The final Fixture of the Red Rose League took place on Saturday 7th December at Marl Pits….and for those who like steep climbs, lots of mud and thrills & spills, Saturday was ideal and a number of Harriers made their way over to test themselves in very trying conditions……and as usual, all of them ended up with smiles on their faces.

Red Rose 4th and Final Race of the Series Results HERE

Red Rose League 2013 Series Results HERE

In the U11 Boys, the Teare brothers completed 3 of the 4 Races and on Saturday Jamie finished 9th (7.30) which gave him a Series placing of 7th overall in his first Cross Country season. Rory came 31st on the day and 35th overall, again in his very first season – so a great performance by both boys.

The U11 Girls Race produced a winner on the day – Amy Davies (7.33) – with 3 girls from Bury AC right behind her. Adding a 2nd, 4th & 3rd in the other Races, ensured that Amy finished 2nd overall in the Series. Eleesha Charnley had a cracking run to finish 10th (8.12). Amy Dowsing took 18th place (8.57) and Alayna Irvine 33rd (9.44) to make Blackburn the second team on the day to winners Bury AC.

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Natalya Irvine competed in the U13 Girls race, placing a strong 4th (10.39) behind winner Eve Hutchinson from Hyndburn.

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In the U15 Girls, Grace Handley, who loves the mud and said after winning the race in 16.19 Marl Pits has got to be one of the muddiest,steepest courses I have ever ran, automatically making it one of my favourites! I absolutely loved the course and can’t wait to run it again as an u17 next year!” Ever improving Megan Clarkson took a really good second place to Grace (17.38) and Rose Abbott who had also run in the Blackburn Schools Cross Country Race in the morning, finished 16th (22.13). All of which meant that the Girls Team came 2nd on the day to winners Rossendale Harriers.

Liz Greenwood didn’t run on Saturday, as she had already won the Individual title by winning the first three Races outright and told us that I was really pleased to win as I enjoyed all the races especially the longer courses and the team coming second was a bonus!”

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In the Senior Women’s Race there was a great run by Helen Leigh who finished 2nd (21.06) overall to Dionne Allen (19.56) from Leigh Harriers and in the process pipped Katie Buckley of Bury AC who came 3rd (21.19). The strength of Helen’s run can be seen in the fact that the winner on the day also won the Series. After the race, Helen remarked – not unsurprisingly, we may add!! “I think most would describe this course as tough, boggy and steep. I’d describe it as ideal!” Jackie Taylor was our other Senior Woman competitor finishing 38th (26.16) in a field of 83 runners.

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Eight Blackburn Senior Blackburn Men out at Marl Pits, earning them a good 3rd Team place behind Bolton and Rossendale. First home was Stephen Chew in 9th place (30.01) followed by Chris Davies 19th in 32.24. Just behind was Matt Nuttall (22nd) 32.35 with V45 Chris Balderson running his first Cross Country for Blackburn in 42nd (34.04) and Chris Barnes 47th (34.21). Solid runs from Allan Hartley (119th) 39.22; Ian Clarkson (139th) 41.43 and Paul Wilkinson (140th) 41.46 completed the Team for the day.

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Blackburn Secondary Schools Cross Country Championships at Witton Park Dec 7th 2013

The first eight runners home in each of the Races at Witton were rewarded with places in the Town Team which will compete in the Lancashire Schools Championships on the 1st February 2014. Good runs there with a top 5 place will secure selection for the English Schools Championships which are held in 2014 on March 15th.

We don’t have official results for the moment, and we will add them when they come through, but these are some of Blackburn Harriers from their Schools and Age Group who definitely qualified : 6th form boys –  Rob Buckley, Chris Richardson-Dulling who he ran an age group up to make a team and Gareth Johnson (Gareth is actually a sprinter, but turned out for the school to make up the Team. In the 6th form girls: Katie Buckingham  and Nina Stirrup. Year 10/11 boys: Liam Atkinson and Byron Abbott. Maddie Elliott and Rose Abbot also qualified.

Photo’s below are Seth Elliott; Maddie Elliott; Brenna McPartlan; Rose Abbott; Baylie Thompson; Jack Wilkinson; Katie Buckingham Thomas Harbour, Christopher Richardson-Dulling and together Rob Buckley, Byron Abbott and Liam Atkinson

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Robert Buckley, Byron Abbott & Liam Atkinson- Blackburn Schools XC

Robert Buckley, Byron Abbott & Liam Atkinson