An unusually warm and clear sky day greeted athletes, coaches, parents and supporters to Pontefract on Saturday March 16th for this years English Schools Cross Country Championships which covered races for Intermediate Girls and Boys, Junior Girls and Boys and ended with races for Senior Girls and Boys. Blackburn Harriers had athletes representing Lancashire and Greater Manchester in all the races, having qualified through their County Championships in January. (ALL RESULTS)
Highlight of the day for Blackburn Harriers athletes came in the Senior Girls race which was won by the GB international Innes Fitzgerald who has taken all before her this year – demonstrating her ability again on the day with a typical gun to tape win in a time of 14.22, some 49 seconds infront of Eliza Nicholson in 2nd place (15.11). Looking forward to seeing her run at the World Championships in Serbia. Isabel Holt who had taken the Silver Medal at the Northern Championships at Sedgefield and then finished in the top 12 at the Inter-Counties last week in Nottingham had a great race to come home in 4th place (15.30), holding off a charge from Zoe Gilbody (15.33). Afterwards, Isabel, modest as ever, spoke to the Club about her race commenting “I had such a fun time at English schools and I am really happy with my performance. Well done to everyone who ran!” Evie Taylor ran for Greater Manchester whose team finished in 6th place overall with Evie running 18.35 in 186th spot.
Lancashire Senior Girls Team L-R Isabel Holt (253) – Charlotte Wilkinson (256) – Keira Haxton (260) – Poppi Watson (255) – Zara Darkin (257) – Helena White (254) – Lara Ingram-Weston (261)
Isabel Holt (253)
Evie Taylor
Dexta Thompson and Daniel Smith went in the Senior Boys race for Lancashire resulting in Dexta working his way through the field to take 14th place overall in a time of 20.11 and first counter for Lancashire with Daniel in 74th place running 21.20 and third counter for the team which finished in 8th position overall out of the 36 counties competing. After the race Dexta spoke to the Harriers about his race as it was his last English Schools commenting “With it being the last schools for me, I just wanted to get out hard and leave nothing behind. I did exactly that, kept it steady in the middle and had a hard long kick home. Always great to represent lancs, and a good race to end a nice winter block. Onwards and upwards“
Dexta Thompson
Daniel Smith (255)
Three Blackburn Harriers were in the the Lancashire Intermediate Girls team – the race featuring 343 runners. Isabella Pacelli and Isabelle Perry were running their first ever English Schools cross country championships, whilst Charlotte had qualified in previous seasons. Isabella Pacelli was the fourth counter for the team in 190th place overall in a time of 14.58 followed home by Charlotte Robertshaw in 235th place and sixth counter in 15.19 and Isabelle Perry in 303rd position running 16.07.
Isabella Pacelli (255)
Lancashire took 10th place in the Intermediate Boys race which had three hundred and twenty nine runners lined up on the start line from forty two counties. Again, three athletes from Blackburn Harriers won selection for the Lancashire Team – Oliver Gill, Sam Aspey and Henry Ward. Oliver was 3rd counter for the team, placing 59th in a time of 16.25 with Sam – Lancashires 4th counter in 109th spot running 16.51 and Henry in 179th position and the teams 6th counter with a time of 17.19.
Oliver Gill (254)
Sam Aspey (256)
Henry Ward (258)
Ninth place for the Junior Girls Lancashire team in a race featuring forty two counties and three hundred and thirty nine runners. Millie Jordan followed up her fine season on cross country with a 58th position running 12.04 as third counter. Lottie Hesketh came home in a time of 13.25 I(284th). The first four counters for Lancashire were spearated by just 5 seonds which was great packing Aimee Harling (11.59); Pollyanna Kershaw (12.03); Millie Jordan (12.04) and Kristy Leitch (12.04). Three more Blackburn Harriers ran for Lancashire in the Junior Boys race which had forty three counties and three hundred and forty three runners in it. All three athletes took counting positions for the team – Jack Baranowski placing 64th in 10.55, Thomas Falencki 234th in a time of 11.38 and William Grundy iin 11.41 (244th spot).
