Norman beats the fog at Longridge 7-mile race (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Norman beats the fog at Longridge 7-mile race

4:10pm Thursday 15th December 2011 in Athletics By Gary York, Sports reporter

A TOTAL of 233 competitors turned out for a foggy 28th Longridge 7 mile Christmas Pudding run on Sunday morning, with several East Lancashire runners on show.

Nobody could quite live with the pace of Andy Norman, from Altrincham and District AC, who achieved a remarkable winning time of 37 minutes and 50 seconds, which proved three-and-a-half minutes quicker than runner-up Glyn Kay or Horwich RMI Harriers.

Chris Barnes of Blackburn Harriers led our local entrants home, finishing ninth overall in 43:40.

Clayton-le-Moors Harriers trio Ian Greenwood (45:50), Darren Holland (46:15) and Michael Toms (46:52) achieved personal bests at the distance as they came 19th and 21st respectively.

Darwen Dashers’ Gary Taylor was 45th, with Philip Morton of Accrington Road Runners in 58th, and Chorley Harriers’ Dan Edwards in 60th.

Clayton’s Ted Orrell was the leading V70.

As a festive treat, there was a free Christmas pudding to everyone that took part.