Our latest report covering the activities and competitions of Blackburn Harriers athletes, starts off, not with an actual competition, but a recognition of the achievements of an athlete who first won the National Cross Country Championships in the U13 Girls age group category back in 1991, some 35 years ago. Her name is Louisa Powell-Smith, now a V45 Woman (48yrs old) and on Friday February 28th she was present at the Annual Red Rose Cross Country League Awards night, recognising the winners in all age categories throughout the 2025 cross country season, which took place between October and December of that year. Louisa took everything before her – she was the First Woman overall in the Series, First Veteran Woman and First V45 Woman in the Series, a remarkable performance and one that demonstrates what hard work, focus and consistency can actually achieve. Her next target is the Lancashire Fell Running Champiomnships and we wish her well.
Louisa Powell-Smith adding to her impressive collection of trophies
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On the same evening Blackburn Harriers Joe Monk and Maddie Elliott were in action on the streets of London – at the FNUL X Sportsshoes Podium x ADI 5K in Batterse Park. Joe went into the race with a personal best time for the 5k of 14.42 set in 2025. He destroyed that time, knocking close to half a minute off it and recording a new PB time of 14.16.3. Afterwards, Joe told the Club what it meant to him, commenting “Absolutely elated with all the hard work paying off. Can’t wait for what the rest of the year has in store“. Maddie had gone into the race – only her second of the year so far, with a personal best of 17.30 and had run 37.44 at the Valencia 10k earlier in February. On the night she ran 18.17.9 and told us that it “really didn’t go to plan, just one of those nights! No injury though so a step in the right direction“.
(Elite Men’s Race Results) — (Elite Women’s Race Results)
Joe Monk
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Back to cross country racing for the final fixture in the 2025 – 2026 Mid Lancs Cross Country League which was held in Ryelands Park, Lancaster on Saturday February 28th. This season saw only four fixtures being held instead of the usual six, explained by the fact that it is becoming increasingly difficult to find suitable courses, with car parking, to facilitate the events. Too many fixtures also comes into play and many would agree, that after the Nationals have been held, that the season should conclude with the Inter-Counties and English Schools cross championships. The prospect of running three consecutive weekends in cross country – Mid Lancs, Inter-Counties & English Schools certainly played a part in reducing the numbers of athletes who competed on the day, many of whom, will be getting ready for both end of season championships. (PROVISIONAL RESULTS).
ALL PHOTOS ON BLACKBURN HARRIERS FACEBOOK PAGE – (HERE)
Good to see Hugh Russell-Blackburn back running in the U11 Boys race in whiuch he placed 13th out of 47 youngsters finishing the race. Four girls took part in the U13 Girls Race featuring thirty nine runners with the team finishing in 5th place in the team competition. Ruby Glover led the girls home in 16th place running 9.30 with team mates Sophie Douglas in 18th spot (9.49), Pippa Blackburn in 23rd running 10.11 and Mya Chadwick coming home in 25th place (10.14). The U13 Boys also finished in 5th place in the team competition led by an impressive run from Edward Russell-Blackburn who took the race on and led on the first lap before finishing in 3rd spot – 39 runners in the race in total – in a time of 10.54. Edward was supported by team mates Ben Hawksworth running 11.52 in 19th spot, Harry Mitchell in 29th with a time of 12.56 and William Fairwood running 14.06 in 36th place.
Edward Russell-Blackburn (89)
Ruby Glover (75)
Just two athletes in the U15 Boys race which had 29 runners. Bendict Raby came home in 5th place riunning 13.43 with team mate Oliver North running 15.14 in 20th position. Well done to Isabelle Perry, our only U17 Woman on the day who placed 4th out of 16 runners in a time of 15.28. The U17 Men, who had already won the Series still had a number of athletes racing – seven in all – with two having to drop out after falling and picking up slight knocks in the race. Jack Wood led the team home to 3rd place on the day behind Sedbergh in 2nd and Southport the winners. Jack placed 6th in a time of 20.11 with team mates Theo Robinson in 9th (20.24), Peter Sagar-Moss running 21.29 in 16th, Thomas North in 17th spot (22.05) and Liam Bennison placing 19th with a time of 23.08. Just two women in the Senior Women’s race – Ella Sagar-Hesketh having her best run to-date after giving birth, placing 11th overall in a time of 25.12 and well run too by Mary O’Gorman who came home in 43rd spot out of one hundred and twenty five runners, in a time of 27.49. The Men’s Senior race featuring one huindred and seventy five runners had three from Blackburn Harriers on the start line – Ben Akin who took a top 10 finish with a time of 33.34 in 9th spot followed by Vet 55 Mark Almond in 82nd place running 40.48 and V55 Craig Greenhough in 100th position in a time of 42.11.
Ben Akin (1000)
Ellen Sagar-Hesketh (210)
And back to the Road with Holly Nicholls 15yr old taking on the Roberttown 10k on Sunday March 1st and finishing 3rd female in the Women’s race and first junior female in a time of 49.18 and that after being bitten by a dog during the race itself. (RESULTS)
Holly Nicholls
