Where do we start? On arriving at Marl Pits and being greeted with a river of water coming down from the car park, howling wind, sleet and driving rain, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that the conditions were some of the worst for a very long time. Seeing the League Tent flattened near the start and later a tent being lifted into the air – one of the steel framed variety – meant that a decision was taken quickly not to erect a tent for Blackburn Harriers. Back to the days when athletes arrived at the Course, changed in the back of the car, ran the race and went straight back into the car with the heater on full blast.
A massive thankyou to the League Officials who set up the course, adjusted it because of the conditions and to all of the officials who braved the weather throughout the day to ensure that racing went ahead. If ever there was a time to be hugely thankful to those who give up their time, unpaid and brave the most appalling weather conditions, that time is today.
Sam Aspey started the day off for the Harriers – winning the U13 Boys race – in a time of 10.57 with Chorley athletes in 2nd and 3rd spots (11.05 & 11.06) respectively. Backed up by a good runs from Callum Singleton in 6th place (12.11) and Loucas Lancashire in 21st (14.27), the lads placed 2nd in the team race behind Chorley by just a single point. However, in the overall Series, Blackburn took the Title with 47 points to Chorley’s 61 in 2nd and Horwich in 3rd (111). Sam Aspey also won the Individual title for the Series along side team mates Callum Singleton (7th), Liam Benninson (8th) and Loucas Lancashire (18th).
Sam Aspey (201)
Callum Singleton
Loucas Lancashire
Our U13 Girls finished 2nd team on the day behind Clayton and placed 3rd team in the Series overall behind Leigh (2nd) and Clayton (1st). Agatha Taylor set the pace from the beginning of the race which took some doing in the conditions that prevailed. She came home 2nd in 12.24 just behind Clayton’s Eliena Lusty (12.19) with Hannah Davies in 8th spot (12.59) having already run in the Blackburn Town Schools race in the morning. Tamzin Osborne had another solid run too placing 13th in a time of 14.02 – the three girls amassing 22 points to Clayton’s 10. The Series Individual final standings show Agatha in 3rd place, Hannah in 7th and Tamzin in =17th.
L-R Tamzin Osborne – Hannah Davies – Agatha Taylor
Agatha Taylor
Hannah Davies (217)
Tamzin Osborne (218)
Just one athlete in the U15 Boys – Oliver Gill who finished 2nd on the day in 15.46 behind Marcus Thomasson (15.26), a result that meant Oliver finished 4th in the Series Individual standings with 11 points, just one point shy of 3rd spot. Two girls ran in the U15’s Race – Isabela Thompson who came home in 14th position with a time of 21.44 and Isabelle Hartley in 17th place (27.57) who was also 17th overall in the Series. Evie Taylor was the sole athlete braving the weather in the U17 Women’s Race coming home in 3rd spot (24.10) behind Clayton’s Sianna Smith (2nd) and Freya Potts (Bury) who was also the Series winner.
Unfortunately all of the photos for these races – as with many others on the day – did not come out that well at all and had to be sent to the trash bin.
Isabelle Hartley (232)
Evie Taylor
The Senior Women finished 2nd Team on the day (45 points) behind Bury AC (27) – the two Clubs taking the same positions in the Series Team Standings – Bury winning with 66 points, Blackburn Harriers 2nd (126) and Accrington Road Runners (3rd) with 233. No surprise at the size of the field given the conditions as just 70 athletes started the Race. Joanne Nelson led the team home on the day, following two weeks of illness, amazing in itself as she placed 4th overall and 1st V45 in a time of 23.06 – Emma McOlm taking the win in 21.15. Ellen Sagar-Hesketh and Katie Buckingham had good runs too as they ensured the team had three home in the first eight places – Ellen placing 6th in 23.24 and Katie 8th in a time of 23.47. 4th counter for the Harriers was Michelle Teare who came across the finishing line in 32nd spot running 29.40 followed by Lindsay Davies in 34th (30.02). Joanne finished the Series in 3rd place overall and 1st V45. Ellen placed 9th overall in the Series and Lindsay 29th. In the Vet Teams category the Harriers took 3rd spot overall behind Bury in 2nd and Accrington Road Runners who were 1st.
Joanne Nelson (184) – Rachel Marshal (Bury) 450 – Ellen Sgar Hesketh & Katie Buckingham just behind
Joanne Nelson and Katie Buckingham
Katie Buckingham
Michelle Teare
Lindsay Davies (172)
Again reflecting the weather – the Senior Men’s Race had just ninety five athletes on the start line. Luke Betts was among the leading pack early on and pulled away by the end of the first lap to hit the front where he stayed, winning the race in a time of 34.54 – 26 seconds in front of the 2nd placed athlete Adam Hartley from Blackpool and 34 seconds in front of 3rd placed Mick Hill (Leeds) in 35.26. Ben Fish was the next counter for the Club in 4th spot overall running 35.45 with team mates Marc Hartley in 15th (38.34), Ryan Bradshaw in 25th (40.57), Chris Balderson in his first run of the season in the Red Rose League after injury and illness (45th) in 44.26, Danny Maynard (56th) in a time of 46.34, Mark Wilkin (50.29) in 75th spot, Allan Hartley 77th running 50.56 and Danny Teare 80th (53.20). Overall in the Series the Harriers won the Team Title, having won it in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and now 2021 – the 2020 Series being cancelled due to Covid. Rossendale took 2nd and Bury in 3rd. Matt Nuttall won the V50 age category, David Almond took 2nd in the V55’s – the Vets team taking 4th place overall. Final confirmed results for the Series will be announced after the League Meeting on Wednesday December 8th.
Luke Betts (1600) – Ben Fish (132) – Mick Hill – Leeds (1922) – Adam Hartley – Blackpool (1916)
Marc Hartley (136) – Ryan Bradshaw just behind and Danny Maynard trying for ‘good ground’
Ryan Bradshaw
Chris Balderson (1601)
Danny Maynard (144)
Mark Wilkin (160)
Allan Hartley (135)
Danny Teare (154)
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Mark Magee travelled down to Leicester to take part in the Sub 16 Podium 5k on Saturday which was ultimately won by Loughborough Student’s Nick Castle in 15.00 with Absolute Tri’ athlete Solomon Okrafo-Smart in 2nd (15.02) and Ilkley’s Nathan Edmundson in 3rd (15.05). Mark finished in 19th spot clocking 15.26 – demonstrating his consistency over the distance in 2021, clocking successive times of 15.10, 15.17, 15.22, 15.05, 15.44, 15.13 before his latest race.
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Photos courtesy of Grand Day Out Photography
