The weekend got off to a good start for Blackburn Harriers at Loughborough in the BMC on Friday May 30th as Oliver Gill, Millie Jordan and Agatha Taylor all ran – albeit in windy conditions – in 800m races. Oliver was in the men’s 800m B race featuring five U20 and four U17 athletes. He just missed a new personal best by tenths as he clocked his second 1.55 in the last seven days in posting 1.55.55 in 2nd place. Next up was U15 Millie – only two of the field were U15’s, the rest U17 and U20 Women. Millie had a fine run taking 4th place overall in the Women’s B Race and 1st U15 in a new PB time of 2.14.92 in 4th place taking her to 16th in the National Rankings. Agatha was our last competitor at the meeting in the Women’s D Race and also set a new PB time of 2.15.16 in 2nd place – the race featuring U15, U17 and U20 Women. (RESULTS)
On Bank Holiday Monday – May 26th – the latest Vault competiton took place at Sportcity. Blackburn Harriers U17 Tamzin Osborne – currently 10th in the National Rankings – was one of just two vaulters in that age group who took part in Pool A – the other athletes coming from the senior and U23 age group. Tamzin cleared 3.06m, the same as the other U17 athlete Daisy Roberts and is now consisently cleaing 3.00m plus at every competition. (RESULTS). On the same day at the Trafford Bank Holiday Monday U13 Sophie Douglas won her Heat of 150m in a new PB time of 24.45 – ran 2.50.44 in 2nd place in her 800m race – and jumped out to 3.14m in the Long Jump 11th out of 16 (RESULTS).
Blackburn Harriers have been involved in four T&F League matches this season so far – two in the UKYDL (Lower Age Group), two in the UKYDL (Upper Age group) and one in the Northern League – winning them all, which is a great start to the season for the Club and its athletes. The latest victory took place at Witton Park on Sunday June 1st in the North West 1 Division, the harriers taking the win with 515.5 points with West Cheshire in 2nd spot (480.5), Crewe & Nantwich 3rd (423), Bolton United Harriers 4th (414.5), Deeside AAC 5th (401), Southport & Waterloo 6th (387.5). Once again, a huge thanks to all the Officials on the day and to Blackburn Harriers officials who have covered every match so far between them – marshalled and organised excellently by the Clubs Officials Secretary — Alison Hulme.
All Photos on Blackburn Harriers Facebook Page – (HERE)
Sprints
Tomi Birch and Emmanuel Adewunwi set the tone for the day by winning the A & B 100m U15 Boys races – both in 11.7 – Tomi then pairing up with Tynias Mensah in the 200m – Tomi winning the A in 24.4 and Tynias setting a massive new PB by some three seconds in winning the B in 25.8. Kai Addison and Joseph McKay teamed up for the 300m – Kai placing 3rd in the A with a new PB of 40.5 whilst Joseph placed 3rd in the B in 44.9. Caris Peter-Thomas and Niamh Boland went in the U15 Girls 100m – Caris winning the A in 12.7 and Niamh 2nd in the (13.4) – Caris then taking the 200m in 26.1 followed by Darcie Belshaw winning the B in a new PB time of 26.8. Imogen Boardman along with Darcie Belshaw then took on the 300m – Imogen placing 3rd in the A (45.1) and Darcie winning the B in 44.4. In the U13’s Xuanqiao Llang was 4th in the 75m (10.4) alongside Harrison Holden 4th in the B (11.4) – the two of them then running in the 150m Xuanqiao placing 3rd in the A (20.5) and Harrison 4th in the B (22.9). In the Girls races Ella Taylor ran 10.8 in the A 75m with Zoe Walker taking 6th in the B (11.6) followed by the 150m in which Ella ran 21.8 in 5th in the A and Hannah Moore 5th in the B with 22.5.
Niamh Boland (11)
In the Relays Kai Addison, Tynias Mensah, Tomi Birch and Emmanuel Adewunmi teamed up to win the U15 Boys 4 x 100m in 48.5 whilst in the 4 x 300m, there was another win for the Harriers as Kai Addison, Robert Ward, James Acton-Grieves and Jack Baranowski brought the baton home in 2.53.0. The U15 Girls made it four wins out of four relays as Imogen Boardman, Niamh Boland, Darcie Belshaw and Caris Peter-Thomas finished first in 50.9 and in the 4 x 300m Isabelle Pawson, Charlotte Smith, Imogen Boardman and Millie Jordan won in a time of 3.02.2. Our U13 Boys took 3rd place in the 4 x 100m (Logan Bainbridge, Harrison Holden, Charlie Campbell, Xuanqiao Llang) in 60.7 – whilst the U13 Girls (Zoe Walker, Ava Shannon, Hannah Moore, Ella Taylor) took 2nd place in 60.1.
Hurdles events had Joseph McKay in 2nd place in U15 Boys 80m H with a time of 14.0 – a big new PB by six tenths; 4th place for Emilia Fothergill in the U15 Girls A 75m H (14.0) for a massive new PB by nearly three seconds alongside team mate Charlotte Smith clocking 14.4 in 3rd in the B and also a big new PB by 1.7 seconds; 2nd in the A U13 Girls 70m H for Ava Shannnon (13.7) and yet another new PB by eight tenths.
