Tour de Helvellyn – Saturday 19 December 2015
(photos give some idea of the conditions on the day)
The Tour de Helvellyn is described on the Race Website as ‘a tough circuit around Helvellyn starting and finishing at Askham on the edge of the Lakes. The distance is 38 miles with several thousand feet of ascent and descent. The terrain is tough mountain trails and so fell running and navigational skills are essential. Entries are limited and strictly limited to experienced and competent entrants. This is not an event for novice trail runners!’
– See more at: https://www.sientries.co.uk/event.php?event_id=2039#sthash.SCugQoY2.dpuf
Full Results HERE
Helen Leigh had a tremendous Race finishing 8th overall out of the 136 finishers and the 1st Lady which was a fabulous achievement. Helen spoke to the Club after the Race and said “After the horrendous weather and flooding in recent weeks, I was surprised when I heard the race was still going ahead. Although a huge amount has already been cleared, the aftermath, mixed with 50mph winds and tipping down rain made a tough race even tougher. Having done this in 2012 as one of my first races as “a runner” again and tootling round in 10 hours I was keen to see what I could do. I pushed hard into a brutal headwind for the first 18 miles, this race is an open start with a two hour window so its hard to know where you are placed. The nice bit about it is I set off later and then picked people off all day, and by about half way i had passed all the girls. I then kept pushing in case someone fast had started behind me and was chasing me down! The tailwind down the final 10miles really helped and I was really pleased with my time of 7.21 in the conditions,1st lady and 8th overall”.
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The week before Christmas saw 96 runners turn out at the latest of this years Witton Park 5k Runs including seventeen Blackburn Harriers and the winner of the Race – Paul Bradshaw.
Witton Park 5k Run Results HERE
In his first ever run at the Witton 5k Paul led the field home in first place with a time of 17.42 just one second from 2nd placed David Brockway in 17.43. Paul is the third Blackburn Harrier to win this Race alongside Karl Billington and Chris Davies.
Next home for the Harriers came David Almond in 4th and 1st V45 with 18.44. Great to see Sarah Ridehalgh – who runs for the Harriers on the Track – back regularly racing after her long battle with injuries and placing 8th (20.24). John Cookson was next home in 16th in a time of 21.25 followed by daughter Hannah Cookson (20th) in 23.00 and Hannah’s Coach Richard Taylor (24th) in 24.02. Just missing out on a PB by two seconds was – JmM10 Saul Sharp – in 27th (24.49) and behind him, one place further back, was dad Michael Sharp running with Saul in 28th (24.55). Next Harrier home in the JM10 Age group was Oliver Gill (31st) in a time of 25.14 and a new PB followed by Sarah Toms in 34th (25.23) and George Woodburn, also with a new PB at Witton in 35th with a time of 25.38. David Billington was the next Harrier across the finishing line in 41st (26.46) with Carol Cookson in her first ever run at Witton 45th in 27.37, and in the JW10 Age group came Kate Cookson also running at the Witton Run for the first time in 57th spot (29.28). V40 Lindsay Davies came in 58th (29.30) with 7 yr old Lulu Sharp also in the JW10 category next up in 78th and a new PB of 33.10 and mum Lorna Sharp in 79th running with her in 33.12 to complete the list of Harriers out on the day.
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