What a great week in the life of Blackburn Harriers athletes competing in Europe, the US and here in England. Where do we start. Well on Friday December 12th, David Holman was at the ‘Twas the Meet before Christmas’ in Winston Salenm (NC). The week before having set a new Senior Mens Club Record for 3000m he was this time, taking on the mile Indoors – a distance for which he is is the only Blackburn Harrier to have broken the 4 minute mile – and he did it again smashing his own personal best and his Club Record when he clocked a new PB and the win in 3.57.99 – some two seconds faster than his previous best. He now holds the Club Records for 3000m and the Mile indoors. Speaking to David after his race, he was obviously delighted with his performance and told us that he was “Really happy to close my year out with a 3:57 mile today. Didn’t know what I expected coming in to today with little mile specific work, but definitely proud of that. Happy to break my own club record, the Wingate School record and to go 5th All- Time in Division 2. Really excited to see what happens next year“. (RESULTS)
David Holman (6)
Still in the States and this time with Blackburn Harriers Hammer Throwers – Charlotte Williams and Matthew Heywood who were both making their debuts for the season. Matthew was competing in Virginia Beach and took 4th place in the Weight Throw out of a pool of 19 throwers with a best of 16.29m with four of his six throws all over 16m. Charlotte was competing at the Birmingham Indoor Ice Breaker in an even bigger pool of 37 throwers – Charlotte placing 4th with a new personal best of 16.79m. (Charlotte’s Video). (Matthews Results) — (Charlotte’s Results)
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On Sunday December 14th, three Blackburn Harriers – Isabel Holt (U20W for GB), Kirsty Maher (U23W for Ireland) and Matt Ramsden (U23 for GB) had all been selected to race in the European Cross Country Championships in Lagoa, Portugal and on a quite unique course. All three athletes had great runs, starting off with the U20 Women’s race where Isabel finished 20th in 15.40 and 3rd counter for the team with Beth Lewis in 14th (15.33) and Innes Fitzgerald winning the race in a time of 14.35. The team also took the Gold Medal which saw Isabel picking up a team Gold Medal on her debut for GB. Next up was Kirsty in the U23 Women’s race running for Ireland which had sixty three finishers resaulting in a win for Portugal’s Maria Feroro in 19.59. Kirsty ran a great race, placing 11th overall in a time of 20.57 having workerd her way through the field to be the first counter for Ireland. Matt then went in the U23 Men’s race featuring seventy four athletes and won by Ireland’s Nick Griggs in 17,47. Matt had the run of the day – and what a great debut – getting pipped on the line in a photo finish for 5th spot, placing 6th overall in a time of 18.06 – the same time as 5th place – and the first counter for GB. (EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS)
(Matt’s Athletics Weekly Interview Video)
The Club spoke to the athletes after they had races to get their thoughts on their races and the day. Isabel told us that it was “such an incredible experience racing in the Europeans. The course was challenging but still good fun and I’m pleased to have been able to pick off some places in the last bit of the race. Loved being able to stand on the podium with the u20 girls and sharing the moment of winning team gold. Was great to have the Blackburn Harrier crew out supporting too”
Kirsty like the other Blackburn Harriers thrilled to bits with her race and run telling us “I’m over the moon with today’s run, it was very different to the cross country we are used to but I feel I paced it well and was able to move up the field throughout the race! What a day for Blackburn athletics – 3 impressive results on the European stage!’
Matt was equally enthused with his run and first race for GB when he told us that It was “an honour to represent GB and to come away with 6th individual tops off a great weekend! The course was very technical with plenty of ups and downs. I wasn’t as far up as I wanted to be after the start but I managed to work my way up and compete near the front end. Hopefully I can use this experience to improve as I progress into the senior ranks“.
Isabel Holt with Team Gold Medal
Kirsty Maher – 1st Counter for Ireland 11th overall with her Coach Andy Bibby
Matt Ramsden – 1st counter for GB and 6th overall
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George Whittaker has had a period out whilst recovering and rehabilitating himself form a back injury. Looking to test himself for the first time in a while and seeing if all the rehab had worked, he entered competitions at the Run, Jump, Throw meeting at the EIS in Sheffield on Saturday December 13th; And what an impressive start to the season. (RESULTS). In the 60m in which George raced twice he clocked a new PB of 7.31 and then on his second race clocked another new PB of 7.29. Following this he ran 22.90 for the 200m which was just outside his previous best 0f 22.83 and finished off the day with another new PB of 11.41m in the Shot Putt – 70cms better than he has ever thrown before with the 7.26kg Putt.
George Whittaker – photo courtesey of Trackthroughthelens
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The day prior to the European Championships saw athletes and Clubs contesting this years Lancashire Cross Country Championships at Towneley Hall in Burnley – a change from the normal course at Witton Park in Blackburn. The day was on the cold side but no rain and some sunshine and of course mud at different parts of the course – this is after all – Lancashire in Winter. Thanks to Steve Duxbury and all the officials and volunteers who came together to make sure that the championships were held on the new date – a date which will now be carried forward. (Lancashire XC Champs Results).
