The Podium 5k – started some years ago by Chris Barnes, utilising the Barrowford cycle track for the 5k course – has proven to be a durable and sustainable event, attracting some of the best road races around and providing top quality competition. Saturday night November 9th was no exception with masisve crowds and great racing. Blackburn Harriers athletes – eleven in total – were out amongst the races last night – producing some fine runs and new personal bests.
2nd year U23 Matt Ramsden followed up his 13.48 on the track for 5000m and 13.49 on the road for 5k with another very fine run in 5th place in the main race of the night with a time of 13.51 behind Ben Connor in 4th (13.47), Phil Sesemann in 3rd (13.38); Ossama Meslek in 2nd (13.38) and the winner Robin Hendrix (13.36). Ross Harrison in the same race posted himself a new PB by some 15 seconds as he came home in 33rd spot in a very good time of 14.23. U23 Ben Makin wasn’t far outside his personal best as he came across the finishing line in a good time of 15.08. Abigail McAndrew’s last road 5k race was in 2022 where she ran 18.38 and made mincemeat out of that time last night running a massive new PB of 16. 54 as 5th U20W on the night. Paul Bradshaw was in good form as he ran home in 16.08 posting a seasons best time whilst U15 William Grundy had one of the runs of the night, taking 1st place in the U15”s with a great time of 16.09 and his first ever 5k road race. Earlier in the evening Danny Maynard ran a new PB of 17.16 which was an improvement of 11 seconds, whilst Stephen Hall was 1st V45 on the night with his time of 16.28 as Chris Marsden, running his first race for the Club, recorded a time of 17.48. Paul Guinan ran 18.15 in only his 5th race of the year and first 5k since April 2023 alongside Mark Almond running 18.43 in his first 5k race since August 2023 over a year ago.
Abigail McAndrew
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Down in Cardiff, it was Cross Challenge time with three Blackburn Harriers – U20 Isabel Holt, U17 Oliver Holt and bottom of age U15 Millie Jordan all entered. Isabel is looking to the November Sefton Park fixture on November 23rd and this was her opening race of the season over cross country where she had a very fine run, coming home in 4th place in 14.48 behind Zoe Gilbody in 3rd (14.46), Lizzie Welstead in 2nd (14.42) and the winner, Innes Fitzgerald (14.12) and after the race she old the Harrier that she was “Really pleased with my run today at Cardiff and I loved the course! I’m excited for the season ahead!“
Isabel Holt
As with the Women where U17 and U20’s ran together in the same race, similarly with the Men too. U17 Oliver Gill was in the race which saw Matthew Clark as the first U17 home in 2nd place overall with a time of 16.12, the same time given to the winner of the race U20 William Rabjohns. Oliver placed 16th in the U17 Race in a time of 17.15 and 43rd overall and was really pleased with his run. U15 Millie Jordan also had a very fine run where she finished in joint 10th place, running a time of 11.15 alongside Aimee Harling who was given the same time and posotion finish.
Oliver Gill
Millie Jordan
Meanwhile, back on the road, where one thousand three hundred and fifty nine finishers crossed the fline in the Remembrance Day Windmill 10k – (RESULTS) – won by Matthew Skaife in 33.23.74 with Chris Durney in 2nd spot (34.24.51) and Jioshua Smith in 3rd ( 34.56.28). Blackburn Harriers quad – Marco Pacelli, Rebecca Ward, Joanne Nelson and Nick Owen took part in this one – Marco coming home in 23rd spot, running 38.39.99 which was a new PB by over half a minute, Nick finishing in 34th position with a time of 39.36.74 in his first race for the Club.. Rebecca was 1st V40 Woman and 5th in the Women’s race with her time of 41.47.09 and also a big new PB as she knocked some 48 seconds off her previous best and she was followed by the winner of the V50’s – Joanne – running 41.57.41 and 6th in the Women’s race.
L-R Marco Pacelli – Rebecca Wrad – Joanne Nelson – Mark Neville – Nick Owen
