It was another very good day for the Harriers at the final fixture for this years Mid Lancs Cross Country season which saw the Senior Men win the Team Race ahead of Preston Harriers in 2nd place and Clayton Harriers in 3rd. There Team wins also for the U11 Boys from Trawden in 2nd and Chorley in 3rd. The U17 Men also won their Team race from Liverpool Penbroke & Sefton in 2nd and Rossendale in 3rd.
U13 & U15 Race VIDEOS (Courtesy of Becky Willoughby)
Top run from Jack Hindle in the Senior Men’s race after a real battle with Ross Campbell (Barrow) and Phil Marsden (Horwich). Approaching the finish which was uphill all the way, Jack led by a couple of metres and managed to hold off Campbell by just one second as he drove up the hill to take the win. Some cracking runs from the other Senior Men too as they took five of the first 13 places with Marc Hartley coming home in 6th spot (36.54) after a real battle with Oliver Heaton of Preston. Next in for the Club came Chris Davies in 8th place, clocking 37.02 and picking up the 1st V40 prize to make it an excellent day for him.
Jack Hindle (2928)
March Hartley
Chris Davies (2950)
Joe Gebbie then came across the line in 11th position (37.42) a run which saw him take the 4th counting spot for the team and also finish 2nd U20 on the day. Mark Chippendale had a tremendous run to win the V50 1st prize, running a time of 38.04 in 13th place with Calum Holmes taking the 6th counter place (30th) in a time of 39.22. Danny Maynard was next home for the Club in 89th place out of the two hundred and twenty seven strong field, with a time of 43.31 and followed by Paul Jeffries in 137th spot (46.38) and Allan Hartley in 18th running a time of 51.58.
Joe Gebbie (2923) Mark Chippendale (2962)
Calum Holmes (663) Danny maynard (311)
Paul Jeffries (331) Allan Hartley (2951)
There was a good tussle in the first race of the day between the Harriers (35 points) and Trawden (25 points) with Trawden edging the win. First home for the Harriers was Imogen Robinson in 8th place with a time of 6.37 and backed up with good runs from Eve Coulson in 13th (6.42) and Hannah Davies in 14th (6.43) to complete the three counters for the Team. Tippi Francis was the next Harrier across the line in 47th position (7.38) followed by Lulu Sharp in 54th (8.04) and 8yr old Charlotte Smith – legs and arms pumping like wild fire up the hill – in 57th (8.07).
Imogen Robinson (2803) Eve Coulson (2805)
Hannah Davies (2799) Tippi Francis (2800)
Lulu Sharp (2798) Charlotte Smith (429)
Positions were reversed in the U11 Boys Race as the Harriers won this one (11 points) from Trawden in 2nd (36 points). Will McNally (Leven Valley) won the race in a time of 5.32 with the Harriers Samuel Aspey and Matthew Smith battling it out on that final uphill finish which ended with both of them being given the same time of 5.40 – Sam being placed 2nd and Matthew 3rd. New member Ben Ham had another very good run to come home in 6th spot clocking 5.46 which meant that all three counters were home in the first six places. Oliver Gill was next home in 12th with a time of 6.05, followed by William Grundy in 17th (6.09) and Theo Robinson (18th) running 6.11.
Sam Aspey (2874) Matthew Smith (2880)
Ben Ham (386) Oliver Gill (2888)
William Grundy (2868) (Theo Robinson (715)
Charlie Haworth placed 24th out of the 86 strong field (6.19) with Findlay Carroll (30th) in a time of 6.30, Liam Bennison in 33rd (6.31), George Ramsden (45th) clocking 6.49, Felix Thompson in 50th place (6.52), Alexander Brien running a time of 7.05 in 58th with Loucas Lancashire in 60th (7.07). George Holman (62nd in 7.10) and new member Matthew Lowe (63rd in 7.11) who was running his first ever cross country race had a pretty good battle as they approached the finish line and they were followed in by Isaac Smith in 83rd (8.14) and Sam Craven made it the seventeenth Blackburn Harrier in the race – 86th (8.53).