L-R Caris Peter-Thomas – Darcie Belshaw – Imogen Boardman – Niamh Boland
Emelia Fothergill
Middle Distance
Max Unthank ran a new PB time of 2.26.9 in 5th spot in the U15 Boys 800m – a massive improvement by 9 seconds and in the 1500m there was a confortable win for Jack Baranowski in the A (4.51.0) and 3rd for William Perry in the B (5.40.2). In the Girls U15 races there were wins for Millie Jordan in the 800 A race (2.24.8) and 2nd for sprinter Isabelle Pawson in the B (2.46.3) doing it as she was to score points for the team having never done the distance previously. Charlotte Smith won the 1500m A race from the front – ignoring the wind as she clocked 5.08.3 with Emily Wood winning the B race in a new PB of 5.35.5. U13 Ryker Hanson – in only his second ever track race – ran 2.40.8 in 3rd place in the 800m with team mate Theo Addy 2nd in the B in 2.47.3 – whilst in the 1200m race, Morgan Watson clocked 4.08.1 in 4th spot with Edward Russell-Blackburn 3rd in the B (4.22.0). U13 Olivia Heys ran her first 800m for the Harriers placing 6th in the A (2.51.3) whilst Sophie Douglas won the B in a new PB time of 2.46.8. Amelia Pacelli and Pippa Blackburn took on the 1200m – Amelia 6th in the A (4.59.9) and Pippa 5th in the B (5.11.9).
Charlotte Smith
Jumps
We have to start with the U15 Boys Pole Vault where James Acton-Grieves, after just four training sessions not only cleared the opening height but went on to clear 2.10 at his first ever competition. Going on to the Long Jump James took 2nd spot in the A with 4.64m with team mate Zakariya Haq also 2nd in the B with 3.85m – followed in the High Jump where James cleared 1.40m in 3rd with team mate Tynias Mensah also clearing 1.40m in the B for 2nd spot. Isabelle Pawson placed 6th in the U15 Girls Long Jump (3.69m) with Dana Juma placing 4th in the B (3.40m) and in the High Jump, Charlotte Smith cleared 1.25m (5th). Logan Bainbridge and Isaiah Peter-Thomas teamed up for the U13 Boys Long Jump – Logan 5th in the A (3.29m) and Isaiah winning the B (3.28m). Ella Taylor and Hannah Moore took 4th and 2nd places respectively in the U13 Girls Long Jump with 3.84 and 3.76m – Ella doing it for the first time in competition. In winning the High Jump Hannah Moore broke the existing Club Record which was set by Jenny Alman in July 2008 (1.33m) – Hannah cleared 1.35m for a new PB and that Club Record alongside Lauren Redwood clearing 1.05m in 4th spot in the B.
James Acton-Grieves
Throws
U15 Madeline Partridge is having a fine first season with the Harriers and was again in good form as she won the Hammer with 30.47m, placed 2nd in the Discus A with 21.83m and then won the Shot Putt B with a new PB throw of 8.32m alongside Dana Juma winning the A with a distance of 9.11m and Emily Wood placing 3rd in the Discus B (7.19m). Niamh Boland and Emily Wood teamed up in the Javelin – Niamh throwing a new PB of 17.93m in 4th spot in the A and Emily 15.12m in 2nd place in the B – her first time in competition. In the Boys Throws Zakariya Haq came 5th in the Shot Putt A (6.85m) with Joshua Carrier 2nd in the B (6.59m) – his first ever competition in the event – whilst in the Discus Joshua took 2nd in the A – again his first time in competition (15.81m) alongside Robert Ward winning the B (14.42m). U13’s Henry Iddon and Ryker Hanson added more valuable points to the team total as Heny took 3rd in the A Shot Putt with a new PB of 6.08m as Ryker won the B with 5.02m having never compoeted in the event previously. Henry excelled in the Javelin, winning the A in a new PB of 29.41m with team mate Edward Russell-Blackburn 2nd in the B (13.50m) – another young athlete helping out the team on the day, doing an event he hadn’t done previously. This same team spirit was exemplified in the U13 Girls Throws – Sophie Douglas throwing 3.61m (6th) in the Shot Putt with Lauren Redwood 4th in the B (3.17m) and Ava Shanon 5th in the Javelin with 8.05m.
Madeline Partridge
Dana Jiuma (1)
Ξ
Great weekend too for Louisa Powell-Smith at the Kelbrook Fell Race run on Saturday May 31st. Louisa won the Women’s race in a time of 26.14 and was first Women Vet and was 13th overall in the race featuring 139 runners in totasl and won by Chris Holdsworth.
Still on Fells and V50 Craigh Greenhough ran 46.10 at Mearly Clugh Fell race in 58th place whilst at the Stanhill Fell Race run on May 28th, V50 Andy Payne crossed the finish line in 14th overall (34.11) and 2nd V50 behind Alastair Murray.
Lousia Powell-Smith (21) – Photo courtesy of Woodentops.org.uk
Moving to the roads and racing on a different surface botton of age U20 Matthew Smith and V50 Stephen Hall were at the Lancaster Power of 5k – the race being won by Marc Brown in 14.,53. Matthew ran a big new PB with his time of 16.03 (18th )which was close to 40 seconds faster than his previous best of 16.42 set in 2023. Stephen placed 25th overall and was first V50 as he ran 16.34.
Matthew Smith
