Holly Bradshaw was in action again soon after the London World Championships where she finished 6th with a clearance of 4.65m. On August 27th she was in Beckum, Germany – (Internationales Stabhochsprungmeeting der Frauen). Holly cleared 4.70m to place 4th in the competition behind Morris (4.80m), Newman (4.75m) and Silva (4.70m).
Beckum Video of 4.70m clearance
Just before her final competition of the year – this coming Friday in the Brussels Diamond League – Holly spoke to the Club about the competition in Germany “I had so much fun out in Germany. As it’s coming to the end of the season you are never really sure what to expect from yourself but I’ve been feeling good and still strong and fast. I just went with the aim of enjoying myself and whatever happened happened. Having no pressure made me jump super well and ended up jumping 4.70 from short approach which was great. I am now looking forward to finishing my season at the Diamond League Final this Friday in Brussels. I will be back on full approach and looking to have the same attitude – have fun and see what happens.”
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Trafford BMC & Grand Prix Races – August 29th
Ben Fish ran his fastest 3000m race since 2007 winning in a time of 8.27.41 ahead of a field of twenty athletes. In winning the race in a seasons best time, Ben was just four seconds away from his personal best set ten years ago which is some achievement and afterwards, as always he commented not only about his race but about other Harriers efforts too saying “Great to hear Rob got a pb in the 800 in the BMC, an end to a great season. I finally felt like I’ve really got going in the last three track races, just ran out of races, but very happy to finish off with my best result. I’m sure I can go further next year”. (Results)
Rob Warner was racing in his penultimate track race of this season in the BMC Gold Standard 800m and ran a great race to win in a new PB time of 1.55.50. Afterwards Rob – returning the compliment to Ben told the Club “Thanks Ben! A great run from you too, I managed to watch the race and saw you battling all the way to the line which was great……I was really pleased with the 800, normally I start to run out of speed at this stage of the season so it’s really promising that I’ve managed to produce some top performances at the end of the season. I do regret that I haven’t been able to give the 800 as good a go as I would have liked for a quick time, I went through 400 in about 57.5 yesterday so again, ran quite even splits, so I would have liked to have gone through 400 a couple of seconds quicker and see if I could have hung on for a quicker time. Overall though, had my best season so far and looking forward to finishing it off next week at Watford! battle”. (Results)
Steven Snape ….was tackling his first ever 800m race on the track which isn’t bad for an athlete who used to run 100mile ultra Races – some range there, of that there is no doubt!! Steven finished 5th in 2.03.80 and told the Club “I really enjoyed my first 800m track race. Sad for the track season to be finished now but XC is always a good battle”. (Results)
Joe Howe who has set new personal bests at 1500m and 3000m Steeplchase this year ran his first 800m since May 2016 placing 8th in a time of 2.06.76 and speaking to the Harriers after the evenings events were over said “I was a little disappointed with the time but I went off hard and optimistic and didn’t have the strength over the last 200. I can’t really complain because I haven’t really been focussing on the 800 this season”. (Results)
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Trafford Bank Holiday Open meeting – August 28th
More sunshine for the athletes at the traditional August Bank Holiday Trafford meeting which saw some good performances again from the Harriers young athletes including Liberty Thompson – Ben Boocock – Joel Booth – Kady Thompson – Charlie Ball – David Holman – Dexta Thompson – Nicky Saunders.
U13’s Dexta Thompson and David Holman tackled the 1500m which saw Dexta take 2nd spot in a time of 4.54.2 just six tenths behind the winner – David cracked the 5min barrier for the first time and was delighted with his new PB of 4.59.75 a time over a second faster than his previous best.
U11 Kady Thompson came home 6th in the 150m in 27.29 and then finished 18th out of 28 athletes in the Long Jump (2.92m). U15 Charlie Ball was running in his first ever competitive race when he entered the 800m finishing 5th in 2.25.51 which represented a pretty solid start. U15 Liberty Thompson finished 6th in the 75m Hurdles in 14.20 before trying an 800m coming home in 5th spot with a time of 3.01.07 and not a distance she is used to running.
Ben Boocock came 3rd in the U13 Boys 75m Hurdles in 13.42, a time just two hundreths outside his personal best. U13 Joel Booth was just a fraction away from his previous best too in the 100m clocking 14.37 in 4th position. U13 Thrower Nicky Saunders had another good day winning the Discus with a throw of 29.25m, followed by a win in the Javelin (25.72m) and a 3rd spot in the Shot Putt with 7.16m.
Royal Rumble – Bank Holiday Monday August 28th
Seventy runners completed this years Royal Rumble run from the Royal Pub in Tockholes on a lovely evening, tailored made for the Race which was won by Stephen Hall in a time of 34.59. Course Records are held by Jack Hindle (34.15) in 2016 and Elizabeth Greenwood (41.10) in 2015.
First Harrier home was Paul Brindle in 2nd place & 2nd V40 – with a time of 36.28 followed by John Sutton in 5th & 3rd V40 – in a time of 36.42. This race for John followed a 5th place and 1st V40 (36.13) in the Harrock Hill Race held recently featuring two hundred and nineteen runners. (Harrock Hill Race Results).
- in the Haroock Hill Race Series John Horrocks and John Sutton took 4th and 5th places respectively (Series Results)
Next Blackburn Harrier to come through the line was Joanne Nelson in 16th overall and took the 1st Women’s Prize in a time of 41.00 which broke the Female Course Record held by Elizabeth Greenwood of 41.10. She was followed in by V40 Craig Greenough (19th) in 42.14, V50 Ian Clarkson clocking a time of 46.15 in 32nd place and V55 Martin Kerry in 37th with a time of 48.01.
And finally – 12yr old Kyle Taylor-Pomfret after having competed at the Mid Lancs medal Meeting during Saturday August 26th in Blackpool, stayed on for the evening and ran the Blackpool Illuminations 5k where he finished 8th and 2nd 12yr old athlete in a time of 19.51.2. (Illuminations 5k Results).
