Sun 16th March 2025, Wigan
21 Senior athletes turned out at the Wigan Festival 5k, part of the Preston Harrier Road Club Championships. The race supports the Joining Jack charity, raising funds to support research into Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, a debilitating muscle-wasting disease for which there is currently no cure.
1000 runners lined up to take on the 5k challenge with live music and plenty of enthusiastic supporters present at the start/finish and around the course.
Preston Harriers didn’t disappoint, taking both the Male and Female team prizes, 3rd Lady finisher, numerous age category podium finishers, a bucket load of Personal Bests along with this being the first official 5k race for a number of runners who have only previously ran this distance at Parkrun.
1st home for the Harriers was Martin Phillips, 4th overall with a time of 16:38, followed by Andy Cottam (v45) with a new PB 17:23, finishing 1st in his age category. Richard Southworth finished next with a new PB of 18:13 followed closely by Gareth Fairclough (v45) also with a new PB of 18:23 and finishing 3rd in his age group.
In addition, Jack Cooper ran strong with19:05, Hamish Symon in his first official 5k race ran 19:09 with Dougie Potter (v40) beating last years’ time with19:29. Other strong runs by the Harrier men: Tom Prescott 20:04, Garry Stubbs-Bronson (v50) 21:03 and 2nd in his age category, Paul Jeffries (v50) 21:28 and 3rd in his age category, along with David Link (v55) 26:25 and Alan Littler (v70+) 27:13 and 3rd in his age category.
1st Preston Harriers Lady over the line and 3rd overall was Katie Littlefair in her first ever official 5k race in an amazing 18:49. Katie was followed by Emma Watson 20:07, India Thomas 20:29 in also her first official 5k race and Cathy Flitcroft (v60) 21:56 and 2nd in her age category.
Also having amazing runs were Patricia Hodgson 23:01 in her first official 5k, Victoria Duckett (v45) 24:01 and 2nd in her age category, Dorothy Parkes (v40) 26:45, with Joanne Moxham (v45) 27:07 and Agnieska Kowalczyk 28:57 both running in their first official 5k race.
Cathy Flitcroft