The weekend started on Friday night with nine Blackburn Harriers contesting the Mid-Cheshire 5k – (RESULTS) – which also incorporated the English 5k Road Championships on Friday April 28th – the race being won by Jack Gray in 13.58 with Jordan Skelly in 2nd (14.04) and Lewis Jagger in 3rd (14.05). The Women’s race was won by Ellie Wallace in 15.39, Amelia Samuels taking 2nd place in 15.53 and Lauren McNeil in 3rd (15.57).
(All Race Photos Courtesy of Mick Hall Photos Run Cheshire)
First across the finish line for the Harriers was Callum Davidson in 6th running 14.28, just four seconds outside his personal best on the road. Ben Makin was making his debut in a 5k road race and had a cracking run in 39th place clocking 15.00 alongside Tim Raynes in 40th in only his second race since August 2022 after a prolonged injury being given exactly the same time of 15.00. Josh Birmingham is also returning to racing after injuries and his 3rd race of the year ran a time of 15.10 in 55th position followed by Josh Holgate in 99th running a time of 15.38 which was a huge new PB by some half a minute. Next home for the Harriers was Stephen Walter in 253rd spot running 17.00 followed in by V50 Matt Nuttall (328th) with a time of 17.32. Bottom of age U20 Isabel Holt had run just one race since November 2022 due to injury and ran solidly on her return with a time of 18.13 in 375th place. V50 Paul Guinan had only run three races since 2021 because of recurrent injury, this race being his third of the year so far which saw him run 18.47 (442nd).
Callum Davidson (4814)
Josh Birmingham
Tim Raynes (4428) – Ben Makin (4515) – John Holgate (4427)
Stephen Walter (4980)
Matt Nuttall
Isabel Holt
Paul Guinan (4555)
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The League Track season started in earnest at the weekend in Liverpool at the Wavertree Athletic Stadium, home to Liverpool Harriers who hosted the first fixture of the North Premier West Division on Sunday April 30th, the fixture being fought out between Blackburn Harriers, Liverpool Harriers, Preston Harriers, Sale Harriers, Trafford AC and Wirral AC. The day opened in pouring rain and continued through to the middle of the afternoon before relenting. Once again many thanks to the Officials who started at 10.15am on the Hammer and finished gone 6.00pm at the end of the Relays.
Selection of photos used in the report – all photos on Blackburn Harriers Facebook Page
Jean Hoyle, Jason Lamb and Alison Hulme officiating on Shot Putt
Field events always start these matches off, the first event being Hammer in which U20 Emma Harrison threw a seasons best distance of 41.86m in 2nd place. Dexta Thompson and Jack Paget-Fowler took on the U20 Javelin posting throws of 21.66m (4th in the A) and 12.03m (1st in the B) whilst Oliver Palk took 2nd spot in the U17M with a throw of 36.70m. Hollie Cubbon helped the team out in the U20W Javelin taking 4th place whilst Kady Thompson and Connie Humes paired up in the U17W with respective throws of 21.87m (4th) and 11.18m (3rd). Codie Dewhurst (7.12m) and Jack Paget-Fowler (5.97m) took 3rd places in the A & B U20M Shot Putt, both of whom were throwing the 6kg for the first time. Similarly Logan McCredie was making his debut in the U17M and placed 5th with 7.34m. Isabelle Hartley (7.01m) and Kady Thompson (6.70m) placed 6th & 4th in the U17W. On to the Discus which saw Jack Paget-Fowler again helping the team in a Throws event and taking 3rd place in the U20 A with 17.54m alongside team mates James Tierney setting a new PB with 18.38m in the U17M (3rd) and Kady Thompson (12.20m) in 5th and Freya Neild (9.76m) in 3rd for the U17W.
In Pole Vault Hayden Mercer cleared 2.60m in the U20m on a borrowed pole which wasn’t ideal but many thanks to Liverpool Harriers for allowing our Pole Vaulters to use their poles which was greatly appreciated. Samuel Mutombo set a seasons best in the U20M Long Jump with 5.29m (3rd) in the A alongside Thomas Monks who won the B with 4.33m whilst in the U17M Daniel Nuttall jumped 4.95m in 4th spot. Poppy Preece came 5th in the U20W Long Jump with 4.24m whilst Kiera Booth won the B (3.76m). Samuel Mutombo set another seasons best in the U20M Triple Jump (11.99m) in 2nd with team mate Daniel Nuttall also taking 2nd in the B with 10.32m – his first ever attempt at the event. In the High Jump Codie Dewhurst (1.50m) placed 3rd and Daniel Smith (1.35m) in 5th – Poppy Preece took 3rd in the U20W (1.45m) as Imogen Robinson cleared 1.35m in 2nd spot in the U17W.
