Mac in top form at Haweswater

Some of the Preston Harriers runners at the Haweswater Half Marathon

Run almost entirely alongside the Haweswater reservoir, over an undulating and hilly road, it must be one of the most scenic half marathons in the UK.

Bright sunshine, but with a cold breeze greeted runners, and the fells looked resplendent with a good covering of snow on the higher ground.

Neil McDonald had a very good run finishing in 32nd place overall and in a time of 1.27.10.

Alan Martin was next Harriers athlete, 85th in 1.33.37 and he was followed in by a group that included John Bradley (1.34.42), Alan Appleby – as second vet 65 (1.35.02) – Russell Codd (1.36.04) and William Johnstone (1.36.43).

Codd actually ran dressed as an elf, in preparation for running in the same costume at the London Marathon in April. Stephen Mort finished the race in 1.39.54 and Steve Needham in 1.40.30.

There were runs also from Andrew Tranter, Dolly Parkes, Sue Wickham, Steve Jackson, Angela Tranter, and Kari Edwards.

The race was won by James Buis (Border Harriers) in 1.13.59 and the first lady was Heidi Dent (Howgill Harriers) in 1.22.56 and she was 12th overall.

The annual Brighton Half Marathon had just one proud Preston Harriers representaticve, Rob Affleck, who mixed up with the best of the southern counties. Affleck was under pressure right at the start due to the blistering pace set within the pack of leading athletes.

As the race progressed, Affleck positioned himself within the second pack and was pressurised constantly over the closing stages of the race.

Showing true grit, whilst being cheered on by his family, Affleck used his strong pace to power through the last mile with a fantastic personal best 1.09.42, first MV40 and seventh overall in a high-class field.