Forty eight years ago Blackburn Harriers Mick Morton went to Lubeck in Germany to race a 3000m which he covered in a time of 8.00.10, agonsingly close to breaking the eight minute barrier. In December 2025 David Holman came the closest to breaking that time, running 8.00.68 indoors in the US. So, when Matt Ramsden lined up The Belfast Classic that took place at the Mary Peters track in Belfast on Saturday May 9th, he did so with a personal best time of 8.04.65 clocked at a BMC Grand Prix race at Birmingham University on July 6th 2024. Not only did Matt set a new PB by a whopping 14 seconds (7.50.48) placing 4th overall, he broke the eight minute barrier and established a new Club Record, of which, he is immensely proud. The winner was Henry McLuckie (7.43.64) who broke Steve Ovett’s record of 7.44.83 set in 1987.  Blackburn Harriers Isabel Holt was also racing at this meeting – in the Women’s 3000m International which was won by Sweden’s Carmen Cernjul in 8.56.98. Isabel clocked 9.46.59. (RESULTS).

Matt’s 3000m race in Belfast preceded the announcement that Matt has been selected to run for Great Britain in the European Cup 10000m to be run in Italy. Massive congratulations to Matt on his latest GB vest and just reward for all the hard work he has put in over the last ten years.

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This weekend – May 9th & 10th – saw the holding of this years Lancashire County T&F Championships with Lancashire Athletics saying they were pleased to see the numbers of entrants increased from 2025. Generally speaking the weather held for the weekend – apart from the wind which seems to be a permanent feature of track athletics at the moment. A new addition to the Championships was the introduction of Roster which meant for those who had downloaded the App on to their phones, they had the timetable.starter lists and importantly, the results available immediately following the individual events.

Lancashire T&F Championships (Day 1) Photos – (HERE) – on Blackburn Harriers Facebook Page

Lancashire T&F Championhips (Day 2) Photos – (HERE 1) – (HERE 2) – on Blackburn Harriers Facebook Page

Blackburn Harriers had a lot of athletes throughout the various age groups over the two days, performing very well, setting new personal besta and most importantly, winning medals and being on the podium. In total the Harriers athletes won 27 Gold, 20 Silver, 13 Bronze and set 55 new personal bests. Considering that a number of the athletes were making their first appearances at a Championships, it says much about the future and the potential.

In terms of Medals  the following athletes all finished up on the podium – James Acton Grieves (S in HJ; B in 300mH; G in PV; S in Discus: G in 100m H) – Tomi Birch (G in 100m;) – Jacob Fisher (B in 100m & 200m) – Keir Michie (S in 100m & B in 200m) – Caris Peter-Thomas (G in 100m & S in 200m) – Xuanqiao Liang (B in 100) – Billy Rowbotton (G in 100m & G in 200m); Georgia Brambles (S in 1500m & S in 800m) – Millie Jordan (G in 800m & 1500m) – Oliver Holden (S in Discus & G in 80m H) – Henry Ward (B in 1500m) – Sam Aspey (S in 1500m) – Freya Neild (S in 1500m) – Holly Moffatt (G in 1500m & 800m) – Lottie Hesketh (S in 1500m) – Olivia Thomasson (G in Javelin) – Loucas Lancashire (G in Javelin & S in Discus) – George Camara (G in 110mH) – Joseph McKay (S in 100mH) – Kai Addison (B in 100mH & G in 300mH) – Logan McCredie (S in Long Jump & G in 400m) – Jack Wood (G in 3000m) – Matthew Griffiths (G in Javelin & Gold in Shot Putt) – Agatha Taylor (G in 400m) – Madeline Partridge (G in Hammer & G in Discus) – Keira Haxton (B in 800m) – Ben Stratton (G in 800m) – Ethan Cutler (S in 800m) – Bella McCredie (S in 800m) – Isabelle Perry (S in 800m) – Max Winstanley (S in 800m) – Emily Rowbottom (G in Howler) – Harry Mitchell (B in HJ) – Charlotte Smith (S in 800m) –Thomas Stewart (B in 800m) – Millie Pilkington (S in 400mH) – Joe Monk (G in 5000m) – Tamzin Osborne (S in PV) – Matthew Sharples (G in 200m & 400m).

