We start this week with the news that Blackburn Harriers athletes picked up two Northern Gold Medals in the U17 W Pole Vault and U15B 800m and a Silver Medal in the U15G 800. Tamzin Osborne went into the Northern Championships with a personal best of 3.15m indoors and 3.10m outdoors. In what were not ideal conditions for pole vaulting, Tamzin cleared every height from 2.70m through to 3.00m, then failed once at 3.10m before going on to set a new PB at 3.20m and beating that in her next attempt, finishing with another new PB and clearance of 3.25m and the Northern title. The result puts Tamzin at number 8 in the national rankings. On the worst of the two days at the championships in terms of the weather, Jack Baranowski went into the U15B 800m witjh a seasons best of 2.00.82 and a personal best of 1.58.75 run in 2024. In the Final, Jack clocked 2.01.32 which was an excellent run in the conditions, taking the Northern Title and retains his place at number two in the national rankings. Millie Jordan ran in the second of two time trials in the U15G 800m on Sunday, clocking 2.25.81 to take the Silver Medal and hold her place of 16th in the national rankings.

L-R Daisy Roberts – Tamzin Osborne – Emily Wilson – Rebecca Miller

L-R Harvey Brown – Jack Baranowski – Lewis Mcllroy

L-R Millie Jordan – Isobel Beddow – Gabrielle Pinder

In the 100m sprint events at the championships U17 Evie Fort clocked 14.82 in 7th place on Day 1 with Holly Moore in the following Heat running 14.04 in 7th spot. U13 Hannah Moore ran herself a new PB time of 14.78 (5th) in her Heat on Day one whilst U17’s Jack Thompson and James McAulay ran respective times of 12.80 and 13.15 respectively in their Heat also on Day one. In the following Heats – Keir Michie clocked 11.95 (6th) in Heat 2 followed in Heat 3 by Ernie Habson placing 6th in a new PB time of 12.05. On Sunday – Day 2 U15 Dana Juma ran 14.06 in 3rd to qualify from Heat 5 and the semi-final where she placed 7th in 14.20. Moving up to the 200m U17 Matthew Sharples ran 24.17 in 3rd spot in his Heat with Keir Michie in Heat 2 clocking 23.64 in 4th place – Jack Thompson clocking 26.05 in Heat 3 and Ernie Hobson running a new PB of 24.74 in Heat 4 (6th) – and – in the semi-final Matthew Sharples placed 8th in 24.13 alongside team mate Keir Michie running 23.95 in the second semi-final. Evie Fort ran 29.79 in her Heat 3 of the U17W’s 200m. Matthew Sharples wasn’t done with racing at the weekend and on Sunday he took on the 400m clocking 53.14 in 4th place with team mate Alex Burns-Groves running 59.39 in his first ever attempt at the distance. U17 Liam Bennison knocked just over five seconds off his best 1500m time running a new PB of 4.56.29 in the Final. Back to field events which saw U13 Hannah Moore equal her personal best in the Long Jump with a leap of 3.86m in 8th spot whilst in the Shot Putt – U15 Dana Juma had a very good day, throwing a new PB of 9.41m in 6th place as did Alex Burns-Groves who threw 32.49m in the Javelin (700g). (RESULTS)

PHOTOS FROM DAY 2 ON BALCKBURN HARRIERS FACEBOOK PAGE – (HERE)

Tamzin Osborne

Matthew Sharples

Millie Jordan (480)

