Another fabulous day at the Ribble Valley 10k – sponsored by forbes solicitors – at a sold out race witnessing some great perforamances not least of whuch was the run by winner Marc Scott who broke his own race record of 28.58 set in 2018, when he went through the finishing line to rapturous support by spectatiors and officials alike in a time of 28.32. In 2nd place came Ben Dijkstra also breaking the previous race record as he clocked 28.53 with Charlie Grice and his 28.54 clocking in 3rd, meant that the first three athletes across the line were all inside the previous race record.

This year the Ribble Valley 10k Race saw an increase in Prize Money with a big rise also in the Race Record Bonus to £500.00. So for Marc Scott he added £300 for winning the race to £500 for breaking his own record for a total earnings of £800. In the Women’s Race which has the exact same prize money as the Men, Jess Judd picked up £300 for winning and just missed out on another £500 for the race record. Total money paid out in prizes and all in cash, amounted to £2690 which reflects the ethos of the race that Blackburn Harriers believes in and that is returning some of the entry fees back to the competing athletes in the form of prize money and if you are good enough to win more than one prize, you get all that you win and are not reduced to just one prize as is often the case in other races. Given that it costs around £16000 to put on the race, the prize money given back is quite substantial.

Marc Scott – Race Winner

Jess Judd – Women’s Race Winner

Some of the other winners being presented with their prizes by John Bennett on behalf of Race Sponsors forbesolcitors.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The quality of the race could be seen by the fact that positions 4 through to 12 all had sub 30 minute clockings,  places 13 through to 33 all broke 31 minutes and from 34 through to 53 all ran under 32 minutes. The Women’s race saw a a great run from Jess Judd to take first prize in a new official PB time of 32.17 which was just 10 seconds outside the race record set by Beth Potter in 2018 (32.07). Great battle for 2nd and 3rd places with Manx athlete Rachael Franklin edging it in a time of 33.24 with Camebridge & Coleridge’s Holly Archer in 3rd with her 33.37 clocking. The depth in the women’s race was also in evidence as Jacqueline Fairchild ran a time of 33.36 in 92nd, Lucy Crookes in 111th (34.23), Junior female Olivia Mason (34.31) in 112th, Claire Duck 113th with a time of 34.33, Anna Bracegirdle clocked 34.14 in 116th spot, Georgia Malir ran 34.47 (121st), Julie Briscoe (34.57) in 126th, Tracy Barlow in 130th place (35.01), Rachel Friend with a time of 35.07  in 132nd, Emily Japp running a time of 35.11 in 133rd, Abi Howarth in 140th (35.34), Sally Ratcliffe with 35.42 in 146th spot and Alice Leake (148th) in a time of 35.42.

RESULTS

Blackburn Harriers had to provide all the Marshals, volunteers and helpers to ensure that the race went smoothly and in addtion still managed to field 36 athletes in the race which was a pretty good achievement, achieving nine new personal bests and fourteen seasons bests times.

Leading the Harriers home was Rob Warner in 11th place overall clocking a new officlal PB of 29.45 – this after being timed at 29.31 at Leeds Abbey Dash which turned out to be short. Tim Raynes was next home in 29th spot clocking a seasons best time of 30.51 with Ben Fish in 32nd and also clocking a seasons best time of 30.55. Fourth Harrier to cross the finish line was Karl Billington who is getting faster with each race, running a seasons best 31.43 in 44th place. Jess Judd who won the Women’s race came 64th overall and ran a new official PB of 32.17 and similar to Rob was clocked at Leeds Abbey Dash at 32.11 which turned out to be short.

Rob Warner

Tim Raynes

Ben Fish (10)

Karl Billington (17)

Jess Judd

Jacob Watson recorded the third new PB of the day for the club as he knocked 6 seconds off his best to come home with 32.33 (69th) followed in quick succession by a seasons best runs for Ben Costello of 32.45 (72nd), another seasons best for Marc Hartley in 75th of 32.52 and a seasons best too for Josh Holgate of 32.59 (78th). The seasons best times kept coming with Chris Davies in 88th position running 33.20 and Tom Marchant in 102nd spot clocking 34.07.

Jacob Watson (1585)

Ben Costello (29)

Marc Hartley (726)

Josh Holgate

Chris Davies (465)

Tom Marchant (79)

The fourth new PB of the day by a Harrier came from Calum Holmes as he clipped 4 seconds off his previous best running 34.11 (104th) and he was followed by a 5th new PB for U20 Joe Gebbie, knocking 7 seconds off his previous best to run a time of 34.35. Jack Hindle was the next through the line in 136th spot (35.19), followed by John Horrocks in his first ever 10k road race in 155th and running a time of 36.05.

Callum Holmes (783)

Joe Gebbie (621)

Jack Hindle (760)

John Horrocks (795)

Nick Smith made it half a dozen new PB’s on the day for the Harriers as he knocked a real chunk off his previous best of 38 seconds to set a new PB of 36.17 (163rd), followed by new PB number 7 run by Annabel Ralph clocking 35.47 in 165th. Paul Guinan – Senior Men’s captain ran a season best time of 37.16 (198th) followed by a whopping new PB for U17 Harry Wood who in running a time of 38.03, chopped a huge one minute and 28 seconds off his oprevious best time.

Nick Smith (1420)

Annabel Ralph (1271)

Paul Guinan (679)

Harry Wood (1664)

Jonny Murphy was next home in 207th place (37.26) followed by more seasons best came headed by Joe Howe (218th) in 37.50, Paul Brindle in 229th (38.16), Matt Nuttall in only his second race of 2019 (235th) clocking 38.29 and Danny Maynard running 38.51 (247th).

Jonny Murphy (1109)

Joe Howe (808)

Paul Brindle (276)

Matt Nuttall (434)

Danny Maynard (1015)

V60 Tony Greenwood is still competing and ran a time of 40.04 in 288th spot, followed by Jonathan Bridge in a seasons best time of 40.13 (295th), U17 Harry Wilkin in 331st (41.18), a seasons best for Rachael Gavin (41.18) in 336th, U20 Maddie Elliott (42.27) in 381st, John Cookson in 441st (43.59), Paul Jeffries finishing in 449th (44.08), Charlotte Atkinson (43.53) in 461st, Lindsay Davies with a seasons best of 44.43 in 466th, Hannah Cookson coming home in 526th and losing the bragging rights with her dad, clocking 46.10, Mark Wilkin for the Harriers ninth new PB of the day of 47.30 in 608th and Michelle Teare running a seasons best time of 52.04 in 793rd place.

Tony Greenwood (662)

Jonathan Bridge (272)

Harry Wilkin (1624)

Rachael Gavin (619)

Maddie Elliott (540)

John Cookson (407)

Paul Jeffries (855)

Charlotte Atkinson (178)

Hannah Cookson (408)

Mark Wilkin (1625)

Michelle Teare (1507)

Northern Athletics chose the Race to once again host the Northern 10k Road Championsips which always produces an excellent contest for the Podium positions and Medals which are presented to the first three Senior Men, First three Senior Women and and first three Male and Female Teams.

Photos include Individual and Team Medal Winners with John Bennett of forbessolicitors and Stan Taylor 2019 Northern Athletics President making the presentations.

 

 

 

 

 

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