A great way to start off this week’s report is to acknowledge the fine run by Blackburn Harriers Matt Ramsden who was running for England’s U23 Team in the Corsa dei Castelli 10k road race in Trieste on Sunday 19th October – the team consisting of Matt, Sam Hodgson, Chris Coulson and Finlay Ward. The race produced an exciting finish with Italy’s Amorin Gerbeti taking the win in 29.22 from Stefano Benzoni, also Italy in 29.24 and Swiss athlete Nino Freitag in 3rd 2925 – Matt being given the same time as 3rd place with 29.25 and first counter for England – just three seconds separating the first four athletes across the finishing line.  (RESULTS) Speaking to the Harriers after his race, Matt said that it was a “Tough finish. Gave it everything but didn’t have enough and got pipped for 3rd“. Having been pipped on the line for the Podium place, Matt didn’t miss out on the Medals as he led the England team home into Silver Medal position. Afterwards Matt spoke to the Harriers about his race, telling us “It was a great experience to test myself on the international stage against some really good runners and I am happy with my performance. Considering the fragmented build up to this race I am really happy to have been competitive and give it my everything. Unfortunately I didn’t have enough to get on the podium but I gave it my all which is all I can do. The lads packed really well to come away with a team silver! Competing at an international level provides invaluable experience and hopefully I can continue this journey. Thank you to England Athletics for the opportunity!”

Matt Ramsden in 2nd place

England Team being presented with their Silver Medals

This years cross country season continues to be run in good conditions with an absence of rain and wind and little or no mud. Graves Park in Sheffield was once again the venue for this years Northern Cross Country Relay Championships and was held on a day with little wind, no rain, firm gorund and no rain. Blackburn Harriers were a little down on Entries but still had an U13B team, U15G team, two U17W’s teams, three U17 Men’s teams and two Senior Men’s teams. The atmosphere and encouragement among our athletes was first class, with every one cheering on their team mates and the day as a whole, a joyous one.

All Photos on Blackburn Harriers Facebook Page – (HERE)

First race off was the U17 Women which had the Harriers A team taking a top ten place as they came home in 9th spot with a combined time of 26.53 – Lottie Hesketh running 8.49 on Leg 1 in 14th, followed by Emma Robertshaw on Leg 2 (9.03) and pulling back one place before Agatha Taylor gained another four places with time of 9.00. The B team unfortunately was part team but the girls were no less enthusiastic and competitive starting with Bella McCredie on Leg 1 running 9.54 and Isabelle Perry on Leg 2 in a time of 8.59.

L-R Lottie Hesketh – Emma Robertshaw – Isabelle Perry – Bella McCredie – Agatha Taylor

There was another top ten team finish in the U17 Men’s race where we had three teams placing 7th,14th and 26th. Sam Aspey led off the A team with the 7th fastest Leg of the day (6.59) followed by team mates Max Winstanley on the second Leg (7.28) and Jack Wood on the final Leg (7.11). Our second team of Henry Ward, William Grundy and Theo Robinson finished in 14th position with a combined time of 22.23 – Henry running 7.09 on the first Leg, William 7.30 on Leg 2 and Theo finishing with 7.43 on the final Leg. The Harriers third team of Max Belshaw (7.44) in 29th place handed over to George Holman (8.07) who maintained that position and finally onto Loucas Lancashire also 8.07 finished, picking up three places as the team crossed the line 26th place

Black Row – L-R – William Grundy – Max Winstanley – Henry Ward – Sam Aspey – Max Belshaw – Front Row – L-R Jack Wood – George Holman – Theo Robinson – Loucas Lancashire

Our U13 Boys team was up next which featured Thomas Stewart, Edward Russell Blackburn and Magnus Taylor combining to run 18.22 for the three Legs in 25th place overall – Thomas got the team off to a very good start in 10th place with his time of 5.38 followed by team mates Edward on Leg 2 with 5.53 and Magnus who had stepped in at the last minute to make up the team running 6.51 on the final Leg. Millie Jordan, Holly Nicholls and Charlotte Smith were the three athletes – in that order – who took on the U15 Girls race, missing a top ten finish by just five seconds as they came home in 11th place with a combined time of 24.28 – posting the 3rd fastest Leg of the day, Millie got the team off to a flyer, bringing the team home in 2nd place with a time of 7.32 followed by Holly on Leg 2 running 8.42 in 12th spot and Charlotte picking up another place on the final Leg with her time of 8.13.

L-R Holly Nicholls – Millie Jordan – Charlotte Smith

Final Race of the day for the Harriers was the Senior Men’s race featuring 60 Club teams with two from Blackburn Harriers – one full and one part team. Ross Harrison had a flyer on the first Leg for the A team, running the third fastest leg of the day, only bettered by Alfie Manthorpe (9.41) and Calum Johnson (9.26) as he came home in 2nd spot with a time of 9.50. Leg 2 had Hayden Mercer stepping up at the last minute into the A team coming home in 9th spot (11.10) followed by Isamel Alavrez El Hassany running his first ever cross country race for the Harriers, maintaining that place, running 11.15 with Jack Lamb running the 2nd fastest Leg for the team (11.07) finishing in 12th place. Ethan Cutler, Logan McCredie and Tom Monks were all up for running even though they weren’t in a complete team and did well – Ethan running 11.23 on Leg 1, Logan 11.42 on Leg 2 and Tom 12.02 on Leg 3.

L-R Ethan Cutler – Thomas Monks – Logan McCredie – Hayden mercer – Ross Harrison – Ismael Alvarez El Hassany – Jack Lamb

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Slightly worse day weather wise on Sunday October 20th as the the Trafford 10k took place featuring 1150 finishers and won by Lewis Jagger in 29.32 with Matt Clowes in 2nd (29.41) and Ed Bovingdon in 3rd (29.53) – (RESULTS)  Blackburn Harriers Joe Monk was hoping to have a good run in this race which is what he did, coming home in 21st spoot running 30.48, a seasons best time and his best time for a couple of years. Speaking to the Harriers after the race Joe told us that he was “Really chuffed with the race. Through 5k in 15:16 feeling good, hit a rough patch 5-7k but held it together and ran a 65 second last 400m! The training with the group is paying off. Excited to get back into training.”  V50 Stephen Hall was also giving this race a go and had a good run, placing 4th V50 and 161st overall with a time of 35.38, his second fastest of the year so far.  (RESULTS)

Joe Monk – (photo courtesey of Mick Hall)

Stephen Hall – (phot courtesy of Mick Hall)

Still on the road and this in Amsterdam where Paul Bradshaw – a 1.47m 800m PB some years ago – is now involved in more endurance races and has give the Marthaon a go on a number of occassions: And what a good run he had in Amsterdam, clocking a new PB by some 8 minutes, as he came home in a time of 2.47.20 and telling the Club that he “Ran it even, clicked at 3:55 -3:58ks all the way.Still figuring the marathon out but getting the hang of it slowly!“

Paul with son Seb

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