The Sheepmount Stadium in Carlisle was the venue for the 2026 running of the Northern 12 & 6 Stage Road Relays alomngside the U15 and U17 5k Road Championships. In the hour before the first 5k races were to start, the heavens opened, hailstones and wind battering the place and with ominous signs for the day. Yet 30 minutes later, the sun started to shine, the wind still blew and it was with some relief that the U15 Boys started in the first race won by local club runner – Peter Wayman of Border (15.55). Oliver North ran in this one for Blackburn Harriers finishing in 30th place (18.54) and good to see after having spent some time getting over a hamstring injury. Just five minutes after the U15 Boys race started, it was the turn of the U15 Girls – a race won by New Marske’s Gabrielle Pinbder (17.18). Blackburn Harriers duo Millie Jordan and Charlotte Smith went in this one – Millie having a fine run as she took a top 5 place in a time of 18.32 (5th) alongside teamate Charlotte also having a fine run to place 124th in a  time of 19.35.

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Millie Jordan

One of the highlights of the day for the Club came in the U17 Mens race which produced a team Gold for the lads with very good packing from William Grundy leading the team home in 5th place (15.51), Jack Wood in 7th spot (16.08) and Max Winstanley in 8th running 16.14. Henry Ward came home in 23rd spot (17.23) alongside Thomas North running 18.44 in 25th in only his second ever race on the road. Bella McCredie and Agatha Taylor lined up for the U17 Women’s race Bella running 20.30 with team mate Agatha posting a time of 20.45.

William Grundy (272)

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Over in America Hammer athlete Matthew Heywood was proving the consistency of his current form. Having posted a series of six consectutive 50m plus throws, including a seasons best 54.04m a week ago in Myrtle Beach, Matthew was out again at the 9th Annual adidas Trojan Challenge.   (Matthew’s Video) — (RESULTS). Finishing in 5th place out of a field of 21 Hammer Throwers, Matthew once again had six successive throws, all over 50m including a new PB distance of 55.44m which was also a new Club Record for Blackburn Harriers, the previous one of 55.35m, set in 2017 by Jacob Roberts in a Northern League fixture.

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The Lancashire Fell Championships were held at Pendle on Saturday March 28th, doubling up as a qualifying race for the Inter-Counties Fell Championhips to be held in June. (RESULTS). Theo Robinson and Liam Bennison lined up for the U18 Mens race which was won by Setlle Harriers Carl Sanderson (22.13). Theo had a fine run to finish on the Podium in 3rd place (23.03) and 2nd Lancashire counter with his teamate Liam in 8th running 29.07. Theo has now qualified for Lancashire in the Inter-Counties. Bendict Raby made that two qualifiers from the Club as he took 2nd place in the U16 Boys race  (20.20)  behind the winner – Tom Daley (19.50). The girls and boys ran this race together and Eleanor Jenner had a good race placing 5th girl in a time 24.43.  The third qualifier from the Club came in the U14’s race where Edward Russell-Blackburn had a great race, taking the win in a time of 14.43, alongside William Jenner who also had a good race placing 8th overall and 7th boy in a time of 15.45. Pippa Blackburn ran in this one too, coming home 9th in the Girls race in a time of 22.09i and well done to her for taking it on. One hundred and seventy seven finishers in the Senior race won by William Walker in 32.22. Blackburn Harriers had just one runner in this one and a good run he had too – Peter Sagar Moss finishing in 18th place overall and 3rd U20 in a time of 38.20.

Theo Robinson – Photo Courtesey of David Belshaw

Liam Bennison – Photo Courtesey of David Belshaw

Bendict Raby – Photo Courtesey of David Belshaw

Leanor Jenner – Photo Courtesey of David Belshaw

Edward Russell-Blackburn – Photo Courtesey of David Belshaw

William Jenner – Photo Courtesey of David Belshaw

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