This weekend saw the Lancashire Fell Racing Championships held at Pendle on Saturday March 5th with plenty of sunshine and a rather robust wind as 216 runners .lined up at the start of the race – including Blackburn Harriers Louisa Powell-Smith and Stephen Hall. The race was won by Ilkley’s Oli Murpny in 31.37 with Clayton’s William Walker in 2nd spot (32.32) and Helm Hill’s Tom Addison in 3rd place (33.01). Stephen had a fine race taking 15th place and 1st V50 with a time of 36.17 whilst Louisa finished up on the Podium taking 3rd place in the Women’s Race with a time of 39.26 behind 2nd placed Helen Smith (38.27) and the winner Katie Walshaw (37.49). In the Junior races – Theo Robinson, Lottie Hesketh, Liam Bennison & Charlotte Smith all contested the U17 race – Theo – running 2 minutes faster than his 2024 time – finishing in 5th spot (23.49) behind the winner Mark Titmuss (22.15) alongside Liam who placed 15th overall in a time of 27.18. Lottie also had a good run and finished up on the Podium taking 2nd place in the Women’s race with a time of 25.51 and qualifying for the Inter-Counties – just 2 seconds behind the winner Millie Reid (25.49) – as Charlotte came 5th in the race in a time of 29.28. (RESULTS)

Stephen Hall with legends John Calvert and Harry Walker (Photo coutesy of Andy Payne)

Louisa Powell-Smith (21) – Photo courtesey of www.woodentops.org

Louisa Powell-Smith (21) – Katie Walshaw (20) – Helen Smith (91) – Photo courtesey of www.woodentops.org

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The Berlin Half-Marathon took place at the weekend with Jess & Rob Warner-Judd  – Sunday April 6th – making the trip over for the race. On a cold day with consistent wind throughout the race Jess finished in 15th place in the Women’s race running 70.24 in her third half-marathon of the year whilst Rob also ran the same time of 70.24 in 92nd spot. Some 35000 men and women runners took part in this race, making it one of the biggest in the world. (Women’s Results) — (Men’s Results)

Rob & Jess Warner-Judd

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Over in America Blackburn Harriers Matthew Heywood had qualified for the Nationals in Tennessee on Friday April 4th – the competition involving 24 Hammer Throwers. Matthew finished in 7th spot overall with a best of 49.86m (RESULTS) and after the event had finished Matthew told the Club about his comp saying that it was “Not quite the distance I wanted but some great technical aspects. Been off the competition weight all week trying to fix some things so being able to come back on the 7K after a week off and still throw far is great. Looking forward to see how things come along.”

(VIDEO)

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This weeks report of Blackburn Harriers exploits was close to explosive at Trafford at the Open Medal meeting held regularly at the track. A Blackburn Harriers Club U20 Men’s 200m outdoor record which was set in on 29th September 1970 at Witton Park by Peter Beavan – some 55 years ago – was so nearly broken by Charlie Unsworth when he clocked a new PB of 21.43 at Trafford on Sunday April 6th – 0.07 ahead of the old record. Unfortunately the wind was registered as + 2.3 which meant that the time wasn’t legal for the purposes of the record. The wind reading for the following races was +1.00. Millee Schofield got her season off to a flyer, posting an English Schools qualifying time in the 400m as she came home 2nd in her Heat clocking 58.17 – and this – her first attempt at the distance. Also going in the 400m Heats were seniors Marcin Baranowski and Sara Baranouska with Marcin running 57.31 in 2nd spot whilst Sara ran 73.38 in 5th. Meanwhile in the 1500m Heat 1, U15 Jack Baranowski won his Heat comfortabley in a time of 4.14.53 which was also the fastest time of any of the 20 athletes who contested the two Heats. Jack’s time put him into 2nd place in the National Rankings. U15 Dana Juma opened her outdoor season clocking 13.9 in 5th in her 100m Heat going on to set a new PB in the 200m as she clocked 28.44 (4th) whilst U15 Isabelle Pawson clocked 14.33 in her Heat in 4th place and then set herself a new 200m PB with a time of 28.64 (5th). In her third event of the day, Dana then took 2nd place in Pool 2 of the Shot Putt with a distance of 9.26m equaling her personal best with the 3kg Shot.

(RESULTS)

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Still on Track & Field at the North Wales Endurance Open & Field Events as Blackburn Harriers Ben Makin took on the 5000m (RESULTS) on Friday March 4th having raced just twice previously over the distance on the track. His previous best – run in the Northern League in 2024 – was 15.24.4 and the windy conditions didn’t help the athletes as they lined up at the start. Rhodri Owen won the race in 14.55.90 with Ben taking 5th spot in a new PB time of 15.14.13 – Ben telling the club that “it ended up being quite the windy night, but 15:14 and 5th. 5000m pb so definitely can’t complain“.

Ben Makin (181)

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April 1st was the date for the Liver Hill fell Race – a tribute race to Rossendale Harrier Pete Hartley which featured close to 150 runners. (RESULTS). Rosendale’s Joe Ormerod won the race in 33.03 with Rob Webb, also from Rossendale in 2nd (33.21) and Calder valley’s Andrew Worster in 3rd (34.05). Blackburn Harriers Josh Holgate had a good run taking 5th place in a time of 34.43.

Josh Holgate

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On Sunday March 30th Danny Maynard was out at Heaton Park in the Runthrough Half-Marathon – (RESULTS) – featuring four hundred and one finishers. Unattached Jonathan Manning won the race in 77.01 with Salford’s David Parkin in 2nd (78.53) and Mike McCarthy in 3rd (79.52). It was a good day and run for Danny as he came home in 17th place overall, running a new PB time of 89.28.

Danny Maynard

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Again on the road and Darwen Dasher’s Roller Coaster Half-Marathon took place on Sunday April 6th with one hundred and forty six runners running in this one (RESULTS). Peter Mackrell won the race in 76.12 whilst the Women’s race was won by unattached Hannah Shaw in 1hr.37.24). B♥lackburn Harriers V60 Ian Clarkson took this one on placing 50th overall in a time of 1hr 49.32 and 2nd in his age category on the day.

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