Canadian winner as more than 350 runners take on Freckleton Half Marathon

The Freckleton Half-Marathon took place on Sunday and was won by Canadian John Mason in 1hr, 07mins, 19secs – the third-fastest time since the course was remeasured in 1982 and four minutes better than last year’s winning time.

The race, starting and finishing on Bush Lane Playing Fields, formed the traditional centrepiece of Freckleton Club Day and was accompanied by a two-mile fun run.

Organiser Luke Frost said: “John is the grandson of one of our founder members and he comes over for the race every year, though he has never won before.

“Conditions were good, with a nice breeze.”

Winner Mason got the better of two Freckleton favourites: second-placed Ben Fish of Blackburn Harriers has won the race nine times and third-placed David Rigby from Salford Harriers was seeking a hat-trick after winning in 2016 and 2017.

Fish was 38 seconds behind the winner in 1.07.57, with Rigby third in 1.09.19 out of 356 competitors.

The first Fylde coast club athlete home was Lytham St Annes Road Runners’ Joe Greenwood, who finished 12th in 1.22.15, followed by clubmate Thomas Howarth, 19th in 1.25.00.

The first lady home was Trace Allan of Southport Waterloo, 49th overall in 1.31.53.

Allan won by almost a minute from Jessica Kennedy in 1.32.46 (54th) and Rochdale Harriers’ Jennifer Pilling in 1.33.16 (56th)

Again it was LSARR who led the way among Fylde coast clubs as Michelle Hook was fourth lady across the finish line, just one place and six seconds behind Pilling in 1.33.22.