Cross country weather has never been so glorious. The sun shone, the wind dropped, as the first fixture in this years Mid Lancs Cross Country League took place at Kendal’s Westmorland Showground on a hilly but very good cross country course. (PROVISIONAL RESULTS). Georgia Brambles, a new member to Blackburn Harriers and in her first ever cross country race, had a fine debut, winning the race in 8.37 some 12 seconds in front of the seocnd placed athlete. Ruby Govier was making her debut too, placing 20th (10.16) along with Mollie Pickup, also making her cross country debut in 27th spot (10.51) and Pippa Blackburn in 28th (11.03). The first three girls counted in seeing the team home in 3rd place on the day. The U13 Boys went one better as they took 2nd place in the team race with 24 points behind the winners Kendal (8). Thomas Stewart had a very good first race of the season placing 2nd overall in 11.12, followed by Morgan Watson who had a good run in 7th place (11.29), with team mates Ben Hawksworth – having his first run for Blackburn Harriers – in 15th (12.08), Zachary Falencki running 12.28 in 21st spot and Harry Mitchell (28th) with a time of 13.20 whcih was his first ever race in cross country having competed for the Harriers this summer in the UKYDL.

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L-R Ruby Govier – Georgia Brambles – Pippa Blackburn

L-R Millie Jorfdan – Emily Wood – Hetty Green – Morgan Watson – Zachary Falencki – Ben Hawksworth

Another 2nd place in the team race for the U15 Girls led home in fine style by Millie Jordan, winning the race in 10.56 and well clear of 2nd and 3rd places. Hetty Green placed 18th in 13.17, Emily Wood running 13.29 in 22nd spot and Eliza Garcia running her first cross country race of the year and her first race for the Club – placing 38th in 16.27. Our U15 Boys team of Oliver North, Max Unthank, Blake Mcllwaine and Liam Frith had to settle for 5th place in the team race – Oliver crossing the finish line in 16th (14.23), Max home in 18th spot (14.34), Blake finishing in 32nd (16.05) and Liam running 16.46 (38th).

Millie Jordan

Oliver North (104)

Touch and go in the U17 Women’s race which produced the first team win of the day for the Harriers as Emma Robertshaw, Lottie Hesketh and Lily Green combined to win the team race with a combined total of 23 points from kendal in second spot (24 points).  Emma led the team home to the win taking 3rd spot in 15.00 followed by Lottie in 4th (15.03) and Lily in 16th (17.30). Holly Moffatt placed 11th in the U20 Women’s race in a time of 29.25 which was her debut race for Blackburn Harriers. The U17 Men’s race provided the second team win of the day totaling 22 points from Sedburgh in 2nd place with 30 points. Led home by Sam Aspey who ran 21.14 in 3rd spot with great back up from team mates Max Winstanley (9th) in 22.37, Will Grundy 10th in a time of 22.47, Theo Robinson 11th running 22.52, Tom Falencki in 15th place (24.10), Tom North with a time of of 26.03 in 20th, Liam Bennison finishing in 23rd (27.37) and Loucas Lancashire running 28.49 in 25th position. A big shout out too for Jenny McAndrew who has made a return to racing – her second race since 2021 and great to see her back. Jenny placed 72nd in a time of 33.18 and was 5th V50.

Lottie Kesketh – Emma Robertshaw

Sam Aspey

The Senior Men’s race had two hundred and 18 runners from 18 Clubs – the individual race being won by Sedbergh’s Ben Harrison in 31.39, with Tom Humphries (Border) in 2nd and Lancaster University’s Joshua McKenny in 3rd.Blackburn’s team consisted of Ben Stratton, James Bretherton, Mark Chippendale, Mark Almond, Craig Greenough and Gary Pearse. For Ben, it was his first time over the full senior distance and he did well to come home, leading the team, in a time of 35.27 (17th). Team mates James finished in 37th, 6th V45 running 37.57, Mark Chippendale came home in a time of 39.59 (59th) and 5th V55, Mark Almond running 42.34 (101st) and 7th V55, Craig  in 122nd spot running 44.22 and 12th V55 and Gary  (182nd), running 49.49 and 17th V60. 

Ben Stratton (212)

Meanwhile,  in an equally sunny day, it was the Red Rose League holding its first fixture of the season at the Leigh Sports Village, where just a few weeks ago, the Northern road relays took place in a torrential downpour – what a contrast in the weather. It was a small turn out for the Harriers – just five athletes making the trip – but the five produced two individual wins. Harry Holden on his first cross country this year, went and won the U11 Boys race, placing 1st in 7.49, just two seconds in front of the 2nd placed runner, out of a field of 45. Louisa Powell-Smith had a fine run in the Senior Women’s race, taking the win in a time of 19.21 – three quarters of a minute in front of 2nd placed Rachel Marshall (20.06) – and also was 1st V45. Lindsay Davies (V50) was making her return to racing, placing 72nd in 29.13. In the Senior Men’s Race featuring 149 runners, Chris Davies (V45) came home in 26th spot (37.21) and 3rd in his age category whilst V55 Mat Nuttal finished 32nd (398.05) and 2nd in his age category. (RED ROSE PROVISIONAL RESULTS)

Harry Holden

L-R Chris Davies – Lindsay Davies – Louisa Powell-Smith – Mat Nuttall

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