Charlie Haworth (2869) Findlay Carroll (2883)
George Ramsden (2884) Felix Thompson (2871)
Alexander Brien (2875) and Loucas Lancashire (2870)
George Holman (2867) Matthew Lowe (223)
Isaac Smith (549) Sam Craven (2882)
Eight Harriers lined up in the U13 Girls race featuring fifty three runners – the team race being won by Chorley with the Harriers in 5th. Kate Cookson led the team home in 16th place clocking a time of 11.32 with Keira Haxton coming home in 21st (11.40) and Amelia Burton (33rd) in a time of 12.17 being the three team counters. Caroline Woodworth was the next Harrier across the finish line in 34th (12.19) followed by Keira Booth in 36th (12.26), Molly Grimshaw (37th) in a time of 12.28, Eva Knowles in 42nd (12.45) and Isabelle Hartley in a time of 13.43 (48th).
Kate Cookson (2819) Keira Haxton (2823)
Amelia Burton (2816) Caroline Woodworth (2825)
Keira Booth (2821) Molly Grimshaw (2814)
Eva Knowles (2822) Isabelle Hartley (2815)
The Club’s U13 Boys finished in 3rd place on the day but have already won the Team and Individual Title for the season. Jonathan Brindle led the team home in 12th place clocking 13.51 and backed up well by Theo Watson in 14th spot (14.02) and Jack Paget-Fowler in 16th place (14.16) to complete the team counters. Daniel Smith ran a time of 14.41 in 23rd position followed by Saul Sharp in 26th (14.50) and Codie Dewhurst in 31st clocking 15.03.
Jonathan Brindle (2892) Theo Watson (2899)
Jack Paget-Fowler (232) Daniel Smith (2896)
Saul Sharp (2900) Codie Dewhurst (2898)
Eleesha Charnley led the Club home to 2nd place in the team competition in the U15 Girls Race as she placed 5th in a time of 14.12, being backed up by Leah Hoole in 12th place clocking 14.56 and Hollie Cubbon (16th) in a time of 15.49.
Eleesha Charnley
Leah Hoole (2826) Hollie Cubbon (2831)
David Holman had a very solid run to be the first counter for the Team in the U15 Boys Race placing 14th in a time of 13.36. Ethan Barbarewicz was the next home in 22nd spot (14.13) with Kyle Taylor-Pomfret making the third counting placed for the Team in 25th (14.23). George Whittaker came home in 32nd (15.08) with Rory Teare not far behind in 33rd (15.13), Sebastian Burton in 35th (15.20), Thomas Brooks (36th) in 15.25 and Danny Woodcock 37th in a time of 15.31.
L-R Thomas Brooks – Danny Woodcock – Kyle Taylor-Pomfret – Rory Teare – David Holan – Ethan Barbarewicz – Sebastian Burton – George Whittaker
David Holman (2911) Ethan Barbarewicz (2915)
Kyle Taylor-Pomfret (2910) George Whittaker (2913)
Rory Teare (2904) – Sebastian Burton (2905)
Danny woodcock (2912) – Thomas Brooks (2909)
Matt Ramsden had another impressive win in the U17 Men’s Race as he clocked a time of 18.49 with Sam Hodkinson, also with an impressive run in 2nd place with a time of 19.18. Harry Wilkinson and Jamie Teare made sure the team won the team race and the Team Title for the Series finishing in 16th (22.15) and 17th (22.33) respectively. Amy Davies took 3rd place in the U17 Women’s Race in a time of 15.01 behind Finty Royle and Bethany Reid of Chorley.
Matt Ramsden Sam Hodkinson
Harry Wilkin Jamie Teare
L-R Harry Wilkin – Matt Ramsden – Sam Hodkinson – Jamie Teare
Amy Davies
One hundred and thirty two runners in the Senior Women’s race which included four competing for Blackburn Harriers. Ellen Sagar-Hesketh had a very good run to take a top ten place and was the first Harrier across the finish line in 8th spot clocking a time of 24.00. Lindsay Davies was the next runner home for the Club in 22nd with a time of 26.07 and followed by Michelle Teare 55th in 28.57 and Helen Dawson-Smith in 78th place (30.20).