Millie Jordan (254) – Lottie Hesketh (256)
Jack Baranowski (254)
Thomas Falencki (258)
William Grundy (255)
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The Podium Festival of Races was a much anticipated event held on Saturday March 16th 2024 at New College in Leicester. All the races were graded covering 5000m and Time Trial races over 1k in distance attracting some top class athletes including a number from Blackburn Harriers in the various events. The itinerary starting at 12.30 with the final race taking place at 7.00pm covered a Men’s and Women’s separate Open 5k races, followed by 5k races graded at Sub 18.00; Sub 16.40; Sub 16.00; Sub 15.40 and Sun 15.15. These were followed by a 1km Time trial after which there was a Sub 15.00 5k race, an Elite A & B Race for Women and Elite A & B race for Men. (ALL RESULTS)
The Mizuno Team including Blackburn Harriers Paul Bradshaw – Daniel Bebbington – Matt Ramsden – Tim Raynes
The 1km Time Trial attracted twenty male and female athletes which was eventually won by Morpeth’s James Young in a time of 2.21 alongside Erin Wallace who won the Women’s race in 2.35.. Two Blackburn Harriers lined up for this – Ben Makin and Dominic Walton – Ben never having run the distance previously and Dom only ever once and that was Indoors. Both had good runs with Ben coming home in 8th spot in a time of 2.30 and Dominic in 10th running 2.32. After the race Ben spoke to the Harriers about the event saying “It was nice to get a little bit of speed in the legs over the time trial at the podium festival, was very happy with how I ran against a quality field, things are looking positive, ready for summer on the track.“(Ben’s post race interview)
Similarly and following the race, Dominic gave his thoughts about the event, telling us that he “had a really good time overall and would recommend the event to people in the future – it was nice to see decent turnout from the Harriers past and present. Regarding the TT – If I’m totally honest, the TT format doesn’t suit me because I’m not a natural front runner. I like to sit and kick so I ended up setting off too comfortably and picking up the pace far too late. I wasn’t really chuffed that the time on the results was 4 seconds slower than the time on the clock or my watch either, but it was only a bit of fun and it was nice to have a run out – the main reason I went to the festival and that was to support Ellen in her 5k where she equalled her PB and solidified her status as a sub 19 5k runner.“
Paul Bradshaw ran in the Sub 16.00 minute race featuring 45 athletes and won by Sale Harriers Andrew Thompson running 15.06. Paul finished in 38th spot with a time of 16.21 and told the Harriers afterwards that he “really enjoyed the event. Wanted to commit to a solid pace but 4:51 first mile way too quick for my current fitness. Onto the next one at the relays“.
Ellen Sagar-Hesketh went in the Women’s Elite B Race featuring seventy nine athletes and had a pretty good night, equaling her personal best of 18.56 telling the Club after that “It was a great event and loved the atmosphere! Not really been in an all womens race and I knew the pace would be quick for the first 1k, which I had no choice but to go with. A bitter sweet feeling equalling my PB, but I know in a more even paced race I can go even faster.” The Elite Men’s B Race had 62 finishers – the race being won by Exeter University’s Thomas Crockett in a time of 14.13. Tim Raynes finished in 33rd place with a time of 14.44 and told the club after his race that he “enjoyed the event it was a good experience running for the Mizuno team. I felt a little off during the race, but paced it fairly evenly and moved through a little towards the end. It’s faster than I managed in the whole of last year, so (all things considered) can’t be too disappointed and it gives me something to build on during the summer after more specific 5k work“.
Final race of the night was the Men’s Elite A Race featuring fifty four athletes and won by Ethiopia’s Hago Gebrhiwet in a time of 13.19. Matt Ramsden and Daniel Bebbington ran in this race held in the rain and wind which weren’t ideal conditions at all. Matt ran 14.30 (42nd) and Daniel 14.47 in 49th spot. Commenting to the Club after his race, Matt told us that “it was a great experience to run at the Podium Festival and to represent Mizuno. I enjoyed running alongside some top class athletes even though my time wasn’t what I wanted and still plenty to learn from! Thank you Mizuno for the opportunity and well done to all that ran!“
Paul Bradshaw and Matt Ramsden
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Over in America and it was David Holman in the 800m and Abigail Stratton in the 5k competing at the weekend for their respective universities. Competing for Wingate at the Charlotte 49er Classic – (RESULTS) – David placed 2nd in his race clocking a new PB of 1.53.60 and was happy with how the race turned out, telling us “I opened my outdoor season today and raced the 800m. I ran 1:53.50 which is a pb so I’m happy with that. Felt tough with doing no speed work for 3 weeks and just tempo work. Very pleased to start the season with a pb!” Abigail had originally decided to run the 3000m but given the 40 degree heat at the time of the race, decided against it, running the longer distance in a much cooler part of the day. Making her debut over the distance on the track, She ran well to clock 17.52.10 for her Uinverity (UCF) in 3rd place out of a twenty one strong field and told us afterwards that “I ran 17.52 in the 5k it was slower then I wanted, but running 12.5 laps of the track is the mentality hardest thing I have ever done“. Next race up in a few weeks time will be over a much shorter distance. (RESULTS).
