When you start out in athletics as a youngster in whatever the event, you don’t usually have a target in mind. Sometimes you start because your friends are involved, your school recommends you should have a go, you are naturally fit and energetic, or you just love the idea of having a go to see how far you can get. There are a mutitude of reasons why – but started you did. David Holman started his competitive athletics with Blackburn Harriers as a top of age U13 in 2017 and has trained and competed every one of those eight years as he moved through the age groups to where he is now, an U23 athlete. In 2024 as a first year U23 David set his personal bests for 800 (1.51.97), 1500 (3.44.66), Indoor Mile (4.00.40) and Indoor 3000m (8.08.11). Having run 4.00.40 for the Indoor Mile, his ambitions turned to not only running a sub four minute mile, but to be the first Blackburn Harrier ever to do so – and that is precisely what he did on Friday night, February 7th in the US at the Doc Hale VT Meet in Blacksburg which took place over the 7th and 8th of February. In a race won by George Couttie in 3.55.44, David came home in 5th spot clocking 3.59.99 to be the first ever Blackburn Harrier ever to run a sub four minute mile and breaking his own Club Record on the way. David then ran for the team on Sunday in order for them to achieve qualification for the Nationals in the Distance Medlay Relay which they did, with David breaking the school record for his leg. After his sub four minute mile, David spoke to the Harriers about it, telling us “So happy and proud of myself to run sub 4. Wanted this so much and my dream has finally come true. Didn’t feel the best during the week and today, but I pushed through and made sure I got the job done. I feel very privileged to be the first sub 4 minute miler in Blackburn Garriers history. The hard work doesn’t stop here, racing the 3000m in Boston next week, so let’s see what I can do there.”

David Holman

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Having already run for England at the Cross Country Internationalin Spain recently – placing 3rd – Blackburn Harriers Isabel Holt had been selected again to run for England’s U20 team at this weekends cross country Home International held at Temple Newsam in Leeds on Saturday February 8th which was combined with the Cross Challenge. Isabel continued her exciting and consistent form as she came home in 4th place overall and 2nd counter for England in a time of 19.16 and was delighted with her run, telling the Harriers after she had finished the race that she “Felt like I had a strong run and I was feeling really good and held 2nd for a while but just couldn’t quite hold on towards the end but feel like I raced with a new mindset today and I’m still really pleased.” Also running at Leeds was U15 Millie Jordan where she finished in 9th place in a time of 14.45. (RESULTS) — (VIDEO of all the Races)

L-R Eliza Nicolson – Isabel Holt

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The England Athletics U15/U17/U20 Indoor Championships took place over the weekend of February 8th and 9th at the EIS in Sheffield. U20 Daniel Nuttall was competing in just his second reason of the Indoor season, clocking 7.49 in his Heat of the 60m. U17 Tomi Birch ran in Heat 4, taking 4th spot in 7.74 and then ran a new PB of 7.71 in the semi-final (6th). On day 2 – first year U20 Millee Schofield qualified for the semi-final in 25.62 whilst in the U20 Men’s 200m Charlie Unsworth won his Heat to go forward to the semi-final in a time of 21.84 alongside team mate Charlie Palich in Heat 6 who clocked 22.58 to just miss out on qualification. In the semi-final of the Women’s U20 200m Millee Schofield placed 5th in a time of 25.75. On to the Men’s 200m semi-final which saw a great run from Charlie Unsworth – clocking a new PB of 21.63 in winning the race and qualify for the Final. Tamzin Osborne was in the Pole Vault Final featuring 14 athletes and she continued her good form this year with a clearance of 3.10m in 7th place. When the 200m U20 Men’s Final came round, Charlie Unsworth was lining up after posting 21.63 in the semi-final which was a huge Indoor personal best and 0.05 better than his outdoor best. In the Final, which had been described as anyone’s race, Charlie clocked 21.94 to take the England Silver Medal the winner posting 21.58.

