The first fixt ure of this years Red Rose League took place at Calder Vale Park in Todmorden on Saturday September 30th with a threat of rain dominating the day. As it happened, the rain held off until early afternoon heralding the start of the senior Men’s race. (RESULTS).

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Morgan Watson and Theo Addy did really well in the U11 Boys race taking 4th and 5th places with times of 6.58 and 6.59 respectively, as did the girls in the U11 Race who finished as 6th team. Amelia Pacelli led the girls home in 17th spot out of a field of 41 in a time of 8.14 – supported by team mates Pippa Blackburn in 34th (9.33) and Esme Krige in 36th place (9.45). Charlotte Smith was the the sole U13 Girl and had a solid run with a very fast finish as she came home in 16th position out of 41 with a time of 9.22.

U11 Boys

U11 Girls

Morgan Watson (89) – Theo Addy (87)

Amelia Pacelli (95)

Esme Krige (92) – Pippa Blackburn (90)

Charlotte Smith

Theo Robinson went in the U15 Boys race and had a very good run placing 5th in a time 15.46 followed home by Liam Bennison in 16th position with a time of 17.45 – both lads in their first years as U15’s. Our U15 Girls took 2nd spot in the team race, just one point (17) behind winners Chorley (16). The run of the day from the Harriers athletes belonged to Lyra Krige who finished in 3rd spot with a time of 17.15 and was her best race to-date as she led the team home followed by her team mates Lottie Hesketh in 6th spot (17.58), Isabelle Perry (11th) with a time of 19.20 and Tamzin Osborne in 18th place with a time of 20.36. Isabella Pacelli moved up in age groups and distance this year taking part in the U17 Women’s race over 5k and finished in 3rd spot with a time of 24.19 whilst Hollie Cubbon went in the U20 Women’s race over the same distance running 24.12 in 4th place. The Senior Men’s race was dominated by Rossendale Harriers taking the team win by a huge margin and also the individual win. Just five men out from Bllackburn Harriers led home by Chris Davies in 10th spot (34.36) and 2nd V45 with team mates Richard Addy in 14th place (35.38) and 3rd V45, David Almond running 38.49in 39th place and 2nd V55, Chris Balderson also a V55 in 80th spot with a time of 41.45 and V50 Marc Almond in 122nd place – his first cross country race in five years – in a time of 46.23.

Theo Robinson

Liam Bennison

Lyra Krige (123)

Lottie Hesketh (first from the right)

Isabelle Perry

Tamzin Osborne

Isabella Pacelli

Holly Cubbon (140)

Chris Davies

Richard Addy

David Almond

Chris Balderson (174)

Mark Almond (172)

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Staying on Cross Country, but this time in Amercia where Blackburn Harriers David Holman is in his first year at Wingate University there. His latest and third race came in the Paul Short Open 8k race. (RESULTS). David improved again as he has done with each race and spoke to the Harriers afterwards commenting that he “came 95th out of 510+ runners. I ran 26:13 which was 2 seconds quicker than last week but on a much harder course. Had a terrible start but I had to be cautious due to having the new tape in my glasses. I gained 154 places from the first mile to the 5k mark.”

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On the same day as the Red Rose cross country league fixture at Todmorden, just under a 100 runners turned out for this years Thieveley Pike Fell race at Cliviger on Saturday September 30th featuring two Blackburn Harriers athletes – Josh Holgate and Marc Hartly. (RESULTS). They certainly made their prescence felt as they took first and second places – Josh dominating the race with a time of 34.26 and Marc running a time of 37.45, 23 seconds clear of third placed Tom Arther (Chorlton) in 38.08. Speaking to the Club afterwards Marc told us “A well organised race by Clayton Le Moors Harriers, which has a little bit of everything & it was nice that we were able to make it a Blackburn 1, 2 on the day. Josh showed his dominance and had it pretty much sewn up after leaving the starting field whereas I had a bit more of a battle to be second past the post. I was 6th at the top, but fortunately the run in was kind to me and I was able to pick a few off. At the finish I was greeted by a smiling Josh, who was freezing as he’d been waiting that long for me!”

Josh Holgate (22) – Marc Hartley (21)