On to Track events and starting with the best performance of the day which came from the U17M in the 4 x 100m Relay which resulted in a new Club Record – Daniel Nuttall – Oliver Palk – James Tierney – Charlie Unsworth who broke the existing Club Record of 47.2 set in June 2006 with 45.81 in taking the win on the day. The U20M clocked 49.75 in 6th place whilst U20W came 5th with 56.57. Our U17W 4 x 300m team clocked 3.17.37 in 4th whilst in the 4 x 400 relays the U20M ran 3.38.16 in 2nd and the U17M clocked 3.48.48 also in 2nd as the U20W team placed 4th in 4.41.37. The individual Sprint races run in what can only described as bad conditions for the sprinters at that time of day with wind readings as high -3.6 saw Charlie Unsworth place 2nd in the U20m A (11.79) with Samuel Mutombo clocking 12.05 (2nd in the B). Daniel Nuttall won the A U17M in 11.76 along side James Tierney taking 3rd (12.59) in the B. Poppy Preece (14.35) and Lucy Turner making her debut for the Club in the UKYDL clocked 14.44 placing 6th and 4th respectively. Isabelle Hartley 6th in 15.32 and Connie Humes with a new PB of 15.60 (6th) went in the U17W 100m. The 200m races started with wind speeds of everything between – 1.5 and – 2.2 – Charlie Unsworth taking 3rd in the U20m (23.00) & Samuel Mutombo 5th in the B (25.31). Oliver Palk won the U17M in 24.08 with James Tierney running 25.40 in the B (4th). Lucy Turner ran 29.04 (6th) in her first ever run over the distance in the U20W A as Keira Haxton (4th) ran 30.57 in the B. Isabelle Hartley in the U17W A (31.84) came in 6th with Imogen Robinson running 32.18 (5th) in the B.
Isabella Pacelli ran a new PB by eight tenths in the U17W 300m A Race with team mate Charlotte Robertshaw coming 5th in the B (48.68). The 400m Races saw Thomas Monks out over the distance for the first time this season clocking 54.04 in 3rd place in the U20M A with Codie Dewhurst running 57.93 also in 3rd in the B; Oliver Palk clocked a new PB of 54.36 (4th) in the U17M A as Aidan Downes clocked a new PB too in winning the B in 55.66. Kiera Booth ran her first ever U20 400m (6th) in 74.07 with team mate Zoe Green an U17 in 4th in the B (73.34) and her first time over the distance too. Kiera also ran the 400m Hurdles taking 3rd place in 81.08.
Moving up in distance to the 800m Thomas Monks ran 2.05.57 (4th) in the U20M A with Hayden Mercer clocking 2.04.21 in 2nd in the B race. Oliver Gill ran a very good 800m race in the U17M A timing his finish to perfection, taking the lead around 60m to go, acclerating away from the group to finish with a new PB of 2.02.96. Hollie Cubbon and Freya Neild paired up in the U20W posting times of 2.38.15 (3rd) and 2.49.30 (4th) respectively – Freya’s time being a new PB by some 12 seconds. Isabella Pacelli and Connie Humes made their debuts in the league in the U17W 800 posting times of 2.33.30 (4th) and 2.56.11 (3rd) in the A & B races. Codie Dewhurst and Jack Paget-Fowler teamed up for the U20M 1500m – Codie clocking 4.28.92 in A 5th and Jack 4.52.89 in the B race (2nd). The U17M 1500 resulted in a win for Daniel Smith who stayed in the pack the whole way round coming out on the home straight to win in 4.19.94 alongside team mate Logan McCredie making his debut in the League for the team running 4.43.86 in 3rd in the B Race. Daniel later went on to win the 1500m Steeplechase in a new PB by over 25 seconds of 4.49.12. Keira Haxton placed 3rd in the U20W race with 5.12.52 – Charlotte Robertshaw 3rd in 5.13.66 and Freya Neild 2nd in a new PB time of 5.59.25 in the U17W A&B races. Dexta Thompson set himself a new PB by 5 seconds in the U20M 3000m with a time of 9.03.34 in 2nd as Jack Lamb shattered his 3000m time with a new PB by over 20 seconds as he came 2nd in the B race with 9.29.63. Evie Taylor and Keira Haxton took on the U20W 3000m – Evie for the very first time coming 2nd in 11.05.03 with Keira taking 2nd spot in the B race with 11.39.55.
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Photo courtesy of www.woodentops.org.uk
Five Hundred and eighty one endurance runners finished this iconic race Three Peaks (RESULTS). Anyone interested can read about the Race History (HERE). This years race was won by Lewes AC athlete Thomas Roach in a time of 2hr 53.28 followed in 2nd place by Alexander Chepelin (Carnethy Hill Racing Club) in 3hr 00.14 and Mercia Fell Runners Danny Connolly in a time of 3hr 00.30. The Women’s Race was won by Catherine Taylor from Black Combe Runners in 3hr 44.44 – in 2nd place came Catherine Loftus (Loftus & Whitby AC) running 3hr 44.03 and in 3rd spot Keswick’s Holly Wootten in a time of 3hr 45.15.