L-R Michelle Teare – Lindsay Davies – Helen Dawson-Smith)
Ellen Sagar-Hesketh (2847)
Lindsay Davies (2861)
Michelle Teare (2860)
Helen Dawson-Smith (430)
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Red Rose Cross Country League Presentation Evening
Cracking night at the Presentation with the Harriers picking up a host of Trophies and Medals. The Harriers Junior athletes concentrated on the Mid Lancs League but the U11 Boys still managed to take 2nd place overall with Matthew Smith and Oliver Gill 6th and 7th in the overall Individual standings.
Tim Raynes won the overall Series for the Senior Men and led the Club in winning the Team Series as well, with Ben Costello 5th and Chris Davies 10th overall in the Individual Standings. In addition Chris Davies won the V40 category, never losing a race. Tom Marchant finished 2nd overall in the U20’s age group category posting two second and one third place.
The Senior Women had a great year winning both the Senior Women’s Team and Vet Women’s Team Titles – added to which were wins for Carmen Byrne in the V40’s undefeated throughout the Series and equally undefeated in all four races was Joanne Nelson who won the V45 age group catgeory. Katie Buckingham was the leading woman in the Individual standings for the Harriers placing 4th overall.
Tim Raynes – Individual Senior Men’s Winner
Paul Brindle – Tim Raynes – Chris Davies – Senior Mens Team Winners for 3rd year in a row
Joanne Nelson & Lindsay Davies – Senior Women’s Team Winners and Vet Women’s Team Winners
Matthew Smith – U11 Boys Team 2nd to Trawden
L-R Time Raynes – Paul Brindle – Joanne Nelson – Lindsay Davies – Chris Davies with all the Trophies
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The Pride of Pendle
The Pride of Pendle is a competition devised by Blackburn Harriers John Orrell who likes nothing better than running the Fell Races. Here he describes what is involved in the competition which is open to any Blackburn Harrier who wishes to get involved. All races take place on Pendle Hill. The format is simple. The person to do the most races wins. In the event of a tie, the winner will be the most consistent. It doesn’t matter if you are fast or slow. He will take the time differences between your best and worst short, medium and long races. The shortest time will win.
Example you may do Pendle Cloughs in 2 1/2 hours and the Full Tour in 3. Time difference 30 mins. A slower runner may take and hour longer for each. Time difference 30 mins. So fast or slow you have an equal chance. You just need to turn up and race, and that’s the whole point!
Here are the races:
Saturday 2nd March. Stan Bradshaw Pendle Round. BM.
Wednesday 27th March. RPMRT Pendle Hill Night Race. BS.
Saturday, 6th April. Pendle. AS. Also Lancs Fell Champs for U19, U23
and Seniors.
Saturday, 11th May. Pendle Cloughs. AL.
Tuesday, 14th May. Mearley Clough. AS.
Saturday, 17th August. Pendle 3 Peaks. AM.
Saturday, 24th August. Pendleton. AS.
Saturday, 16th November. Tour of Pendle. AL.
So that’s it! The Pride of Pendle for the Witches Trophy. 8 races. Weekdays, weekends, day and night, all seasons. 4 short. 2 medium. 2 long. Take your pick.
The first race in the Competition for the Pendle of Witches Trophy – The Stan Bradshaw Pendle Round – took place on Saturday March 2nd and saw six Blackburn Harriers tackle the race – the first in the Series devised by John.
The race featured two hundred and fifty finishers and was won by Rob Hope in a time of 65.03. First home for the Harriers was John Horrocks who had another fine run on the Fells, placing 19th overall in a time of 74.20. Next home was Gary Pearse who ‘warmed up’ for this race running the National Cross Country Championships last weekend in 63rd spot in 83.57. Next Harriers home were Craig Greenough in 106th position (90.31) and great to see Matt Nuttall out again racing in 10th place (90.34). Ian Clarkson was the fifth Harrier in 161st spot (98.24) and he was followed in by Danny Teare 187th clocking 1hr 43.42.
