Starting off in the US with this latest report for Blackburn Harriers athletes with David Holman who was competing in the 1500m at the Raleigh Relays meeting held on March 28th  at the Paul Derr Track & Field Facility in Raleigh, North Carolina. David finisahed 4th in the race with a new PB time of 3.52. 52 and told the Harriers afterwards “Ran 3:52.52, small pb. No one wanted to take the race on so I went and took it out to make it a decent race. Conditions were a bit windy but apart from that I’m happy with it. Nice to run 2 pbs already this season so far. I know a way faster time is there, just need to wait for it to happen.” (VIDEO).

Charlotte Williams was competing in the Wichita State Shocker Spring Invite in Kansas at the weekend in the Women’s Hammer in not the best of conditions but still managed a seasons best —  three of her six throws being over 57m with a best of 57.65m in 3rd place out of a field of 15 Hammer Throwers. (RESULTS). The conditions were far rom ideal as can be seen in this VIDEO. Speaking to the Harriers after her competition Charlotte commented “Happy to get a small seasons best, feel the good feelings in the throw and get more prepared for competitions coming up. I will go to Arizona this next week and compete there to inch my way up again!“

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The track and field season opened up early with a meeting held at Blackpool’s Stanley Park on Saturday March 30th and hosted by Blackpool, Wyre & Fylde AC. A number of Blackburn Harriers were keen to see how winter training had gone, resulting in some new PB’s and good performances. (RESULTS). Senior thrower for the Harriers – Anthony Kent – took on three throws, Hammer, Discus and Shot and opened up the day with a new PB in the Hammer in 2nd place with a throw of 50.56m. Ava Leigh had a very good day in the Hammer too, winning the competition out of a field of ten with a seasons opening throw of 50.78m and spoke to the Club following the competition “Very happy with an over 50m opener and am excited for the rest of the season, just a shame my hammer wire decided to snap on my second throw!  Anthony went on to compete in the Discus and Shot – taking 4th place in the Discus with 37.34m and taking the win in the Shot Putt with a distance of 11.56m. In the Jumps Callum McKone won the 12 strong competition with a leap of 4.02m alongside team mate Lucas Pickens who came 4th out of 12 with a new PB of 3.52m.

Ava Leigh (117)

On the track bottom of age U17 George Camara was making his debut over the 100m Hurdles – moving up from the U15B 80m Hurdles. Unfortunately he was the only U17 there and ran with two seniors (110mH) and had a good run with his time of 15.9 on debut over the height and distance. First year U15 Millie Jordan who has just come off a very good cross country season had a cracking day – finishing 2nd in a 12 strong field over 800m to smash her personal best with a new PB time of 2.19.8, close to nine seconds improvement. Millie then backed that up with a new PB in the 200m clocking 30.2 in 7th spot and afterwards she told us “I really enjoyed my first track event of the season, especially getting 2 PB’S in the 800 and 200, and I can’t wait to see how I will get on in my upcoming races!“

Millie Jordan – 200m (68)

Turning to the 100m and it was a big new PB for first year U17 Daniel Bretherton as he knocked a full second off his previous best to clock a new personal best time of 12.1 in 3rd place in his Heat with team mate George Camara in 7th also running a new PB time of 12.9 – a half second improvement. Callum McKone who won the Long Jump on the day clocked 14.9 in his Heat of the U13 Boys 100m (5th) followed by a 4th placed finish in his Heat of the 200m, running 32.7. Lucas Pickens added a second new PB of the day as he ran 15.5 in 3rd place in his Heat, a seven tenths improvement. Not done there, Lucas then had his first ever go at 200m running 33.1 in 5th spot. Daniel Bretherton was having a great day – after smashing his 100m perosnal best, he went on to replicate the performance in the 400m, knocking two and half seconds off his previous best to set a new PB of 55.2 – in a race where he was the only U17, all others being seniors.

George Camara (202) – Daniel Bretherton (199)

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Starting off the Easter weekend with Blackburn Harriers Paul Bradshaw, Nick Gaskell and Paul Guinan at the annual Salford 10k which is always run on the same date each year. (RESULTS). The race was by Sheffield’s Alex Ediker in 31.42 with Ilkley’s Edward Hobbs in 2nd (31.51) and Shrewsbury’s Ellis Garamszegi in 3rd spot (32.11). First home across the finishing line for the Harriers was Paul in a seasons best time of 34.33 in 21st place telling us “Used a lot of gas going into the wind on the second lap and struggled in the last mile. Enjoyed the race on the whole.” Next home were team mates V50 Nick in 44th place (35.11) telling the Club “I had a decent run off the back of some consistent training months. Hopefully chip away now on the times“; and 3rd V50 and V50 Paul commenting “Hard, windy and a great way to start the Bank Holiday!!” running 39.36 in 136th spot out of a field close to 650 runners. (RESULTS)

Photo courtesy Paul Bannister & banner Ruuning snaps

Paul Bradshaw (323) Photo courtesy Paul Bannister & banner Ruuning snaps

Nick Gaskell (905) Photo courtesy Paul Bannister & banner Ruuning snaps

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The iconic Rivington Pike Race held every year of the Saturday of Easter weekendmwas run with blue skies instead of the incessant rain that the area has experienced throughout the winter – a blessing in itself. (RIVINGTON RESULTS). The race was won by Salford’s Joe Steward in 16.37 alongside Mercia’s Sara Willhoit who won the Women’s race in 20.28. Blackburn Harriers Stephen Hall had a good day and run as he placed 18th overall out of field of just under 400 runners and 3rd V45 in a time of 20.27 and after his race, Stephen spoke to the Harriers telling us that it was “One of my favourite races, great weather with a fantastic turnout of 396 runners. I had a poor climb but managed to take 6 or 7 places on the descent. It was great to see plenty of Blackburn Harriers halfway up the climb cheering me on!“.

Photo courtesy of www.woodentops.org

Stephen Hall

Charlotte Smith had qualified for the National Schools Biathlon and achieved  a very good 12th place in the competition last weekend at the fantastic location of the University of Bath, home of the modern pentathlon. This competition brought together athletes from all of the country so she was delighted with her position nationally. Charlotte improved her performances in both disciplines compared to the North Schools Qualifying event in January — her 100m swim time improved from 1:19.01 to 1:17.78; her 1 mile run time improved from 5:54.20 to 5:48.03

and overall points score improved from 2080 to 2138.