Barrowford Grand Prix 5k – Friday June 17th
‘A’ – ‘B’ – ‘C’ Race RESULTS
Run on the very fast Podium 5k course the latest Race in the Grand Prix Series had a big turn out with 37 runners in the ‘A’ Race, 62 runners in the ‘B’ Race, 107 in the ‘C’ Race and all producing PB’s for a number of the runners.
Ben Fish won the very competitive ‘A’ Race in a time of 14.59 with just 12 seconds separating the first five runners home. After the Race, Ben commented that it was a “Great turn out from the lads. I was happy with my run, I wrote off my chances before the race, but when I got to the front I felt really good and managed to keep it going. Tim was right up in the mix, so that must have been another big pb, great run. Great to see Joe dip 16, I think a sub 9 min 3k will be next for him. 17:05 is still a top time for Chris, another solid performance. John chucked himself in the deep end and did the Harriers (and Up & Running) proud!!!“
Tim Raynes is in very good form and has set a number of new PB’s of late and this race was no exception. He came home in 3rd place with a time of 15.04 and another new PB by 19 seconds. Tim was understandably happy with his result commenting “I was really pleased with my run. Not quite sub 15, but another step closer. Well done to Ben for a great win, having front ran for the whole race. It was great to see strong performances from all the Harriers, a particular well done to Joe and Lindsay on running PB’s”.
Joe Monk is another Harrier in good form, setting a new PB finishing in 14th place, chopping 18 seconds off his previous best and told the Club that he had a “Great race at Podium, didn’t quite know what 5k shape i was in at it was my first of the year. My best prior to this was 16:13, and it’s been a real target to go sub 16. I managed to do it and was over the moon and it’s a real confidence booster to go on and break 9 minutes for 3k now”.
Chris Davies finished in 30th spot with a time of 17.05, just seven seconds off his PB and was philisophical about his Race after having raced just two nights before, commenting “My time was a good one (17:05) but a little disappointed because I was hoping that I could hit a PB on the night and shave a few seconds off my current time of 16:58. Still after having run on Wednesday night at Horwich I shouldn’t be to disappointed. Well done to the other Blackburn runners who also ran really well”.
V40 John Sutton placed 34th on the night with a time of 17.46 and spoke to the Club after the Race saying “My tendency to chase the shadows of times gone by generally leaves me rather disappointed with myself when I show up for a race these days. But the reality is that in a few more years time I will probably look back and say that wasn’t a bad time off a sketchy last month of training at 42. There’s still a sub-17 in me on this course if I can get some speed sessions in I reckon, but the clock is ticking! Top performances from Ben, Tim and Joe. Congratulations to them”.
In the ‘C’ V50 Michael Toms came home in 3rd place with a time of 18.38 which was 18 seconds faster than his last run on this Course. V40 Lindsay Davies also set a new PB on the night, finishing 83rd in a new PB time of 27.19.
There were a Series of Junior Races on the night too for Age Categories U8 – U10 – U12 – U14 featuring sixty one young runners with wins for George Fitzpatrick (U8) – Finley Stubbs (U10) – Dexta Thompson (U12) – Millie Stubbs (U14). In the U8 Age Category Race – Hannah Davies – was the 1st girl home in 4.12 and 6th overall out of the 21 runners.
Aggies Staircase
‘Starting at the top of Punstock Road, the route climbs a footpath, turns right onto the track past Robin Hoods cottage, then left to follow an enclosed footpath to the main track, and left up to Darwen Tower. It then descends through the small quarry onto the main track towards the top of Bold Venture Park, before turning right to climb steeply up a rough path known as Jacobs Ladder, then across the moor top, and on down to the foot of Aggies Staircase. Aggies Staircase is the shortest but steepest of the three climbs, and from the top you will return just below the Tower, and then descend the way you first came up towards Sunnyhurst. At the gate at the bottom turn right, retracing your steps; continue past Robin Hoods cottage, then turn left down the path to the finish at the top of Punstock Road’. (Darwen Dashers Website)
The ever popular Aggie’s Staircase Race took place on Thursday June 16th attracting one hundred and forty eight runners and among them five Blackburn Harriers.
Jack Hindle had a really good run beating the 2015 Race winner Ben Coop to finish 2nd in a time of 29.24 over half a minute faster than when he last ran the race in 2013. Then came Andy Heys in 38th posting a time of 36.37, V40 Allan Hartley (60th) in 38.48, V40 Bryan Searby (93rd) in 42.15 and V50 Richard Taylor in 102nd (43.08).
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Horwich Jubilee Road Series 2016
Two hundred and forty eight runners lined up for the second race in this years Series at Horwich with Neil Pendlebury coming out the winner with a time of 26.40 and by over a minute in front of the second placed runner.
Horwich Senior Race RESULTS
Chris Davies in his first of three Races in the next week finished ninth overall in a time of 29.00 slightly faster by ten seconds from Race one where he placed 6th in 29.10. In 59th place came V40 Allan Hartley with a time of 33.50 followed by V45 Michael Sharp in 132nd spot (37.47) and Mick Nolan in 161st place with a time of 40.01 and improvement of nearly a minute over Race one for him.
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Horwich Juniors Street Mile RESULTS
Split into two races, Race One featured 53 runners whilst Race Two with the faster runners had 17 contesting. Race One was won with a very good time of 5.29 and saw Oliver Gill (8yrs) be the first Blackburn Harrier home in 12th place with a time of 6.35. He was followed by another 8yr old – Hannah Davies – in 24th (6.59), 8yr old George Ramsden in 27th (7.04), 8yr old Isabelle Hartley (31st) in a time of 7.10 and 6yr old Lulu Sharp in 48th (9.16).
In Race Two, won in a time of 5.06, Leon Thomas placed 3rd in 5.14 with Matt Ramsden being given the same time in 4th and a new PB for him by seven seconds adding to his new 1500m PB at Wigan last week. Amy Davies set a new PB by two seconds (5.45) placing 11th overall and 2nd girl on the night followed by Saul Sharp in 14th with a time of 6.40.
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