Charlie Unsworth

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Staying with Indoor athletics U17 Tamzin Osborne had a busy weekend a week ago which saw her compete on Saturday 1st February at the Vault Manchester at Sportcity – this is a great event with 3 beds and 7 competition pools from beginners to elites which runs to international rules as it’s a world indoor tour challenge event  – meaning that Tamzin competed as an U18. She finished clearing a height of 3.02 in 8th position in a mixed age pool and was 3rd U18.  (Results). On Sunday she was back at Sportcity – competing in the Sale Open Winter Series having another good consistent day as she cleared 3.01 to take 2nd place in the U17 Pole Vault Competition. (RESULTS). Blackburn Harriers had a number of athletes out at the Sportcity Open meeting. New member Claudia Longton(U17) clocked a new PB in the 60m of 8.71 in 4th spot in her Heat followed by first year U17 Evie Fort matching her personal best of 8.82 as she came 2nd in her Heat alongside Holly Moore who set herself a new PB in the same Heat (3rd) of 8.85. Top of age U15 Tomi Birch then went and won his Heat of the 60m in a time of 7.87 whilst James Acton-Grieves (U15) ran a seasons best 60m in his Heat of 8.72. Top of age Caris Peter-Thomas ran her first ever Indoor 60m – coming home in 2nd place with a time of 8.07. Dana Juma, another top of age U15 was just outside her personal best in the 60m, clocking 8.78 in 5th place as first year U20 Harvey Holden ran 7.75 in 3rd place in his 60m Heat. After winning his first 60m Heat, Tomi Birchran a second 60m clocking 7.74 in 2nd spot.Evie Fort and Holly Moore took on the 200m after running the 60m earlier and finished 1st and 2nd in their Heat – Evie winning in 29.48 with Holly in 2nd (29.66). Harvery Holden who had earlier run the 60m, then took on the 600m for the first time Indoors, clocking 1.37.82 in 2nd place. In final field action of the day, Dana Juma set a seasons best distance of 8.67m in winning her Shot Putt competition whilst James Acton-Grieves equaled his personal best in the High Jump with a clearance of 1.45m.

Tamzin Osborne at the National Championships

Tamzin Osborne at Sportcity

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The rain held off and conditions were good for the penultimate fixture in this years Mid Lancs Cross Country fixture held at Towneley Park in Burnley. (RESULTS). One of the runs of the day came in the U15 Boys race which saw William Grundy lead from gun to tape as he won the race in a time of 12.26 with team mates Theo Robinson in 5th place (12.55) and Liam Bennison (16th) running 14.24 making up the team which took 2nd place with 21 points behind Preston with 17. Forty four runners in the U11 Girls race which had six young girls in from Blackburn Harriers. Sophie Douglas led them home to a 6th place finish in the team race as she placed 15th (8.16) alongside team mates Scarlet Hamil in 25th (9.02), India Gooden 29th (9.18), Ruby Stizarker-Philips in 36th (9.45), Scarlett Cothliff (41st) in a time of 10.38 and Amelie Holden (42nd) in 10.51. The Club didn’t have any U11 Boys or U13 Girls out on the day but in the U13 Boys race Max Unthank led the team home to a 4th place finish as he ran 10.48 in 15th place with team mates Theo Addy in 20th (11.05) and Ryker Hanson in 21st (11.13). The U15 Girls race had just twenty four runners – among which were Charlotte Smith coming home in 11th spot running 11.09. Just 19 runners in the U17 Men’s race which saw Logan McCredie run a solid race in 10th spot (19.56) with team mate Loucas Lancashire in 16th (21.01). The Senior Women’s race had a field of 116 with just two women from the Harriers competing – Rebecca Ward crossing the line in 15th place and 3rd V40 which ensures that she wins the V40 age category for the Series. Mary O’Gorman was running her first race for the Harriers and had a good debut, coming home in 25th place running a time of 22.54. Another very good run came from U20 Ben Stratton in the Senior Men’s race which was run over 10k, a distance that Ben has never run previously on any terrain, let alone cross country. Setting off in the leading pack, Ben kept the pace going to come home in 3rd place overall and 1st U20 after a thrilling sprint with Rossendale’s Jon Cleaver – Ben just edging it in 30.56 with Jon in 4th (30.57). Team mates Marc Hartley placed 35th (33.58) and Umair Rafiq (U20) finished in 55th out of the 168 strong field in a time of 35.53.

All Photos on Blackburn Harriers Facebook Page – HERE

Sophie Douglas (84)

Max Unthank (100)

Will Grundy (112) – Theo Robinson (115)

Ben Stratton (164)

Rebecca Ward

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On the road at the Power of 5k in Lancaster with James Bretherton who took the 1st V45 prize with his time of 16.44 placing 29th overall

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Helen Leigh had a great 2024 and started off 2025 in cracking form as she won the final race in the Northern League (Scotland) for Inverness Harriers and took the overall Series title for the Senior Women, after winning all four races. Helen went on to the Scottish Masters Cross Country Championships the following week and was in confident mood as she approached the race on February 8th – and what a race she had. Helen followed up her Series win by taking the national V40 title in a time of 24.34, six seconds inf romnt of second placed Sara Green in 24.30 and Michelle Sandison (3rd) in 24.57. (RESULTS)

Helen Leigh – Series Winner

L-R Michelle Sandison – Helen Leigh (National Masters Champion) – Sara Green

Helen leading the Championship Race

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