Cross country these days, gets run in differeing conditions and if you are going to run anywhere, why not in Spain as Britain is threatened with Snow, ice and the cold. That is where Blackburn Harriers Isabel Holt was when she competed at the Elgoibar International Cross Country event in Spain as part of the England Athletics U20 Women’s team on Sunday January 5th. Zoe Gilbody, Isabel Holt, Isla McGowan and Eleanor Stevens made up the England team – the race being part of the World Athletics Cross Country Tour Gold level series.

What a brilliant perforamnce from the team, taking four places in the first six including 1st, 2nd and 3rd. Isbabel had a fine run to come home in 3rd place overall and win the Bronze medal and was ‘buzzing‘ as she told the Club afterwards that she “Really happy with getting bronze at my first England xc race in Spain this weekend. The atmosphere and team were incredible and I have really enjoyed my experience here. The course was really fun with having both hills and track aspects to it. I’m grateful to England athletics for the opportunity”.

L-R Isa McGowan – Eleanor Stevens – Isabel Holt – Zoe Gilbody

Isabel Holt

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Meanwhile – the snow and ice stayed away as the Lancashire Cross Country Championships took place at a muddy Witton Park on Saturday January 2025 hosted by Blackburn Harriers for Lancashire Athletics Association. (RESULTS) Huge thanks to all of the Marshals from Blackburn Harriers and to the Officials organised by Lancashire Athletics. 49 athletes from Blackburn Harriers took part, winning the Senior Men’s Team Gold, Senior Men’s Individual Silver, Senior Women’s Team Silver, Senior Women’s Vet Team Silver, Senior Men’s Vet Team Gold, U17 Men’s Team Silver, U17 Women’s Team Silver, U17 Men’s Individual Bronze, Women’s Individual  Bronze, U15 Girls Team Bronze, U15 Boys Team Bronze, Women’s V50 Individual Gold, Men’s V50 Individual Silver, Men’s V45 Individual Silver, Women’s Vet 40 Individual Bronze,

(All Photos on Blackburn Harriers Facebook Page – HERE)

Forty six runners in the U11 Boys race, including five from Blackburn Harriers who combined as a team to take 8th place in the team competition. First home was Harry Holden in 17th place (7.19) with team mates Zachary Falencki in the same time and one place further back in 18th, Hector Kazemi in 30th (7.49), Arthur Siggs 35th in 7.56 and James Hooley running 7.58 in 37th. Just thirty three runners in the U11 Girls race which saw eight youngsters from the Harriers take part and finishing as 5th team. First across the line was Sophie Douglas (14th) in a time of 7.59 and backed up by team mates Lauren Redwood (18th) in 8.21, Jenna McKinlay (8.23) in 19th spot, Erica Redwood running 8.34 in 24th, Pippa Blackburn (28th) in a time of 8.50, Scarlett Hamill 9.06 (30th), India Gooden 9.17 (31st), Mia Logan 10.08 (32nd) and Scarlett Cothliff 11.03 (33rd). Well done to all of the U11’s who are making their first forays into cross country running.

Harry Holden (5)

Sophie Douglas (44)

Three Harriers in the U13 Boys race out of a field of thirty five – the lads placing 5th in the team competition – with Oliver North leading them hoime in 16th spot running 12.55 followed by Max Unthank in 22nd place (13.19) and E Russell-Blackburn in 25th place running 13.33. Just two girls in the U13 Girls race resulting in Amelia Pacelli placing 15th out of 41 in a time of 14.14 and Esme Krige 40th in 17.35. In the U15 Races there were Bronze Medals for both Boys and Girls in the team competitions. The Boys race was closeluy fought with Preston winning with 22 points, Blackpool (26) and Blackburn 3rd (29). Similarly in the Girls race Blackpool taking the win with 9 points, Preston (26) and Blackburn (27). Will Grundy made all the running at the start of the race with Rossendale’s Francis Vidler and despite falling, came home in 3rd place (13.07) to win the individual Bronze Medal with team mates Theo Robinson in 10th spot (14.16) and Tom Falencki in 16th (14.52). Millie Jordan led the team home in the Girls race taking 6th place in a time of 14.49 followed by team mates Lyra Krige in 10th (15.24), Emma Robertshaw in 11th ( 15.45), Lottie Hesketh running 15.57 in 15th place, Charlotte Smith 16.29 (22nd), Hetty Green (17.12) in 25th spot and Emily Wood with a time of 17.31 in 27th.

Oliver North (392)

Amelia Pacelli (115)

William Grundy (155)

Millie Jordan (185)

The U17 races were quite small with 21 runners in the Men’s and just 11 in the Women’s race. Team competitions were shared between two clubs – Preston and Blackburn with Preston winning both and Blackburn Harriers taking Silver in both races. Henry Ward had a fine race as he took individual Bronze in the Men’s race (19.08) and backed up by Ethan Cutler in 12th (20.47), Jack Wood in 14th (20.49) and Loucas Lancashire in 20th spot (24.11). Isabelle Perry was first counter for the Harriers in the Women’s race taking individual Bronze with a time of 23.51 followed home by Isabella Pacelli in 4th (24.18), Freya Neild in 8th (26.24) and Lily Green in 9th (27.21).

Henry Ward (220)

A small field of just 65 runners took part in the Senior Women’s race won by Leeds athlete Ruth Jones in 24.55. The Harriers had six athletes out who combined to take the team Silver Medal with 68 points from Liverpol Pembroke & Sefton in 3rd (77) and the winners, Preston (27). Great to see Maddie Elliott back racing after a period of time out with injury as she led the team home in 14th place running 28.07 followed in by team mates Anna Greenwood in 15th (28.16) and Bronze Medalist in the V40 category, Joanne Nelson in 19th spot (29.14) and Gold Medalist in the V50 category U20 Leah Hoole (20th) running 29.44, Tanith-Jade Ellis running her first race for the Harriers in 26th place (30.19) and V50 Sarah Krige in 45th place running a time of 34.49. As well as winning Silver in the Team race, the Harriers also took Silver in the Vets Team competition too with 32 points behind winners Rossendale (30) and in 3rd spot Liverpool Pembroke & Sefton (38).

L-R Joanne Nelson – Maddie Elliott – Tanith-Jade Ellis – Sarah Krige – Leah Hoole

The Senior Men’s race had an equally small field – just 97 athletes taking part. With a number of athletes missing on the day, the Harriers took a surprising team win in the race with a total of 116 points to Rossendale (127) in 2nd and Preston in 3rd (139). Ross Harrison led the team home to the win after a good battle with William Walker who edged in front on the final lap to take the win in 33.08 with Ross in 2nd, winning the Silver Medal in a time of 33.50. Ben Makin, who ran a 10k PB at the Ribble Valley 10k last week, made it  two in the first 10 places for the Harriers as he came across the finish line in 9th spot (35.17), with team mates Joe Gebbie in 15th spot running 36.25, V45 Stephen Hall in 26th (37.35) and Silver Medalist in his vet category, U20 Jack Lamb coming home in 31st running 38.15, V50 Nick Gaskell placing 33rd in 38.23 and Silver Medalist in his Vet category, V50 Anton Krige running 41.26 (50th) and V60 Chris Balderson in 74th place (46.45).

Ross Harrison (346) – William Walker (334)

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