It’s turkey delight for record breaking duo (From Lancashire Telegraph)

It’s turkey delight for record breaking duo

3:30pm Thursday 22nd December 2011 in Athletics By Chris Flanagan, Sports reporter

A BITTERLY cold day did not prevent new course records from being set during the Hurst Green Turkey Trail Race on Sunday.

The race attracted a total of 157 runners but the course had to be shortened to 4.7 miles to avoid ice on the roads as temperatures plummeted over the weekend.

The conditions, though, did not stop Salford Harriers athlete Andi Jones claiming victory in a new course record time of 26mins 45secs.

Jones runs for Great Britain in mountain, cross country and marathon races, finishing seventh at the European Mountain Championships in Turkey in July.

His wife, Donna, took second in the women’s race but she was edged out by England under 17 mountain runner Melanie Hyder, of Helm Hill, who set a new female course record in 31mins 49secs.

Both record breakers received a Christmas turkey as part of their prize.

England junior fell runner Max Wharton, from Calder Valley, took second place overall in 28mins 54secs, while Blackburn Harriers’ Dominic Mahoney was the first local finisher.

Mahoney was third overall and the second junior to cross the line in 29mins 3secs, with his club taking the team prize in both the men’s and women’s sections.

Accrington Road Runners’ Tara Krzywicki, who has represented Great Britain in road, track and cross country races and holds the record for the summer Hurst Green trail race, was third female in 32mins 21secs.

Clayton-le-Moors Harriers athlete Andrew Stubbs was fifth overall and the first over 40s runner to finish ahead of Blackburn Harriers’ Paul Guinan, who was seventh overall.

Rossendale Harriers’ Thornton Taylor was 12th and the first over 55s runner, while over 45s athlete Gary Pearse was 13th.

Jack Dugdale was 14th, five places ahead of fellow Clayton-le-Moors Harrier Alan Life.

Blackburn Harriers’ Beckie Taylor was fourth in the women’s section and the second female junior to finish, just ahead of clubmates Elizabeth Greenwood and Rhiannon Wickham.

Accrington Road Runners’ Nicola Wood was the eighth female to finish with Rossendale Harriers’ Sarah Toms ninth.

Clayton-le-Moors Harriers athlete Wendy Dodds was 10th and the first over 60s female to finish, while over 40s runner Julia Hartley, of Accrington Road Runners, was the 11th woman to cross the line.