LOUISE Blizzard’s recent trip to Cyprus was certainly no holiday as she took part in four races in as many days.
The Warrington Athletics Club masters athlete made the trip to take part in the Leptos four-day challenge featuring four races of varying distances and terrain, totalling almost a full marathon’s worth of running in searing heat.
She ran superbly to win the women’s over 45s age group in all four races, starting with a 6km time trial that she completed in 26mins 3secs.
The following day involved a hill race over 11km, which she finished in 1hour 11mins 25secs – the 64th-fastest time of those competing.
A half-marathon followed as she finished 52nd overall and eighth in the women’s standings by clocking a time of 1hour 51mins 6secs before finishing the challenge by completing the Paphos City 10k in 45mins 36secs.
Closer to home, Jordan Jones was in dominant form at the Wesham 10k road race as he came home nearly three minutes faster than his closest rival.
He did so in a personal-best time of 31mins 36secs – six seconds quicker than his previous best over the distance.
There was more 10k success for clubmate Dave Gill, who won the over 65s age group at the Doncaster 10k road race in 39mins 32secs having raced as part of a 15-mile training run.
More road race joy for the club came via Dan Schofield, who won Warrington Running Club’s latest 5-mile series race in a personal-best 28mins 53secs.
Claire Andrew was the first woman across the line in 32mins 58secs while Georgina Walker – running for her first claim club Lymm Runners – was third in the women’s race in 36mins 21secs.
Meanwhile, nine Warrington Athletics Club members were in cross country action at Liverpool’s Sefton Park as they competed in the British Cross Challenge on Saturday.
The club’s top performer was Esme Heavey, who ran well to finish 18th in the under 17s women’s race, clocking 16mins 12secs in the process. She was followed home by clubmates Imogen Wharton (28th, 16mins 38secs) and Hannah Hull (52nd, 17mins 56secs).
Emily Kinsey clocked 12mins 1sec in the under 15s girls race to place 57th with clubmates Sinead Gregory (85th, 12mins 49secs) and Sarah Ashcroft (93rd, 13mins 2secs) finishing close behind.
The final Warrington representation came courtesy of Orla Gregory (76th, 17mins 43secs), Jess Connolly (88th, 19mins 11secs) and Ellen Turnbull (91st, 19mins 35secs) in the under 20s women’s race.
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