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On the Track at Birmingham University, Saturday June 7th saw a number of Blackburn Harriers taking part in the BMC Grand Prix – World Athletics Challenger (RESULTS). In the 800m Ben Makin was looking to build on his 1500m new personal best at Bury with another new best time over the shorter distance and just missed out, clocking 1.53.73 in 6th place and 0.5 seconds outside his best. U20 Oliver Gill has recently run back to back 1.55’s over 800m and maintaining the coinsistency he clocked 1.56.30 (12th) in his race. David Holman was going for the European qualifying time in the Men’s 1500m A race and having run 3.39.80 in America, he was looking to push on from that in this race as he placed 12th in a time of 3.40.72 – just a second outside his best. Next up over 1500m was Dexta Thompson who had a good race coming across the finishing line in 4th with a seasons best time of 3.49.03. He was followed by U20 Ben Stratton in the 1500m next race, placing 12th in a time of 4.00.58. In the Women’s 1500m A race, Abigail McAndrew ran herself another new PB, making it successive personal bests in her last two 1500m races – as she clocked 4.16.42 in 7th position. Final race of the night for Blackburn Harriers came in the Men’s 5000m A race won by Eritrean Aron Gebremariam in 13.36.71, with 2nd placed Richard Slade (13.59.32) the only other athlete under 14 minutes. Rob Warner-Judd ran 14.21.98 maintaining his consistent form after his 14.17.40 clocking at Bury over a week ago.

Abigail McAndrew

Ben Makin (56)

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Over in France Jess Warner-Judd was running in the Fast5000 Maison-Laffitte, FR which was won by Sarah Chelengat in a time of 14.46.41 – Jess clocking 15.55.26 on the night in her first 5000m race this year. (RESULTS)

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The second race in the Astley Park Series – (RESULTS) – was held on Wednesday June 4th resulting in a win for Blackburn Harriers Tom Blaney (20.54) who is now leading the Series after placing 2nd in the first race. In 11th place came Marco Pacelli in a time of 23.29 and 3rd V40 whilst just one place further back, Matt Nuttall ran 23.40 in 12th spot and 2nd V50 on the night. Vikki Robertshaw had a fine run too, winning the Women’s race in 23.48 and first V40 on the night followed home by V50 Mark Almond in 21st spot running 24.23. V40 Dominic Bretherton came home in 35th spot with a time of 26.22 followed in by Isabella Pacelli (26.49) and first Junior, Ella Green (28.28) and 8th in the Women’s race, V50 John Aspey crsssong the finish line in 51st spot (29.06) and faster than his run in the first race, Gina Preston-Kelly – 12th in the Women’s race in 29.59 and Sarah Krige 3rd V50 and 13th in the Women’s race. Esme Krige and Amelia Pacelli ran in the Junior race with respective times of 6.03 – 3rd in the F12 age group – and – 6.13 4th in the F12 age group.

L-R Ellan Green – Vikki Robertshaw – Mark Almond – Sarah Krige – John Aspey – George Woodburn – Dominic Bretherton – Gina Preston-Kelly – Marco Pacelli – Isabella Pacelli

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In the world of triathlon, Blackburn Harriers Leah Hoole has been tearing up the coaching manual up after taking on the Ironman in Lanzarote just recently and qualifying for the World Championships in Hawaii. At the weekend she was back out in the Ironman 70.3 in Bolton coming home in 235th place overall and 4th in her age category of F18 – 24 – her finishing combined time of 5hr 18.18 conisted on times of .37.13 Swim, 2hr 54.12 Bike Ride, 1hr 38.37 Half-Marathon. (RESULTS)

V60 Andrew Knowles was also in the event coming across the finish line in 279th overall and 4th in his M60-64 age category with a toital time of 5hr 24.49 as a result of a 34.06 Swim, 2hr 50.42 Bike Ride and a 1hr 50.59 Half-Marathon to round the event off. (RESULTS). Also taking this on was Danny Maynard who has had more than his fair shre of issues to deal with in preparing for the event. Danny posted a combined time of 6hr 03.52 including 37.56 for the Swim, 3hr 36.03 for the Bike Ride and 1hr 36.33 for the Half-Marathon run, so well done to him. Danny commented about thr event on his social media saying “In 2024, I finally signed up. After my strongest running year yet, I was buzzing with excitement. The build-up wasn’t perfect, I battled injuries from December onwards but I made it to the start line… and more importantly, the finish line. What an experience! One of the hardest things I’ve ever done but I loved every minute of it.”

Andrew Knowles & Leah Hoole

Danny Maynard

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