L-R Max Winstanley – Henry Ward – Max Belshaw – Matt Haxton

A huge number of new personal bests were set and among them U14 Noah Briscoe (4.70m in LJ); 13.5 in 100m) – U14 Harry Mitchell (4.38m in LJ) – U14 Oliver Holden (14.2 in 80mH & 15.37m in DT) – U14 Matthew Griffiths (30.51 in JT; 10.81m In SP) – U14 Billy Rowbottom (12.4 in 100m) – U14 Xuanqiao Liang (13.2 in 100m) – U14 Conan Beare (14.0 in 100m) – U14 Charlie Campbell (14.5 in 100m) – U14 Grace Topping (13.8 in 100m) – U14 Maizie Cooke (13.9 in 100m) – U14 Lily Mae Newton (2,32,2 in 800m; 5.18.7 in 1500m;  29.9 in 200m) – U14 Pippa Blackburn (2.43.2 in 800m) – U14 Thomas Stewart (2.14.8 in 800m & 4.36.2 in 1500m) – U14 Will Jenner (2.17.0 in 800m) – U14 Ben Hawksworth (2.35.0 in 800m) – U14 Isobel Longden (29.1 in 200m) – U14 Georgia Brambles (4.47.4 in 1500m) – U14 Sophie Douglas (5.23.0 in 1500m)

L- R Lily Mae-Newton – Pippa Blackburn

U16 Zakariya Haq (4.58m in LJ & 30.19 in JT) – U16 Marika Behkne (28.40m in JT) – James Acton-Grieves (15.2 in 100mH; 1.60m in HJ; 44.0 in 300mH; 24.20m in DT) – U16 Alice McGuiness (16.4 in 80mH) – U16 Darcie Belshaw ( 42.7 in 300m) – U16 Georgina Andrews (46.4 in 300m & 53.4 in 300mH) – U16 Charlotte Smith (2.21.6 in 800m) ) – U16 Elliot James (37.0 in 300m) – U16 Rebekah Sullivan (14.9 in 100m) – U16 Evie Dougan (13.4 in 100m) – U16 Madeline Partridge (32.51m in DT & 44.82m in HT) – U16 Kai Addison (42.7 in 300mH) – Millie Jordan (4.41.5 in 1500m) – U16 Eliza Garcia (28.3 in 200m) – U18 Max Winstanley (1.58.1 in 800m) – U18 Matthew Haxton (2.02.9 in 800m) – U18 Max Belshaw ( 2.02.9 in 800m) – Isabelle Perry ( 2.27.5 in 800m) – U18 Agata Tomasz (13.6 in 100m) – U18 Giuseppe Vozzolo ( 12.1 in 100m) – Olivia Thomasson (35.13m In JT) – U18 Lottie Hesketh (5.04.8 in 1500m) – U20 Holly Moffatt (4.50.0 in 1500m) – U20 Freya Neild (4.58.5 in 1500m) – Agatha Taylor (58.2 in 400m).

L-R Marika Behkne – Imogen Cripps

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The popular Astley Park Trail Race Series opened up on Wednesday May 6th, the first of four races over the next few months with quite a few Blackburn Harriers taking part in the Series. Tom Belcher was the first winner running 21.56 with Blackburn Harriers Danny Maynard in 2nd place in a time of 22.40. V50 Mark Almond came across the finishing line in 6th place (22.46) and just one place further back and by just three seconds came V50 Marco Pacelli in 23.49. Vikki Robertshaw won the Women’s Race running 24.00 and this following her successful run in the London Marathon just a couple of weeks ago. V40 Dominic Bretherton came home in a time of 24.43 (15th) and Isabella Pacelli was 5th in the Women’s race and 2nd Junior Woman in a time of 26.28 followed in by Mary O’Gorman who placed 6th in the Women’s race, running 26.38. V40 Natalie Jordan was running only her second race for Blackburn Harriers and ran 30.27 alongside V50 Sarah Krige running 33.44. A certain Ranveer Bretherton, known to everyone at Blackburn Harriers also ran in the race, finishing with a time of 33.53. (RESULTS). The evening always includes a Junior Race which had fifty two youngsters taking part with Amelia Pacelli taking 6th place overall and 1st in her F13 age group category (5.39) along with Sebastian Walker who ran in the M8 age group category in a time of 7.22 (RESULTS)

Photos all by Rebecca Bretherton

Over the weekend of May 9th and 10th, a number of Blackburn Harriers were out racing on the Roads and Fells. Stephen Hall took on the Blacksticks Blue 10k which was won by Rossendale’s Rob Webb (34.07). Stephen had a good run to place 4th overall and 1st V50 with a time of 37.42.

Stephen Hall

The Pin Haw Moor Fell race  was run on Friday May 8th with one hundred and sixty seven finishers including a couple of Blackburn Harriers – U18 Peter Sagar-Moss and V50 Mark Taylor, one of the Harriers Endurance Coaches. Settle’s Matthew Heppenstall won the race (30.46.8) as Peter took 22nd spot overall, running 36.44.5 and although being an U18 was placed 1st in the U20 age category. Mark, who had overcome a very bad injury last year had a good run in 53rd spot, with a time of 41.09.1 and 5th V50. (RESULTS)

Mark Taylor – Photo courtesy of www.woodentops.org.uk

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