Muller British Grand Prix at Gateshead – Tuesday July 13th
Final opportunity for a number of athletes who will be competing at this years Olympics to compete last night at the Gateshead hosted British Grand Prix and in particular for Blackburn Harriers – Holly Bradshaw and Jess Judd.
Both athletes have had great seasons – qualifying for the Olympics, both becoming British Champions – Holly (Pole Vault) and Jess (5000m). Holly was up against US Pole Vaulter – Sandi Morris, Molly Caudrey and a number of Vaulters from different countries in Europe. The competition came down to a battle between Holly and Sandi Morris with Holly clearing 4.71m for 2nd spot and Morris taking the win with a height of 4.76m.
Holly Bleadsale
Jess lined up in the mile race – a distance she last ran on the roads in New York (September 2019). Most of this year has been concentrated on achieving Olympic qualifying times for 5000 and 10000m. Jess ran a pretty solid race to clock 4.31.18 in 8th place, even though she got tripped with some 350m to go, the race won with a kick down the home straight by US athlete Kate Grace in 4.27.20.
Jess with her Dad and Coach – Mick Judd – at Gateshead
TRAFFORD GRAND PRIX – TUESDAY JULY 13th
Eight Blackburn Harriers – Dominic Walton – U17 Hayden Mercer – U20 Ben Makin – U20 Jamie Teare – U17 David Holman – Callum Davidson – Tim Raynes – Mark Magee competed on the night over 3000,1500 & 800m, and what a good night it turned out to be, resulting in six new personal bests.
Three of the Harriers Seniors started off the evening in the A 3000m – Callum Davidson, Tim Raynes and Mark Magee. Callum last ran a 3000m race in 2011, so this one was a long time coming! Having set new personal bests at 1500m (3.54.75), 5000m (14.09.81) and 10000m (29.56.99) already this season, he added a new PB of 8.16.90 to his list in 3rd place behind David Devine (2nd) in 8.15.10 and Chris Perry who won the race (8.11.91) and all new personal bests.
Tim Raynes has also had a good season with new bests in the 1500m (4.03.9) and 10000m (30.27.20) – finishing 6th in the field of 15, Tim set a new PB by half a minute as he clocked 8.31.37, his last 3000m race being 2019. Mark Magee had been out on Sunday – two days prior – to win the Towneley Park 5k – another Blackburn Harrier who has set new personal bests this year in 3000m (8.57.09), 5000m (15.22.09), 5k (15.10) and 10k (31.54). Another solid run saw Mark come home in 10th spot running 9.04.18.
L-R Callum Davidson (224) – Nick McCormick – Mark magee (520) – Tim Raynes (575)
Callum Davidson
Tim Raynes
Mark Magee
Dominic Walton hasn’t been out of the first two in any race this season so far, posting three wins and three 2nd places. Going into his Heat of the 800m with the fastest time on paper he finished up winning comfortably in a time of 1.52.09, front running the race the whole way. U17 Hayden Mercer has run new personal bests at 400m (53.9), 800m (2.01.61) and 1500m (4.25.19) already, improving that on the night, setting a new PB of 2.01.45 in the 800m (3rd) behind two athletes who had started the race with sub 2.00 min personal bests.
Dominic Walton (247)
Hayden Mercer (276)
U20’s Ben Makin and Jamie Teare both went in Heat 1 of the 1500m – Ben had set new bests of 1.57.2 (800m) and 8.52.86 (3000m) already this year, starting this 1500m race with a best of 3.57.36. Ben had another fine run, settin a new PB of 3.55.72 (4th) – an improvement of a second and a half. It has also been new personal bests all the way for Jamie clocking 52.6 (400m), 1.55.8 (800m) and 4.00.06 (1500m) – adding another new PB by three and a half seconds to clock 3.56.38 (6th) on the night. U17 David Holman has concentrated on 1500m races so far with a sole 800m and 3000m race among five 1500’s. Like the other lads in the squad, he has set a new personal bests in 800m (2.04.7) and 1500m (4.13.5). Going in Heat 2 of the 1500m, David carried on with the string of new personal bests by knocking off over over 4.5 seconds to set a new PB of 4.08.85 (5th).
