 14^th March along the reservoirs and into the woods gradually and not so gradually climbing. The finish is very fast maybe because everyone wants to get back to the school hall for the awesome cake selection.

Next up is the first new race (for us) Rivington Pike.  Sat 3^rd April. Starting out from the Crown Hotel Horwich  (keeping ‘em near to Merseyside) up to the bleak moors. A short snappy race (course record is 15.53) that will set you up for some Easter Egging.  

Then it’s our first foreign race Llantysilio. Race starts from Sun Inn (another pub start) Rhewl near Llangollen. Beautiful part of Wales. This is a club fell runner aficionado Gill Darby’s recommendation so it’s sure to be a good’un.

Waterloo 15 K is next and I think that there’d be riots in the streets of south Liverpool if this one wasn’t on the list.  The race is on May Bank Holiday Monday, 3rd May, starts and finishes at the Merchant Taylors Playing Field, Hall Road, Crosby.

Now I know that I said that races that had to be booked in advance were off the list well I lied. The Wincle Trout Run (5th June) is so good that in spite of the fact that it needs advance booking it’s in.  Go to wincle.org.uk. The  £6.50 entry fee gets you into the very quaint charming Cheshire village fete (family friendly race) and you get a whole fresh trout. The day that Neil and I ran it was totally idyllic 5.5 miles through babbling brooks and sun kissed fields (Tolls Farm Wincle Cheshire.)

 People have begged me with equal fervour to include and drop this battle twixt man and equine beast but Man vs. Horse 12^th June will not be included if we get a team into the Welsh castle relays.

Then on 19^th June out to Lancashire for a good old fashion straight up and down hill race. The Great Hill Race 1300’ in 5.75 miles. The Striders have got prizes in the past for this event, BEER prizes!!!

A big success last year the Bollington Nostalgia Race (11th July) bridgendcentre.org.uk for details.

The Wizard Multi Terrain Race, Alderley Edge, Cheshire no date for this one but it should be end of July and mid week. Get someone to drive so you can enjoy a pint afterwards. Then it’s Tegs Nose trials field Bullock Lane Sutton on Saturday 7^th Aug. This one’s held in conjunction with Sheepdog trials so make sure you complete the right entry form. 7.5 miles, macclesfield–harriers.co.uk  for info. This another Gill Darby hot tip.(or was it Korky)

 21^st August Race The Train (why?) but it is dead popular lots of Striders make a drunken weekend of it. It’s about 14 off road miles against a train that is always on time.

The autumn brings the Wirral multi terrain series and we have selected the hardest race, Royden Park 4 miles of rocky crags and woodland. Always a good turn out from the striders showing off their fading holiday tans. By this stage the competition is hotting up.

Normally the challenge has drawn to a close at this point but this year ….. We are going to include the sandstone trail ‘A Race’ another race that needs booking so go to http://www.deeside-orienteering-club.org.uk/sstrail/ 3rd October (that really does make me a big liar.)

 
This year you will need to complete only 5 races to be entered. So your best 5 races will be entered. Your position in your gender and age category within the PLS competitors for each race will be your score. The lowest score overall wins. If there is a tie your next race result will be used to decide

Frank Martin