How to start this week on the Harriers Report with so much going on – Blackburn Harriers athletes competing at Trafford, Loughborough, Night of the 10000PB’s at Highgate, Northern Premier League at Witton Park, UKYDL (Lower age Group) League at Leigh, Fells and Road. The first part of the week saw Ben Stratton, Abigail Stratton, Jack Lamb and Dexta Thompson competing at Trafford on Tuesday May 14th. Ben started the ball rolling by winning Heat 1 of the Grand Prix 800m in a new PB time of 1.55.4, followed by Jack running his first ever 800m race on the track and clocking a fine debut time of 2.01.65. Still on 800m races and Dexta also clocked a new PB of 1.52.31 in 2nd place in the BMC 800m C race. Moving to 1500m with Abigail, running her first 1500m race since May 2023 clocking 4.27.70 and first U20 woman. (BMC RESULTS) (GRAND PRIX RESULTS)
Ben Stratton (226)
Abigail Stratton (412)
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At the weekend – Saturday May 18th – it was the annual Night of the 10000m PB’s held at Highgate in North London. Entered and running for the Club were Jess Warner-Judd, Matt Ramsden and Tim Raynes in the 10000m, Abigail Stratton and Agatha Taylor in the 800m. (RESULTS). In the Women’s A Race over 10000m Jess Warner-Judd finished in 9th place clocking 31.36.37. Matt Ramsden and Tim Raynes went in the Men’s D race for the 10000m which saw Matt come 2nd in a new PB time of 29.45.04 in his first attempt at the distance on the track, having previously run 29.50 on the road 10k; Speaking to the Club about his race Matt told us “To be able to compete at an event with the world’s best was an amazing experience. The atmosphere was nothing like I have ever witnessed before, it definitely helped me get through 25 laps! I am happy with a pb and an enjoyable 10,000m track debut. I will definitely like to do it again next year!” Tim clocked 30.39.16 in 10th place which wasn’t far off his personal best. Abigail Stratton and Agatha Taylor had been invited to do the 800m which saw Abigail place 2nd in her U20 race clocking 2.09.54, just two tenths behind the winner Holly Ovens (2.09.34). Agatha ran 2.18.44 in her U15 800m race in 10th place – the winner, Jonja March posted the fastest of all times for 800m female races on the night 2.08.70.
The day after, it was the turn of Blackburn Harriers Dominic Walton, Charlie Unsworth and Dexta Thompson who were at the 2024 Loughborough International (RESULTS). Eight athletes lined up in the Match 800m race which was won by Henry Jonas in a time of 1.51.24 with David Race in 2nd (1.51.81) and Jack Higgins in 3rd (1.52.15). Dominic clocked 1.54.10 in 6th place – his first track race in this current season. Dexta was in the Guest 800m race featuring 8 athletes won by Alex Glew in 1.52.69 – Dexta taking 2nd place with a time of 1.52.73. Charlie was selected to run in the English U18 4 x 100m Relay – Leg 1 Charlie Unsworth – Leg 2 Dylan Bhatti – Leg 3 Josh Taylor – Leg 4 Elial Assandea — Leg 1 (VIDEO) – he is in the white vest – the team placing second in a time of 42.93 behind the winners Wales.
Charlie Unsworth
On the same weekend and starting with the the first fixture of this years West Premier Division of the Northern League hosted by Blackburn Harriers and held at home at Witton Park Arena. Blackburn Harriers, Bury AC, Sale Harriers, Southport & Waterloo AC, West Cheshire AC and Wirral AC are the six teams competing in this Division. A particular thankyou to all the Officials from all Clubs, who over the weekend were at two consecutiuve matches in the very warm conditions. Blackburn Officials assisting over the weekend were Alison Hulme, Alison Heywood, Jean Hoyle, Lindsay Davies, Keving Hogan, Joanne Nelson, John Chaplin, Christine Smith, Steve Brindle, Barbara Gillies, Sharon Mercer, Anne Davies, Sabrina Dewhurst, Claudine Smith, Dominic Walton.
(All Match Photos on Blackburn Harriers Facebook Page HERE)
The Match on the day was extremely close with just three points separating Blackburn Harriers in winning with 401 points, Sale in 2nd spot (398), West Cheshire 3rd (349), Wirral 4th (347), Southport 5th (312) and Bury 6th (264). There were new PB’s for Codie Dewhurst in the 400m Hurdles (62.2) in 3rd with U17 George Camara making his debut in the B and clocking 66.6 in 2nd. New PB’s also for Kiera Booth (78.5) and Millie Pilkington (79.5) in the 400m Hurdles. Ben Makin posted a new PB in the A 800 with 1.53.34 (2nd) – the winner posting 1.53.32 in a very, very close race to the line – alongside team mate Hayden Mercer clocking 2.02.9 in the B 2nd. Keira Haxton and Isabella Pacelli paired up for the women’s 800m clocking 2.31.1 (4th) and 2.27.9 2nd in the B respectively. Joe Gebbie and Andy Benson were the pairing in the 1500m – Joe clocking 4.03.3 in 3rd in the A and Andy winning the B in 4.09.9. Andy then went and doubled up in the 5000m A and won in a time of 15.55.8 with debutant in the Northern League – Badr Alainzay – winning the B in 17.00.7 and also his first ever race over 5000m on the track. Ben Fish took on the Steeplechase and won the A race in 10.15.8. A double win in the Women’s 1500m as Isabel Holt took the A in a winning time and new PB of 4.40.8 with team mate Evie Taylor winning the B in 5.03.4. Louisa Powell-Smith and Ellen Sagar-Hesketh took 3rd places in the A and B 3000m with respective time sof 10.59.3 and 11.16.8.