Photos Courtesy of David Belshaw
John Horrocks
Gary Pearse
Craig Greenough
Matt Nuttall
Ian Clarkson (210) spoke to the Harriers about the day telling us “Stan Bradshaw Round, fell around Pendle Hill, just under 9 miles with approx 2000ft of climb, with ideal weather and ground conditions making for some excellent fell racing. Six Blackburn Harriers, John Horrocks, Gary Pearse, Craig Greenhough, Matt Nuttall, myself and Danny Teare, making the numbers for the Harriers. An excellent turnout for the club with cracking performances by all the lads. Personally for me to achieve a time of 1:38:24, it finished the race off perfectly. This is also the first race of John Orrell’s Blackburn Harriers Pride of Pendle Fell Championship, which takes in 8 fell races on the fells and slopes of Pendle Hill throughout the year, it’s all to race for”.
Danny Teare
After the Race Danny Teare..talked to the Club about the Race and the competition organised by John, commenting “The weather lifted enough to give near perfect conditions for the race. Started steady from the back and picked people off all the way round. Forgot the Garmin and enjoyed it a little more as a result. Some new Innov8s from the Pete Bland van afterwards, after some cake of course, to round it all off. Great BBH turnout to kick off the Pendle BBH fell champs. Well done to all the Harriers!”.
Danny Teare (207) & Ian Clarkson (210)
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Kong Winter Fell Series – Saturday March 2nd
One hundred and twenty one finishers in this race won by Carl Bell in a time of 28.52. John Orrell had entered the whole Series and he placed 97th in a time of 46.40.
Photos courtesy of Heidi Martin and Carlos Reina Photography.
John spoke to the Club afterwards and said “Loopy Latrigg, a 5 mile, 1509ft ascent, category AS race above Keswick. Final race of The Kong Winter Fell Race series. A perfect morning, and not what the forecast predicted. Some pretty steep ups and downs, track, forest and open fell. A good mix and a tough little race”.
John Orrell
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Ron Hill Accrington 10k – Sunday March 3rd
Another race with not the best of conditions for racing saw over five hundred runners finish the race won by Salford’s Jon Dance in a time of 35.29. Blackburn Harriers had three of their athletes in the first eight which saw Calum Holmes take 3rd place overall in a time of 36.56 whilst Annabel Ralph came home in 5th place and was the first woman clocking 38.28 with Pauline Powell in 8th place with a time of 38.53 – Pauline was also the first Veteran woman too and commented after the Race That she “was happy with my run today, and felt quite good to say ive missed alot of training and racing due to illness. Had a good battle all way round with Annabel and really enjoyed it. Looking forward now to getting race fit”.
U17 Harry Wilkin finished 24th with a time of 41.45. V40 Paul Whittaker clocked a time of 46.49 in 81st place followed by Harry’s dad – Mark Wilkin (V50) who ran a time of 47.57 in 113th spot. V45 Rebecca Woodworth was only just outside her personal best, coming home in 277th in a time of 55.48.
Annabel Ralph (343) – Pauline Powell (332)
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Haweswater Half Marathon – Sunday March 3rd
Rob Afleck won this half-marathon at the head of a field of 337 runners, posting a winning time of 74.13. Four Blackburn Harriers ran the race – Victoria Mousley, Samantha McCreadie, Carly Edwards and Carol Reilly.
Victoria was first home for the Club in 35th place running a time of 89.59, with Sam in 74th (1hr 35.36), Carly in 86th place with a time of 1hr 37.51 and Carol in 111th (1hr 43.57).
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Settle Half Marathon – Sunday March 3rd
Just short of two hundred runners ran this half-marathon won by David Smithers in 80.25. Paul Brindle and Joanne Nelson both in this, described by Joanne as ‘tough’ given the terrain and the weather.
Paul had a very good run to place 4th overall in a time of 82.34 whilst Joanne came home in 18th place and 3rd Woman on the day, clocking 1hr 36.13.
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Podium – Saturday March 2nd
Oseama Meslek (Leeds City AC) won the 84 strong ‘A’ Race in a time of 14.42 with Rosie Clarke (Epsom & Ewell Harriers) the first Woman in 16.10. Josh Holgate clocked a time of 16.08 in 37th position which was a new PB for him by half a minute and given the weather on the night in what were generally described as pretty appalling conditions which was unfortunate for the race itself.
Fifty five runners in the ‘B’ Race won by Seb Patrick (Trafford) in 17.08 – Elizabeth Renondeau was first Woman in 17.24. John Foster came home in 18th spot clocking 18.11 which was his first race of the year and his first time over the distance which bodes well.
John Foster 757