All photos Blackburn Harriers Facebook Page (HERE)
The Harriers had a good day – potentially securing fifteeen Inter-County places for the Lancashire team which will need to be confirmed. Forty five boys in the U11 race with thirty in the Girls U11 race. Harry Holden took 9th spot (7.33) with debutants in cross coiuntry racing Archie Moffat in 41st (9.05) and Ernie Chetwyn in 45th position running 9.36. Scarlett Hamill and Scarlet Cothliff ran in the U11 Girls race placing 23rd and 25th respectively in times of 9.44 and 9.58. Just two runners too in the U13 Boys race which had Edward Russell-Blackburn finishing in 8th place running 9.54 with Ryker Hanson in 14th spot (10.18). In the U13 Girls race, Georgia Brambles continues her great season in cross country by posting another win, running 9.57 some nine seconds in front of second placed Eve Martin from Manx Harriers. Lily Mae-Newton also had a fine race making it over the finish line in 6th spot running 10.19 with team mates Mya Chadwick in 21st (12.19) and Pippa Blackburn 25th with a time of 12.46 – the team finishing in 4th place.
Harry Holden (5)
Benedict Raby and Max Unthank took top 8 places in the U15 Boys race – Dominic placing 4th overall in a time of 14.00 with Max taking 8th spot running 14.30 and with team mate Oliver North finishing in 15th (15.27) the team placed 2nd on the day. Millie Jordan and Charlotte Smith ran in the U15 Girls race – Millie placing 3rd in 15.28 whilst Charlotte came home in a time of 16.28, placing 9th overall.
Our U17 Men took all before them, taking 5 places in the first ten positions and ten finishers overall. Good race at the front end as Jack Wood and Rossendale’s Francis Vidler battled it out, resulting in a win for Francis (18.43) with Jack in 2nd place running 18.53. Henry Ward was next home in 4th place (19.22) with team mates Theo Robinson in 5th (19.37), Max Winstanley in 6th (19.40), Max Belshaw (7th) running 19.49, Peter Sagar-Moss in 11th (20.23), Loucas Lancashire 13th with a time of 21.02, Thomas North in 15th running 21.24, George Holman in a time of 21.34 (16th) and Liam Bennison in 17th place running 21.36. The results gave the team win to Blackburn Harriers. Emma Robertshaw and Lottie Hesketh both had good runs – Emma placing 5th in 23.25 and Lottie 7th running 23.40.
Jack Wood (222) – Henry Ward (213) – Max Winstanley (221)
In the U20 and Senior races there were team wins for the U20 Women’s team which was led in by Alicia Tomlinson and backed up by Freya Neild and Holly Moffatt as well as a team win in the Senior Women’s race with Lousia Powell-Smith, Maddie Elliott and Alicia Tomlinson combining to take the title. Louisa is in fine form and the V45 showed it again as she finished in third spot overall behind Emily Simm and Bethany Reid with a time of 25.40 and also the first veteran athlete in the race. Great to see Maddie out again at the Lancs Champs as she placed 10th overall and 7th senior woman running 27.52. Alicia came next in 13th overall and 2nd U20 (28.44) followed by Leah Hoole in 15th overall and 10th senior woman running a time of 29.16. Next in came Freya Neild in 16th spot overall and 3rd U20 as she ran 29.23 followed by V45 Vikki Robertshaw in 19th place and 2nd V45 in a time of 29.47, Holly Moffatt in 29th and 5th U20 (31.11), Mary O’Gorman (33rd) and 16th senior woman running 32.40 and one place behind – Ellen Sagar-Hesketh in 34th spot running 32.46.
From L-R – Ellen Sagar-Hesketh (with Lola) – Mary O’Gorman – Vikki Robertshaw – Leah Hoole – Maddie Elliott – Freya Neild – Alicia Tomlinson – Holly Moffatt – Louisa Powell-Smith
Our Senior Men took 3rd place and the Bronze medal and placed 5th in the Vets team competition. Luke Minns (32.30) from Blackpool had a comfortable win by 23 seconds (32.30) from Matthew Watson (32.53). Blackburn Harriers first athlete home was Matt Clark in 7th spot and 2nd U20 with a time of 33.21 and his first time over the senior distance. Next came Ben Akin in 9th place running 33.49 followed home by team mates Paul Bradshaw in 27th (36.34), Ethan Cutler, another U20 running his first time over the senior distance – 33rd in a time of 37.10, V55 Mat Nuttall (58th) running 40.32 and 4th V55, V55 Mark Almond in 66th place, 7th V55 in a time of 41.51, V55 Craig Greenough 77th overall, 8th V55 and running 43.31 and V60 Gary Pearse in a time of 46.45 6th V60 and 91st overall.
Matt Clark (384)
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The Harriers Sportshall squad was out last weekend in Blackpool. Vicky McKinlay told us how well they had done commenting that “competing at Stanley Park, the athletes were fantastic. Sophie Douglas got U13 girls athlete of the competition. Ava Shannon will be the U13 Lancashire Sportshall team captain. The athletes got lots of medals.
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