The Trafford 10k proved its popularity once again with well over 1500 runners taking part in the race held on Sunday March 3rd. The winner – Victor Urquhart Smangs – clocked 28.57 as the next 25 finishers all ran sub 30 minutes times, followed by another 37 athletes clocking sub 31 minutes. demonstrating the quality of the field. (RESULTS). Eight Blackburn Harriers lined up for the race, headed home by Rob Warner-Judd in 9th place with a time of 29.24, just two seconds outside his personal best. Speaking to the Club after the race Rob told us that he was  “A little surprised with how the race went to be honest, was hoping for close to 30 so to run close to my pb was a shock! I got out well and hung on for as long as I could in the group and thankfully managed to hang in until the end! Was a great race in good conditions and big shout out to Tim for his first sub 30!” Rob was followed home by Tim Raynes who went into the race with a best time of 30.20 and battered that time to set himself a new PB time of 29. 51 in 19th spot, giving the Harriers two athletes in the top 20. After the race Tim spoke to the Club about his race saying “I had been targeting Trafford for the past few months. Training has gone well as a whole (despite a few setbacks) and was confident that I could improve on my time from Ribble Valley. I knew there was a chance of a sub 30 (especially given the favourable weather conditions) but felt that it may be slightly out of reach. Tried not to get carried away at the start but, as the race went on, started to pick off runners. I was outside 15 minutes at 5K, but managed to pick it up in the next few Ks and finish strongly. I was really pleased to finally break 30 for the first time. It makes all the hard graft getting back from injury feel worthwhile! Well done to all the Harriers for some great runs, and particularly to Rob for a brilliant run after his own injury difficulties.”

Tim Raynes (2626) – Photo courtesy of Mick Hall Photos

Next home came V45 Chris Davies in 270th position running his best time for over a year with 34.36 and just three seconds further back in 274th place came V45 Richard Addy running 34.39 which was a new PB by 17 seconds. Also running a new PB was Badr Alainzay who crossed the finishing line in 35.35 which was a half minute improvement on his previous best. V40 James Bretherton crossed the line in 393rd spot in a time of 36.39 followed by V65 Tony Greenwood – (who ran 30.19 in 1986) – with a time of 42.07 placing him in the top 20 in the National Rankings for the V65 age category. V50 Lindsay Davies was the next home in 50.22 (982nd) and told the Club afterwards “Absolutely loved the Trafford 10k course such a huge and very well run event, the start was massive with nearly 1500 runners, the weather was perfect, all run on country roads and quite flat, happy to come away with a seasons best time, would definitely do this one again.”

L-R Chris Davies – Lindsay Davies – Tim Raynes

⇓

One week ago, David Holman was racing at the South Atlantic Championships held in Winston-Salem NC, USA on the weekend of February 24th & 25th. David competing for Wingate College came 3rd in the Mile Heats clocking 4.13.25 to qualify for the Final the day after. Just 90 minutes later, he had to be in action again, this time in the 800 placing 3rd in Heat 3 of the 800m clocking 1.57.92 which meant he just got edged out of qualifying for the final. This was a pretty tough ask to do both races in such close proximity. On the second day, David ran the one mile Final which was won in 4.13.58 with David clocking 4.18.58 in 7th place – after which he shared his thoughts with the Harriers saying “Happy to score points for the team as well. It was a tactical race and I let go to easy and let the race get away, but then I kicked with 2 laps to go to make up as much ground and get some places back and closed in around a 60 last 400 to gain 3 places. Overall, I’m just happy to get round and place 7th in the conference as it was a tough day yesterday!!”

(Men’s Mile Final Results) (Men’s 800m Results)

⇓

On to a different surface at the weekend which saw the Mid Lancs Cross Country League host its final fixture of the season at Beacon Park, Skelmersdale. With the Inter-Counties and English Schools cross country championships being held over the next two weeks, it was little surprise that the turnout was low both in terms of the overall field and from the Harriers. Three U11 Girls made the trip and finished 4th team on the day led home by a very good run from Amelia Pacelli in 4th spot (9.25) with team mates Sophie Douglas in 17th (10.16) and India Goodhen in 19th place running 11.35. Just two boys in the U11 boys race  which saw Theo Addy have one of his best runs in 5th spot running 8.51 and Magnus Taylor with a time of 11.35 in 31st.

Getting ready – Magnus & Amelia

Amelia Pacelli (140) – India Goodhen (2610)

Sophie Douglas (135)

Lyra Krige just missed out by one second in the U15 Girls race as she placed 2nd in a time of 13.50 whilst Theo Robinson ran a time of 18.45 (8th) in the boys race. Just three senior athletes out for the Club – Rebecca Ward taking another top 10 finish as she ran 30.54 in 10th place with team mate Carly Edwards 23rd spot running 34.07. Danny Maynard placed 18th in the Senior Men’s race with a time of 43.40 on a course, described by many as ‘quite tough’.

Lyra Krige (168)

Theo Robinson

Rebecca Ward

Carly Edwards

⇓

On to the Fells and this time at the Stan Bradshaw Pendle Round, Barley, Lancashire featuring 229 finishers held on Saturday March 2nd.- (RESULTS) – which had four Blackburn Harriers contesting the race – Stephen Hall, Marc Hartley, Gary Pearse and Ian Clarkson. The race was won by Todmorden’s Doni Clarke in in 65.36, 2nd was Horwich athlete Luke Foley in 66.08 with Tom Corrigan (Barlick) in 3rd with a time of 68.41. V40 Stephen Hall was the first Harrier home in 12th  place in a time of 75.33 with Marc Hartley just behind in 15th spot running 76.11, Gary Pearse (V50) in 128th spot running a time of 1hr 36.28 and V50 Ian Clarkson running 1hr 46.06 in 164th position.

And still on the Fells one day later at the Ilkley Moor Junior Fell Races, Sun 3rd March 2024 which saw Charlotte Smith run her first ever fell race. (RESULTS). U13 Charlotte ran in the U15 Race placing 15th overall in a time of 15.16 whilst U15 Theo Robinson – who had raced the day before at Skelmersdale in the cross country – ran in the U17/U19 race, coming home in a time of 13.32 (8th).

Stan Bradsahw Pendle Round – Stephen Hall

Stan Bradsahw Pendle Round – Ian Clarskon

Ilkley Moor Junior Fell Races – Charlotte Smith

Ilkley Moor Junior Fell Races – Theo Robinson

♥