The latest in the Podium 5k Series was held at Barrowford last Friday with three Races in total featuring 28 athletes in the ‘A’ – 35 in the ‘B’ and 30 in the ‘C’ Race. With the first two sub 15 in the ‘A’ Race, the first three in the ‘B’ under 17 minutes and the first five in the ‘C’ Race sub 20 minutes once again showed that this is a race for PB’s.
BEN Interview VIDEO
(Podium 5k Photos courtesy of David Belshaw)
The Harriers had four runners out on the night and all competing in the ‘A’ Race. After winning the previous Podium in 14.59, Ben Fish was the first Harrier home in 3rd place in a time of 15.06 with Jack Nixon (14.58) in 2nd and Jack Morris (14.45) the winner. The day after the Race Ben spoke to the Club and commented that it was a “Great effort by the lads and well done to Joe and Jack on their pb’s. I could have done with a fast finish in the fashion of Mr Sutton if I was to get closer to 15 mins. Had a good start, but the Stockport lads set a relentless pace and at some point during the third lap I was jacked. Managed to hold it together and finish in a reasonable time. Speed not quite there, but strength is, won Meerbrook 15k the morning after by over a minute and felt good on the hills”.
After running the Podium 5k on the Friday night, Ben was down in Staffordshire on Saturday morning to contest the Meerbrook 15k along with 338 other runners winning by nearly a minute and half in a time of 53.49.
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Back at the Podium 5k Joe Monk finished in 14th spot and set a new PB by four seconds which is the latest in a number of personal bests set by Joe this year. Delighted with his effort Joe told the Club that he was “Pleased with the race, dropped pace slightly on the 3rd and 4th lap, nevertheless I relied on my strength and managed to knock 4 seconds off my pb, I know that I’m in 15:45 shape, just need the right race for it to happen. Well done to the lads on their performances“.
Jack Hindle was the second Harrier on the night to set a new PB, this being his second PB in a week after posting a new track 3000m PB in the YDL (Upper Age Group). Finishing 16th in a time of 16.12, sixteen seconds faster than his previous best, Jack spoke to the Club and said “After not running a 5k distance for a couple of months, i though I might as well give it a go. There’s was a good field, not as packed as usual but still good. I manage to hold pace pretty well throughout the race. But just lacked the top end speed, but that’s something to work on to go sub 16 next time. Happy with a PB and we’ll done to Joe and Ben, as well as everyone else”
John Sutton finished 27th in a solid time of 17.52 and told the Club that he was “Content enough with running inside the obligatory 18 minutes for the ‘A’ race, but after a couple of weeks decent training in the bank at last, I didn’t expect such a tough time on the last two laps. Well done to Ben, Jack and particularly Joe who I believe nipped a bit off his PB again. Good skills.”
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Townley Park 10k – July 24th
Three Blackburn Harriers in the 189 strong field for the latest Race in the Pendle & Burnley Grand Prix Series – Chris Davies, Evan Cook and David Morris.
Chris Davies had a very good run to finish second in a close run Race with winner Julian Hood (35.58). Chris came 2nd just five seconds adrift in a time of 36.03.
The month of July has seen a return to racing by V65 Evan Cook. Starting off on July 10th, Evan won the V65 at the St Annes Carnival 5k (20.58) then won the V65 at the Horwich Jubliee 5 Series in 35.17 and made it a hat trick of Age Group Category wins in the month at the Townley Park 10k coming home in 50th with a time of 44.02. David Morris (V55) finished the Race in 176th place (63.45).
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Padiham Greenway 5k – July 27th
Chris Davies had another tussle with Julian Hood in this Race with an even smaller margin of victory for Julian at this one, Julian winning in 16.21 with Chris just two seconds adrift in 16.23 in the race which featured one hundred and forty nine runners.
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Fire Station Relays – July 22nd
The Relays have been held for a few years now and the Harriers always see this as a fun event, open to all ages and abilities. Sadly it looks as though it may now be discontinued as the numbers entering are falling. However, this didn’t stop the Harriers taking twenty seven runners to the event split into nine teams of three.
The ‘Fast Lads’ – Joe Monk (13.52), Jack Hindle (13.58) and Chris Davies (14.23) came home first, second and third and duly won the Team Prize of Christmas Decorations!! There were some weird and colorful names adopted by the Harriers Teams such as ‘Two She’s and a He 2 – ‘Young Guns’ – ‘3 Amigo’s’ – ‘Too Many Cooks’ – ‘Girl Power 2’ – ‘Girl Power 1’ – ‘Ladies First’ – ‘Two She’s and a He 1’. There was an excellent run by Matt Ramsden in 5th place (14.50) and just one spot behind Neil Tattersall (14.45). Matt was followed by Leon Thomas (8th) in 15.32; Jamie Teare (13th) in 15.47; Leo Gebbie (16th) in 15.57; Danny Maynard (17th) in 16.02; Maddie Elliott (19th) in 16.20; John Cookson (24th) in 16.54; Hannah Cookson (27th) in 17.29; Eleesha Charnley (28th) in 17.41; Carly Edwards (31st) in 17.59; Amy Davies (32nd) in 18.25; Evan Cook (33rd) in 18.25; Mick Sharp (34th) in 18.30; Leah Hoole (35th) in 18.38; Danny Teare (41st) in 19.06; Freya Black (43rd) in 19.49; Kate Cookson (48th) in 20.58; Lorna Sharp (58th) in 23.04; Rachel Jones (59th) in 23.04; Nikki Hartley (62nd) in 23.31 and Lindsay Davies (65th) in 24.10.
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In the Isle of Man Championships with the Teare Brothers
July 23 and 24th saw Jamie Teare and Rory Teare over on the Isle of Man on holiday and using the opportunity to enter the Islands Championships. The lads had a great weekend with two Bronze Medals for Rory and one gold for Jamie.
Jamie won gold in the U15 1500m with a time of time of 4.46.3. The lead changed hands several times but Jamie had the edge on a sprint finish on the final straight, coming from behind to take the win. He also entered the High Jump clearing 1.40m (5th).
Rory came 3rd in the U13 75m Hurdles with a time of 14.9 which was good enough to win himself a Bronze Medal which he replicated in the High Jump when he cleared 1.30m to claim his second Bronze Medal of the day just losing out on a Silver Medal on count back.
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