Starting on the Fells this week – at the Stanbury Splash which is run over 6.7mile with 1200ft of climb – starting from Penistone Hill Country Park and circuiting the upper reaches of Ponden Clough and Stanbury Moor. One hundred and ninety runners completed this race and among them was Blackburn Harriers Louisa Powell-Smith – and what a race she had. Winning the race, taking 1st V45 and 1st vet and 12th in the whole race overall with a time of 54.30, some four minutes in front of the 2nd place woman from Bury, Sophie Whittaker. A very happy Louisa spoke to the Club after her win, telling us that she “Loved every minute of today’s run – fast and furious in foggy conditions, with some brutally steep climbs and flying descents. Proper fell running at its best“.
Louisa Powell-Smith (438) – photo courtesey of www.woodentops.org
L-R Sophie Whittaker – Louisa Powell-Smith – Jenny Roberts – photo courtesey of www.woodentops.org
Over in America, Blackburn Harriers Hammer thrower – Charlotte Williams – was out in competition again, this time at the 2026 Jimmy Carnes Track and Field College Open and Masters Womens Weight Throw College event held on January 15th. Charlotte held the school record for this at 16.79m and in winning the competition, broke her own record with a new PB distance of 17.02m and told the Club after the competition that she was “happy she broke the record and was looking to build on that“.
(RESULTS) — (Charlotte’s Video)
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All things Indoors this week where Sportcity was hosting the third of its Winter Indoor Series Meetings. Starting off with the 60m races – Blackburn Harriers U17 Ernie Hobson was the first of the Clubs athletes to compete on the day, clocking 7.35 in 3rd place (Heat 15). Heat 21 saw U17 Grace iLunga clock 8.99 in 5th place followed by a win for U15 Darcie Belshaw in Heat 25, running 8.44. Next up in Heat 27 was U15 Mimi iLunga running 9.22 in 5th spot followed in Heat 28 by Mia Logan clocking 9.73 in 4th place. The first of the field events saw Tamzin Osborne clear 2.80m in a mixed pool of six female and four male athletes – Tamzin placing 3rd U20W. Following his 60m Race Ernie Hobson then went and won his Heat 15 of the 200m clocking 23.89 to cross the line in first place.
In the 600m Logan McCredie took this on for the second time this winter and clocked a new PB time of 1.25.32 in 4th spot in his Heat which was won in 1.24.15 (Heat 1). In Heat 7 U17’s Charlotte Smith and Bella McCredie were involved – Charlotte taking the win in 1.40.78 after charging to the front after 100m and staying there, in her first ever indoor race, whilst team mate Bella clocked 1.47.74 in 5th place – Bella then backed up that run with a 2nd place time of 29.30 in her Heat 21 of the 200m races. In further field events bottom of age U15 Harry Mitchell cleared 1.25m in the High Jump whilst in the A Pool in the Shot Putt – bottom of age U17 Imogen Cripps took 2nd place in the competition covering 22 throwers with a distance of 10.08m – a fine performance. Back onto the 200m races and in Heat 24 U15 Iona Bell clocked 27.63 in 3rd place followed by U15 Darcie Belshaw clocking 28.42 in 3rd place (Heat 25) and U15 Georgina Andrews placing 4th in Heat 27 with a time of 30.13.
(RESULTS)
Charlotte Smith
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