A number of Blackburn Harriers took the race on including Joe Bridge who came home in 116th position running a time of 4hr 07.33 in his first attempt at the race. After the race Joe spoke to the Harriers about his race and the day saying that it was a “Great experience today running the 3 peaks race, something I’ve always wanted to have a craic at. Unfortunately I went off like a steam train up Pen-Y-Ghent and Ribblehead and was made to pay! It’s a miracle that I managed to get up Whernside and Ingleborough! Lesson learnt for another attempt next year. Well done to the other Blackburn lads who ran & a massive thanks to the people that came and supported.”
V40 Stephen Hall was the next Blackburn Harrier crossing the finishing line in 176th place running a time of 4hr 22.05 and told the Club after he had finished that “It was a bit of a bad day for us results-wise but it was a great day out. Joe went out brave and ran hard with the legend Karl Gray, but paid for it later on. Marc, John and I went out together at a reserved pace with the intention of working hard later on in the race. Unfortunately I cramped halfway up Ingleborough and hobbled the remainder of the way back resembling the tin man. Also at Ingleborough Marc felt pain in his knee. He tried to run it off but it was too much so unfortunately had to drop out with less than two miles to go. John also suffered at Ingleborough but managed to tough it out and see it through. As disappointing as the results were we had a great time, particularly between Pen Y Ghent and Whernside, running together and laughing away for the most of it, much to the annoyance of the runners around us. The company and the laughs more than made up for the disappointing results!“
V50 Craig Greenhough was the third Harrier home running a time of 4hr 57. 23 in 370th position. Marc Hartley, Helen Leigh and John Horrocks all started for the Harriers but due to ill-health and injuries were forced to pull out. Helen had battled a migraine for three days and still tried to run the race whilst Marc Hartley told the Club “A race like no other and well out of my comfort zone but weirdly enjoyable. Also the weather was kind which helped matters. Quite a strong contingent of Harriers were having a go at the famous race with myself Ste Hall and Jon Horrocks running a lot of the route together. Unfortunately it wasn’t to be for me this time as my left knee seized up and I had quite a painful walk from Ingleborough back. Ah well, it was fun up to that point though. Special mention to Joe Bridge who was first Harrier home. A cracking debut.
Still smiling after the race with parents Joanthan and Claire
Joe Bridge (60) Photo courtesey of www.woodentop.org.uk
Stephen Hall (63) and Marc Hartley (64) Photo courtesey of www.woodentop.org.uk
Helen Leigh (822) Photo courtesey of www.woodentop.org.uk
Marc Hartley (64) – John Horrocks (66) Photo courtesy of Will Herman
Still on the Fells and this time with Lottie Hesketh at the Coiners Junior Fell Races. (RESULTS). Lottie was in the U15 Race featuring 32 runners which saw Lottie have a fine run to place 2nd Girl in 21.21 behind Clara McKee who woin the Girls race.
Lottie Hesketh
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Maddie Elliott was back on the racing trail this weekend at the Cardiff 5km Race fo Victory on Sunday April 30th. (RESULTS) 1641 finishers in this race won by Omar Ahmed in the very good time of 13.55 with Richard Allen just one second further back in 2nd (13.56) and U20 George Couttie in 3rd (14.09). Clara Evans won the Women’s race in 15.42 with Blackburn Harriers Maddie Elliott clocking a new 5k PB time of 17.42.
Maddie Elliott driving to the line
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A fine return to racing for Louisa Powell-Smith who since 2018 has run just six races. Louisa who is now a V45 was making her debut for the Club as she took on the Great Hamledon Hill Race at the weekend with a field of just over 200 runners – the race being won by Ilkley’s Ben Rothery in 35,.53. The Women’s race was won by Wharfedale’s Emma Hopkinson in 45. 22 with Louisa taking 2nd place with a time of 46.59 which also won her the 1st V45 Women’s prize too. V55 Gary Pearse was also out in this race coming home in 53rd place running 51.38.
Great Hamledon Hill Race (RESULTS)
In the Junior Races Charlotte Rothwell was in the U11/U13 mixed race of boys and girls which had 39 youngsters in total. Charlotte finished in 33rd spot overall and 11th in her age category. The U15/U17 Race featured 34 boys and girls resulting in U17 Jack Wood taking 2nd place overall in a time of 13.51 and 1st place in his age with U15 Theo Robinson running 14.04 in 4th spot overall and 3rd in his age category, U15 Alex Rothwell in 6th (14.28) and U15 Liam Bennison 7th in 14.44 – Alex 5th in his age group and Liam 6th.
Charlotte Rothwell
Jack Wood
Theo Robinson
Theo Robinson (62) – Alex Rothwell (64)
Liam Bennison (4)
