Members of Blackburn Harriers living overseas – V55’s Bob Shorrock and Tony Greenwood – have recently been competing in Europe. Bob Shorrock who won all three of the V55 Age Category King of the Hills Series of Races in Hong Kong this year, recently prepared to race the Marathon du Mont Blanc held on June 28th. His preparation had gone really well, covering 800 miles of training in the 10 weeks leading up to the Race. Bob came home 3rd in his age group (126th overall), his race undermined at the last moment by injury.

KD3A3435-525225d6b0      KD3A3751-3172903738

Speaking to the Club afterwards Bob said “I am actually really pleased with the result because I only made the decision to run on the morning of the race, training had gone great but I picked up an achilles injury in the last 3 weeks which resulted in me not running properly for 10 days ahead of the race.

VIDEO of Race Route

Anyway it felt a little better so thought I would give it a go. The course is relatively flat for the first 10 miles, after that it is mainly 3 monster climbs and 2 descents. I knew I would be Ok going up the hills but was worried about the first 10 miles – it went OK until about 9 miles when my right hamstring started pulling – so I had slow down and waddle into the aid station – where I got a massage and stretched it for about 10 minutes – I lost about 100 places in this time. The doctor asked me not to run but said I could walk so I set off uphill and gradually it eased up and I started passing people – and managed to hold it together to the finish by which time I had made up quite a lot of ground – I was still really surprised when I heard I was 3rd in my age. Time to rest up now, then have a good winter and have another go next year”.

I10A1964-9ed690ebd9

(Spectacular views running the Marathon du Mont Blanc)

Tony Greenwood told the Harriers that it was his final year of the M55 category before he reaches the dreaded M60 and decided to have one last crack at the Jura Top Tour Series.Well with three Races to go, Tony has not only ‘had a go at it’ he is actually leading the whole Series with 5358 points.

Screen Shot 2016-06-30 at 22.47.03

Tony spoke to the Club about the Series to-date saying that it started in April and went through to September comprising a Mountain Races Series at nine Towns in Switzerland that all sit at the foot of the Jura range. He went on to say that when you “Come the end of the series each competitors 5 best results are added together to give a final points total. I’ve competed in five of the six so far and after two victories and three second places I’m now top of the rankings with three of the toughest races remaining. Bit of a summer break with the next race not till August and far from over with three first places up for grabs”. Athletes such as Bob and Tony – lifelong members of the Harriers and still competing at such a very good level – are an inspiration to us all.

Gempen1

(Picture from the 3rd Race up to Gempen, Switzerland)

Trawden 7 Trail Race

Two hundred and fifty eight runners turned out for this very well organised race last Sunday – July 3rd – won by Tom Corrigan in a time of 41.04.

Trawden 7 RESULTS

V40 Shaun Livesey wasn’t far off, coming home in 5th spot with a time of 43.49 and 2nd V40 on the day. Carly Edwards had a pretty solid run in 104th place in a time of 55.46 with V40 Bryan Searby not far behind in 108th position (56.09).

IMG_0579

IMG_0181

Tom Blaney wasn’t far off his personal best when he finished 2nd at the Catforth 5k on July 2nd in a time of 17.13 – the race being won by Jason Parker in 16.25. RESULTS

Out on the Hills meanwhile, Jack Hindle, with a wired up jaw after a bad Bike accident in a Race recently, came 2nd (36.55) to Nick Leigh in the Tockholes Race held on 7th July. V40 Tom Cubbon was also competing here coming home in 15th place (43.48) – RESULTS

S0377444

S0407454

The Astley Park Trail Series – July 6th

IMG_0558

Senior Race RESULTS

Eighty two runners out in the Senior Race (3) of the Astley Park Series which had four Harriers competing and in the Junior Race (3) there were seven of the Harriers youngsters competing in the one hundred and eleven strong field. Chris Davies (V40) was first Harrier home in 6th place with a time of 25.03 which was a new PB for him on that Course. Next home came V45 Michael Sharp in 45th spot (33.02), in 57th place V55 Michael Nolan in a time of 35.31 and V40 Lindsay Davies (78th) in 42.22.

IMG_0575

IMG_0576

IMG_0577

IMG_0578

Junior Race RESULTS

In the Junior Race Matt Ramsden came 5th out of the 111 strong field in a time of 5.09 and was 2nd U13 on the night. Matt was followed in by Leon Thomas who suffered a kick in the melee at the start in 9th spot with his time of 5.21. Amy Davies was the next Harrier home in 17th place overall and 2nd L13 on the night with a time of 5.36 with Hollie Cubbon the 3rd L13 in 22nd place overall with a time of 5.52.

IMG_0560                                             IMG_0562

IMG_0564                                             IMG_0565

The winner of U9 on the night was Oliver Girl who seems to get stronger by the week, having already negotiated over 50 Park Runs with his dad Keith. At this race he came home in 41st with a great time for an 8yr old of 6.14. Live wire L9 – Hannah Davies – finished 73rd in 6.57 and was 3rd L9 on the night with just 5 seconds separating the three of them. Next youngster in was another U9 – George Ramsden (brother of Matt) in 84th (7.11).

IMG_0567

IMG_0570                                              IMG_0571

Park Run Results

footerEthan Barbarewicz is enjoying the Park runs and in the latest one held at Cuerden Valley – RESULTS – he came home an impressive 16th in a time of 22.18 out of a field of 148 runners. Daniel Brown wasn’t far behind either in the same J11 – 14 Age Group as Ethan, finishing 26th in 23.27.

Two hundred and forty three runners at the Preston Park run – RESULTS – and among them the Harriers own Oliver Gill – 8yr old – finishing 39th in a new PB time of 22.51. Senior Christina Carr who is getting over the impact of years of injuries was also out at Preston and she too set a new PB time of 26.32, placing 99th overall.

The Witton Park Run – RESULTS – on June 25th saw Chris Davies win the Race of 68 runners in a time of 18.38 followed by Joe Gebbie in 6th (22.03), Leo Gebbie (7th) in 22.06, the amazing youngster 8yr old Oliver Gill in 11th (24.16), with another 8yr old Hannah Davies showing what she is made of in 25th place (26.50), V60 George Woodburn in 33rd spot (27.24) and Lindsay Davies coming home in 42nd place with a time of 29.15. The numbers were down on the following week with just 55 runners out on the day – RESULTS – which saw a one / two for the Harriers with older brother Leo Gebbie turning the tables on Joe winning in a new PB time of 19.43 from Joe Gebbie in 2nd place in 19.47, just two seconds away from his PB.