This weekend saw the holding of the Senior/U20 Combined Event Championships, Senior Para Championships & Indoor Walk Championships at EIS in Sheffield. Taking part was Blackburn Harriers U23 George Whittaker who started his championship with a 7th placed 7.38 in the 60m in his first competition of the year. He then cleared 1.63m in the High Jump (12th), leapt out to 5.91m in the Long Jump in 8th spot and added a new PB in the Shot Putt (7.26kg) of 10.71m. On the second day of the Championships, George set off with 9.99 in the 60m Huirdles B Final – then backed that up in his 6th event of the Championship – Pole Vault – clearing 3.70m in 6th place scoring 535 points. His final event a 1000m race saw him come over the line in 9th place in the A Final with a new PB time of 3.06.89. Going in to the competition, George had a personal best in the Indoor Heptathlon of 3869 points – his total over this weekend amounting to a new PB of 4011 points.
Still indoors and this time at the BMC in Sheffield on Sunday January 19th which had Blackburn Harriers Abigail McAndrew and Dexta Thompson competing in the 1500m and 3000m respectively. Abigail wasx racing indoors for the first time since February 2024 and her first race on the track since August 2024 and it went really well, as she won her race in a time of 4.26.18 by just over three seconds from second placed Megan Harris (4.29.46). Speaking to the Harriers afterwards, Abigail told us that she was “Really happy to open the season up with a strong solo run which felt really comfortable! Looking forward to the rest of the season to see what I can do in a competitive race.” Dexta went in the 3000m B race won by Shaftesbury Barnet’s Isaac Hirshman Chandler in 8.05 13 which saw Dexta clocking 8.34.02 in 8th place.
(BMC RESULTS).
Abigail McAndrew
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Over in Amertica, Charlotte Williams was getting her throwing season going – her last competition being the British UK Athletics Championships held at Sportcity in June 2024. Charlotte was competing in the KU-KSU-WSU Triangular in Kansas on January 17th in the Women’s Weight Final where she placed 4th posting a throw of 17.12m with the 9.08kg weight. (RESULTS) — (VIDEO). When the competition was over over, Charlotte shared her thoughts with the Club telling us that it was her “First competition of the 2025 season and got off to a solid start. Had some struggles with my rhythm of the throw with the weight after transferring from throwing the hammer. I think it gives me a solid base to build off for the rest of the season, as this was my best ever start with the weight. Looking to build onto that in Texas this week!“
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Staying in America and this time on the road at the Houston Half-Marathon where Jess Warner-Judd lined up in an elite field, having recently raced at the Ribble Valley 10k in December (32.00) and the Valencia 10k on January 12th (31.54). At Houston Jess came home in 11th place in the Women’s race with a time of 69.07 – a race including 7,162 women and 13,914 overall. Jess had splits of 16.02 for 5k, 32.16 for 10k and 52.25 for 10 mile – her finishing time catapulting her to the top of the British rankings for 2025. Commenting on her social media Jess said “I’m so proud of myself for getting round a half marathon this morning, finishing 11th in 69:07🏃🏽♀️ although it’s a way off my PB, it’s a massive step forward and a real confidence boost that I can be competitive and have no issues, especially in pretty brutal conditions. Last year I couldn’t finish a 10k without having a seizure, and the last time I was in the USA all my problems started! So safe to say it’s nice to be leaving the US healthy, happy and confident for what’s to come! It’s been a little while since I could say that. Huge thank you to the lovely Texan hospitality,”
Still on the road, Ben Makin followed up his new personal best for 10k at the Ribble Valley 10k in December with another 10k – this time at the Arthur Bebbington Twin Piers race in Wales on Saturday January 18th. The conditions weren’t in the least bit favourable, with a headwind the whole way in the race organised by Colwyn Bay Athletics Club. Three hundred and sixteen runners crossed the finish line – Swansea’s Josh Griffiths winning the race in 31.58 with Ben in 2nd spot 33.37 and well clear of third placed Mark Gittons (34.18). After the race finished, Ben spoke to the Harriers about the race, telling us that it was “Another run out over 10k for me this year really nice scenery going along the front from Llandudno to Colwyn Bay, however with it being a headwind the whole way it was never going to be a fast time, was nice to take 2nd though” (RESULTS)
Meanwhile in Lancashire,close to 300 runners set off at the East Lancashire Hospice 10k – which as its name suggests, raises funds for the East Lancashire Hospice. Bradley Walsh took the win in 33.19 with Blackburn Harriers Stephen Hall in 4th place running 35.15 and taking the first V50 prize, followed by James Bretherton in 6th position with a time of 36.03 and also winning the V45 age group category. Eleesha Charnley ran her first race since March 2024 and hasn’t done much racing training since July 2024. She won the Women’s race in a time of 40.43 saying that “she surprised herself“. (RESULTS)
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Back to track & field and in the previous week, Sportcity was the venue for the latest in this years Winter Indoor Series – January 12th – featuring a number of Blackburn Harriers athletes whilst others were competing at the Northern Indoor T&F Championships on the same weekend. First year U20 Daniel Nuttall was competing at his first competition of the year and clocked 7.61 in his Heat of the 60m (6th) and followed that up with 7.64 in his second 60m Heat of the day. Bottom of age U17 Tomi Birch also ran two 60m Heats clocking 8.11 (4th) in the first one and then winning his second Heat in a new PB time of 7.96.
U15 James Acton Grieves took on the 60m and Long Jump – running 8.85 (4th) in his Heat as well as placing 12th in the Long Jump with 4.18m. Niamh Boland and Darcie Belshaw went in the same Heat of the 60m – the first time either girl had gone over the distance indoors – Niamh posting a time of 8.55 in 2nd alongside her teammate Darcie in 4th who clocked a time of 8.67. Niamh followed her 60m with a win in her Heat of the 200m clocking 29.78 whilst Darcie ran a seasons best 29.21 in 3rd spot in her 200m Heat. Senior Dominic Walton confortably won his 600m Heat in 1.21.61 – his first race since July 2024 after dealing with injury. U17 Matthew Haxton also ran the 600m – his first race since June 2024 – setting a new PB of 1.30. 37 in 2nd spot. (RESULTS)
