Dave
Neilands reports .
. . .
They say some people will do nearly anything to appear on television.
This surely cannot be the reason that Garstang Running
Club’s John Gott and Chris Doggett have run the Great North Run nearly twenty times
each. With what was described by some as perfect conditions for
running a Half Marathon Trevor
Thistlethwaite led home the Garstang contingent in 2330th place
in 1 hour 40.27 minutes. He was followed by new member Angela Norris in 24111th place in 2.23.49
with John Gott 24251st in
2.24.05, Chris “I do not
like the sun when I run “ Doggett,
30275th in 2.40.25 with new member James
Newburn 33151st place in 2.54.16.
Richard Roberts stayed closer
to home for the British Masters
(Vets)) 10 mile road championship at St.Annes. In a very
classy field of 188 Richard finished 64th in 1.04.12.
It is well known that journalists never make up stories, so quite why
this amateur “hack” should try to report on races as if he
was “Johnny on the spot” can only be speculated upon.
Not being present on the day can only lead to errors so first of
all thanks to Dave Old for pointing out that Tina Hynes also completed the Brinscall Triathlon in 64th place in 1.38.27.
It gets worse, at the Garstang
Half Marathon there was a tie for first place with Nigel
Thompson of Lytham actually crossing the line hand in hand(?) with his
clubmate Stephen Hargreaves. More importantly than that ex club
chairman Mike Hall finished
as the first vet 65. However even more importantly than that Paul Conlon wishes it to be known
that contrary to the report he was not 9 seconds slower than last year
BUT 9 seconds faster than last year. He also suggested that this
correspondent had used this information to highlight the fact that he
had been beaten by a much older colleague! In true journalistic
style one could not possibly comment on this accusation except to
confirm that Paul was beaten by 60 year old birthday boy Geoff Lund, and the distance?
About one third of a mile – does retirement beckon?
(8/10/06)
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