John Orrell, whose daughter can throw the Hammer a bit, decided to head up to the hills during this great summer we have been having and on July 27th turned up at the Blisco Bash. John was in good mood at the end of the race saying “This was an English and British Fell Championship counter. A short 5 mile, 2133ft of ascent straight up and down Pike O Blisco in the Langdales. It was blistering hot that day, and I was glad to be revived at the end by Rebecca. Headline reads,
‘Champion Hammer thrower cools off Dad after blitzing Blisco’. Well perhaps not that fast finishing 189th in 64.31″.
Full Results HERE
On the 10th August, John turned his attention to the Turner Landscape Fell Race which was another English Championship counter. This is how John described the Race “This was a 10.6 mile race with 2986ft of ascent. The race visited 4 major Lakeland tops, Grey Friar 2536ft, Swirl How 2630ft, Old Man of Coniston 2633ft and Dow Crag 2554ft. A great race this finishing 201st in 2.07.08. Would have been quicker had I not rubbed all the skin off my ankle half way round. Funny when I took my blood soaked sock off my skin was still attached to the inside of it. Leave nothing on the fells except studmarks! Great to meet the legand that is Joss Naylor at the end”.
Full Results HERE
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In good conditions for Road racing, three Harriers set foot on the start line at the Welcome Tavern 10k on 11th August. Tom Blaney had a great run cutting nearly 4 minutes off his previous best set in 2012 and came home in 4th place (36.43). Chris Davies also set a PB knocking 24 seconds off his previous best to finish 6th (37.15). John Cookson made it a trio of Harriers for the day with a solid run of 44.40 (42nd) in the field of 126 finishers.
Full Results HERE
Tom along with Joe Monk also raced in the Welcome Tavern 5k – 30th July – with Tom finishing 5th (17.26) and Joe 9th (18/06).
Full Results HERE
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The 7th August saw the latest in the Astley Park Series where a number of Harriers athletes turn up to Race. The 4.4 mile Trail Race had V40 Paul Guinan as the leading Harrier in 18th (25.05) and just behind him a big battle between the Chris’s with Chris Barnes (21st) 25.11 edging out Chris Davies (23rd) 25.14. Beckie Taylor (73rd) 27.56 won the U20 Woman’s Race and there was another good run from Sarah Ridehalgh (2nd Claim for Blackburn on the Track) who came in 54th (27.05) and 2 Woman overall.
Eight other Harriers competed on the night in the 273 strong field. Allan Hartley was 88th (28.44); Mark Almond 97th (29.09); Samantha McCreedie 138th (30.39) and Sam also took 3rd Woman athlete’s prize in the overall series; Mick Nolan 155th (31.22); Ella Gregory 186th (32.59); George Woodburn 187th (33.05); Jackie Taylor 197th (34.04); Kaylie Panaro 210th (34.35) and Catherine Guinan 212th (34.50).
Full Race 4 Results HERE
Full Series Results HERE
Amy Davies, daughter of Chris and just 9yrs old ran in the Junior race finishing 20th in 6.13. In the Series, Amy was placed 7th out 0f 21 which was a really good effort.
Full Race 4 Results HERE
Full Series Results HERE
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In another of the local 5k Races, this time the Sale Sizzler – August 1st – with 400 runners taking part, Chris Barnes took 35th place in a time of 17.24. Matt Lalor (2nd Claim for Blackburn on the Track) finished in 13th place (15.58).
Full Results HERE
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Helen Leigh is a prodigous racer and is either on the Roads, Fells, Aquathons or Triathlons. One of her latest outings saw here at the final race in the Todmorden Park 5k series on August 7th.
Full Results HERE
Helen finished 37th and 2nd Woman in 19.43. She had also competed in all four races finishing 15th overall and pipped by just 11 seconds for the overall winning woman athlete in the series which was Michelle Hushion of Athletic Aurora.
Not forgetting the Fells and lining up with 118 other runners at the Worsthorne Moor Fell Race – August 4th – she finished in 28th place (48.08) and 3rd placed woman behind 2nd placed Sarah Tipler from Wharfedale Harriers and the winner Amy Green from Keighley & Craven AC.
Full Results HERE
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