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On the road on Sunday March 17th – St Patrick’s Day – Wigan was the venue for a 5k road race attracting over 750 runners – (RESULTS) – won by Karl Darcy in a time of 15.23. U17 Logan McCredie was the first athlete home for Blackburn Harriers in 20th place running 18.42 despite being troubled during the race with a major stitich. V40 Dominic Bretherton was next to finish in 32nd spot in a time of 19.10, just outside his personal best. Richard Addy (V45) was on pacing duties finishing in 45th place in 19.50 with his son Theo, running in the 11 -14yr old age group category running 19. 48 in 47th position. The Women’s race which had just under 200 runners, was won by Blackburn Harriers Eleesha Charnley in a time of 18.23 with team mates Rebecca Ward (V40) coming home in 5th place in a new PB time of 19.57 which was an 11 second improvement. Next home was Leah Hoole on 7th place also running a new PB time of 20.03 alongside Bella McCredie competing in the 11-14yr old age group category finishing in 14th place, running 22.10 in her first attempt at the distance.
L-R Bella McCredie – Leah Hoole – Eleesha Charnley – Dominic Bretherton – Rebecca Ward – Richard Addy – Theo Addy – Logan McCredie
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On the Fells, the Flower Scar Fell Race covering 13km and 660m of climb took place on Saturday March 16th featuring 374 finishers – the race being won by Helm Hill Runners Tim Lamont (60.41) with Tom Wood from Oxford University in 2nd (60.44) and Dark Peak athlete Finlay Grant in 3rd place (60.51). Blackburn Harriers Josh Hogate and Marc Hartley lined up for this one with Josh crossing the finishing line in 54th position in a time of 68.55 and team mate Marc (108th) running a time of 76.02. One day later – March 17th and it was U15 Theo Robinson who ran in the U17 Boys race at Helm Hill in the Winter League (RESULTS) finishing in 4th place out of eight with a time of 20.23. This was the ninth race in the 11 race series.
Theo Robinson
Up in Scotland and Helen Leigh was out again, just a week after making her debut in the Half-Marathon on the road – a strange surface for her given her love of all things hills and mountains. This time she was racing at the Northern Hill Championships, Craig Dunain which incorporated the 2024 Scottish Athletics North District Hill Running Championship run over 10km and 390m of climb. (RESULTS). Helen came home in 3rd place in the Women’s race in a time of 46.46jopining team mates Sarah Hodgson and Catriona Graves to win the team event as well. Commenting on her race and the day Helen said that it was a “great job by @highlandhillrunners organising. Can’t complain with 3rd Place, 1st team and a rough 2 min pb after a week of very tired legs after the half! Felt god awful the first mile or two, then the turbo diesel kicked in. Let’s hope I’m feeling fresh for the 10km next week!”
Winning Team
Finally, a big shout out to the Lancashire Sportshall Team competing at the Regional Championships at Leigh and up against Merseyside, Cheshire and Greater Manchester. Blackburn Harriers had 13 of its young athletes selected to compete for Lancashire. First part of the day was the Under 11’s in which Blackburn Harriers had 6 girls – Sophie Douglas finished in 2nd place overall with team mates Ava Shannon in 5th, Amelia Pacelli in 7th, Sophie Heyes in 8th, Kalista Harrington in 13th and Juliet Mousley in 14th – finishing 4th place team on the day. In the Under 11 boys the Harriers Kai Milford came 3rd and Isaac Doolan 7th as the U11 boys finished 3rd team.
