Storm Dave didn’t put off events at the Trafford Open Meeting on Sunday April 5th, nor did it put off the athletes who turned out to compete, braving the wind and anything else that the conditions could throw at them. Only four Blackburn Harriers athletes at this one, but very good perforamnces saw them rack up five new personal bests. U16 Kai Addison was first out of the blocks in the 100m, posting a new PB by half a second in placing 2nd in Heat 5 with a time of 12.12. Heat 11 saw U16 Darcie Belshaw take the win also with a new PB by half a second clocking 13.00. U14 Mia Logan placed 5th in Heat 18 running 15.49 and followed that up by winning her Heat of the 200m in a time of 32.18 for a new PB by nine tenths. On to the 300m and Kai Addison took 2nd spot in his Heat 1, clocking 39.10 which was just shy of his personal best followed by Darcie Belshaw who posted her second new PB of the day in placing 4th in 42.83. In the 1500m U14 Thomas Stewart blew away his previous best over the distance (4.52.7) to clock a new PB by some seven seconds in winning Heat 2 of the 1500m which had thirteen athletes in the race. (RESULTS).
Darcie Belshaw
Darcie Belshaw & Kai AddisonΞ
Blackburn Harriers Leah Hoole was making her debut over the Half-Marathon distance although she had run in the Conistion 14 mile race recemtly, when she took on the annual Darwen Rollercoaster Half and had a fine race. Leah had a really good race recording a time of 1hr.32.49 as second Woman in the race and just eight seconds behind the winner Dominique Searle. (RESULTS)
Leah Hoole (327)Ξ
Blackburn Hrriers Ben Makin has taken up the Modern Pentathlon again which has changed since he was last involved – the jumps with a horse having been removed from the event and replaced with an obstacle course section. On his return, Ben was competing for the first time in the 2026 Pentathlon GB Grand Prix where he placed 10th out of 23 athletes participating and first Senior, scoring 1435 points. Fellow Blackburn Harrier Godron Ballantyne was also in the competiton placing 14th overall and 6th in the U19 age category with a total score of 1351 points. The Club spoke to Ben following the event who told us ” that it was a really good baseline, had a good competition. The fencing was good after a struggle at the start, but turned it round to end up going 12 victorys and 11 defeats Then my OCR (Obsticle course racing) the goal was to get a clean run in the bag which I did, now I can look to keep building on this and get faster. The swim, I got out really well to 50m however I got cramp in my calf pushing off this wall which made the last 50 a struggle, but still kept it together and swam a 1:00.56 (50split was 27.6) The run was as expected very positive, however I really struggled to get out the shooting range on the first shoot which was very frustrating, however still got the 2nd fastest run in a strong field“.
L- R Irbin Vicoo (World Para Champion) – Ben MakinΞ
Out on the road on Good Friday was Blackburn Harriers Endurance Coach Mark Taylor who took on the Caldervale 10mile featuring one hunded and thirty four runners – the race being won by Russ Mullen in a time of 60.12 The race is described as undulating and after adding wind and rain to the event, it definitely has its own challenges. Mark finished in 25th place and 3rd V50, running 73.30 and was rewarded with pie and peas that wne down a treat, commenting after the race “Hills, Wind, Rain, Pie. Proper athlete”.
