Bolton Harriers took a small but competitive team to the 2021 Gin Pit 5 at Tyldesley, with two members venturing onto the course for the first time and two veterans of previous events.
Thankfully the days’ rain abated during the event, keeping conditions somewhat favourable underfoot.
Rachel Bailey performed strongly once again, retaining her title as first lady, holding off the two-pronged challenge from Ramsbottom Running Club and finishing in 34mins 25 secs. No stranger to the winners spot this girl just goes from strength to strength and is going to need a bigger trophy/medals cabinet.
Thomas Gore making his debut at this race, described how he took things steady on the first lap and then once he had the lay-of-the-land powered ahead on the second larger loop, coming home first for the club in 12th position with a time of 34mins 11 secs. Tom, a plasterer by trade, was building on his excellent results in the Manchester Marathon and at the Red Rose Cross Country and seems able to deal with all surfaces smoothly.
Another debutant, Dominic Sohor finished in 35 mins 7 secs (20th position) and said, “I was keen to tackle the Gin Pit 5 after other club members had described it as ‘a cracking race’ and ‘a total mud bath’. Thankfully I managed to stay upright despite wearing wildly inappropriate shoes.”
Rounding out the men’s team was Mark Garner (37th position) who has been entering lots of races of late and finished strongly surging past his rivals on the final slope, finishing on 38mins 2 secs; cementing the men’s team’s position of 3rd overall.
