The Cross Cup in Roeslare, Belgium took place on Sunday October 26th and among the contestants were Blackburn Harriers U20 athletes Isabel Holt and Myles Fraser who had been selected to run for England in the Junior Women and Junior Men’s races. The Junior Women’s team had Zoe Gilbody, Isabel Holt, Katie Pye and Sabrina Coppola- Johansen making up the team – the four of them combining to win the Gold Medal. Isabel finished in 2nd place in a time of 16.27 behind the winner Zoe Gilbody (16.19) which won her the individual Silver Medal too – Katie finishing in 4th (16.44) and Sabrina 7th (17.28). So a great day for Isabel as she told the Club after her race ““So grateful to represent England in Belgium and to come away with individual sliver to start the XC season. It was a tricky course with lots of turns and hurdle jumps but was a lot of fun to be part of an amazing team. Excited to see what’s to come“.
L-R – Isabel Holt – Zoe Gilbody – Kyra Verdonck
The Junior Men’s team was composed of William Rabjohns, Alex Lennon, Jake Stevens and Myles Fraser. The four English athletes placed in the top eight places to take the Team Silver Medal behind winners Belgium. Myles – as one of the youngest athletes in the field – came home in 8th spot overall with a time of 14.40 – William Rabjohns placing 2nd (14.13), Alex Lennon 4th (14.20), Jake Stevens 5th (14.26). (RESULTS). Myles spoke to the Club about his race and running for England, telling us “Running in the Belgian cross cup for England was my first international race I’d done. Being among the youngest in the U20 field combined with travelling from Preston to Belgium and back in 36 hours proved a challenge but altogether it was a fantastic experience. I was amazed at how quick the Belgians were, especially at the start. Despite the field being smaller, they were all very competitive. It was also a nice way to open the season ahead of competing at Mansfield XC relays. I’d like to thank my coach Andy for all his continuing hard work enabling me to achieve this result and England athletics for providing such a great trip“.
Zoe Gilbody (left) – Isabel Holt (right)
Cross country at the local level continued with the second Red Rose League cross country fixture taking place at Heaton Park for the first time which was a joint meeting between Red Rose and South East Lancashire Leagues. A tough course, plenty of hills, and taking place in very scenic location on a clear day with blue skies and breezy conditions.
All Photos on Blackburn Harriers Facebook Page — (HERE)
Although not a lot of Harriers at the event, there were some good runs by the athletes on the day. In the U11 Boys race the lads finished as 2nd team – led home by Harry Holden who took 4th place on the day out of a field of 38, running 10.11. Harry was supported by team mates Hugh Russell-Blackburn in 7th (10.27), Finn Dickinson 20th in 11.38 and Rory Dickinson running 12.01 in 25th spot. Thomas Stewart continued his fine start to the season coming home in 3rd position in the U13 Boys race (10.48) followed by team mate Edward Russell-Blackburn running 11.33 in 11th spot. Benedict Raby took 4th place in the U15 Boys race running a time of 19.06. Harry Yates and Liam Bennison ran in the U17 Men’s race Harry taking 2nd spot with a time of 21.33 with team mate Liam placing 7th in 23.08. In just her 4th race of the year and 2nd of the winter season, Lottie Smith ran 26.30 in 5th place in the U17 Women’s race.
L-R – Harry Holden – Finn Dickinson – Rory Dickinson
L-R Thomas Stewart – Edward Russell-Blackburn
In the Senior races, there was another cracking run from Louisa Powell- Smith – winner of the first fixture at Leigh earlier in the month – Louisa won again and in style, crossing the finishing line in a time of 29.04, heading the Series overall and as 1st V45. Lindsay Davies came home in 74th spot running 45.42. In the Senior Men’s Race there was a very good tussle at the front between Bolton’s Jonathan Kay, Rossendale’s Benjamin Kirkman and Blackburn Harriers Joe Monk as they battled for the victory. In the end Jonathan Kay crossed the line in 1st place (30.34), with Benjamin Kirkman in 2nd (30.47) and Joe Monk 3rd in 31.02 – Joe’s first cross country race this season. V45 Chris Davies was running his second race of the season, placing 43rd in 36.03 whilst V60 Chris Balderson came home in 42.33 – 91st and 1st V60.
Joe Monk (984)
L-R Chris Davies – Lindsay Davies – Lottie Smith – Louisa Powell-Smith
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Over in America, David Holman was taking on his second cross country race of the season – the first being at the Paul Short Run on October 3rd. Back out in the Men’s 8k South Atlantic Conference XC Championships featuring 100 runners and held on Saturday October 25th, David had fine run, placing 2nd overall in a time of 26.26.98 for the five mile course behind the winner who clocked 26.12.31. . (RESULTS) Commenting on his race afterwards, David told the Harriers that “after a rocky few months, I came 2nd overall and we won as a team. I have earned a spot for regionals in 2 weeks. The course didn’t have a single bit of flat terrain, the elevation was 899ft in 5 miles“.
L-R – (Mum) Claudine – David Holman – (Brother) George
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The conditions weren’t brilliant for the Accrington 10k road race held on Sunday October 26th which nevertheless, saw 360 runners finishing – the race won by Bradley Walsh in a time of 33.45. (RESULTS). Blackburn Harriers duo Ben Makin took 2nd place in a time of 35,.16 whilst U17 Peter Sagar-Moss won the Junior age group category, placing 12th overall in 38.10 – and this – after racing the cross country at Heaton Park, the day before.
Ben Makin – (Photo courtesy of Adrian Nicholls)
Peter Sagar – Moss (Phtoo courtesy of Adrian Nicholls)
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Returning to cross country and this time in Scotland in the Scottish National Cross Country Relay Championships at Cumbernauld Park, which saw V40 Helen Leigh, on her birthday weekend join with two U20 and one senior for Inverness Harriers in winning the Scottish national Cross Country Relay Championships. (RESULTS)
L-R – Charlotte Rose-Burton – Megan Keith – Helen Leigh – Caitlyn Heggie