Some fine performances in the Sprints. Millee Schofield was making her debut in the Northern League clocking 12.5 in 2nd in the A race, before going on to win the 200m A Race in a new PB time of 25.1. Isabelle Hartley ran 14.7 in 6th in the B 100m and Alisha Lehner ran 28.9 (6th) in the B200m. Another debutant, making a significant impact in the Northern League was Charlie Palich in the A 100m and running a cracking race, pipped on the line by Sale’s Josh Leatherd alongside his teammate Daniel Nuttall clocking 11.5 to win the B. Due to a malfunction on starting equipment, there were no times for the A Race. Charlie Unsworth was in good form as he won the A 200m in 22.4 alongside Charlie Palich who won the B in 23.1. George Whittaker took 2nd spot in the 110m Hurdles with a time of 17.4. In the 400m races David Holman ran his first ever individual 400m race clocking 51.8 in 2nd spot in the A (51.8) alongside Jacob Fisher making first start in the Northern League running 53.5 to take 2nd spot as well in the B. Keira Haxton and Ellen Sagar-Hesketh both placed 4th in Women’s 400m with times of 64.2 and 68.1.
Fine performances too in the Field events. Anthony Kent and Matthew Heywood took a double win in the Hammer – Anthony winning the A with a new PB of 51.13m alongside Matthew winning the B (48.09m). Tamzin Osborne posted a new PB of 2.90m – 2nd in the Women’s A Pole Vault which was also a new Club Record set originally by Holly Bradshaw in 2008. Samuel Mutombo set a new PB of 6.02m in the A Long Jump (2nd) alongside Daniel Nuttall, another debutant in the Northern League also taking 2nd place in the B with 5.62m. Samuel Mutombo and Harrison Allcock teamed up for the Triple Jump – winning A and B – Harrison setting a new PB of 12.51 in winning the A and Samuel the B with a jump of 11.76m. Back to Throws and Oliver Palk set a new PB in winning the A Javelin with 45.60m as George Whittaker placed 3rd in the B with 37.78m. Olivia Thomasson making her first appearance in the Northern League placed 2nd in the A with 29.84m, her first competition with the 600g alongside team mate Kady Thompson placing 2nd in the B with 23.35m. Codie Dewhurst and George Camara paired up for the High Jump – Codie clearing 1.55m in 3rd A and George, competing in the Northern League for the first time, clearing 1.50 also in 3rd in the B. Imogen Robinson placed 4th in the High Jump A clearing 1.35 with team mate Tamzin Osborne winning the B also with 1.35m Sienna Wareing and Kiera Booth placed 6th (4.10m) and 5th (4.05m) respectively in the Women’s Long Jump. Anthony Kent made it three wins on the day – taking the Discus competition with 39.77m and the Shot Putt with 12.08m – Matthew Heywood placing 3rd in the B Discus with 28.04m and Tony Balko 3rd in the B Shot (8.71m). Kady Thompson and Isabelle Hartley took on the Discus for the team – Kady placing 5th in the A (17.90m) and Isabelle 3rd in the B (16.12m).
Four relays resulting in 5th place in the Women’s 4 x 100m (Alisha Lehner, Imogen Robinson, Isabelle Hartley, Millie Schofield) running 55.0. The Men’s 4 x 100 team had a flier (Daniel Nuttall, Charlie Palich, Jacob Fisher, George Whittaker) won in a time of 44.2 – the Club Record is 43.1 set in 1971 in a British League Match at Swansea – could that finally be broken in 2024? The Women’s 4 x 400m team (Isabel Holt, Evie Taylor, Ellen Sagar-Hesketh, Keira Haxton) came home in 3rd place clocking 4.20.5 whilst the men’s 4 x 400m team (Oliver Palk, Ben Makin, Hayden Mercer, David Holman) were involved in a very exciting tussle with Sale – every lap being contested almost neck and neck, the last lap being fought to the line by David Holman with a 49.9 clocking and literally pipped on the line by Sale who clocked 3.28.0 to the Harriers 3.28.30. A great race to end the day and top it off with an overall win.
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One day later and this time at Leigh with the Club competing in the North West 1 Division of the UKYDL Lower Age Group League – and in the same very warm conditons, the thermometer around 25 degress at mid day. It turned out to be agonsingly close – Sale Harriers comfortable winners with 536 points, Team I.O.M 2nd (457), Leigh 3rd (356.6), Southport (356), Blackburn (353), Wigan (319.5) – what a difference just one more athlete would have made or having a full team of Officials and gaining the maximum points – a mere 3.5 points separating 3rd, 4th and 5th positions.
(All Match Photos on Blackburn Harriers Facebook Page HERE)
U15’s
A very good day and performances from the sprinters with wins and a huge number of new personal bests. Jack Duxbury and Tomi Birch won the 100m – Jack smashing his best time in winning the A in 1a new PB of 11.8 with Tomi winning the B in 12.4 equaling his best time to-date. Issac Brindle set a new PB in winning his non-scoring 100m in 12.3 with new member George Morris clocking 12.5 in 2nd. On to the 200m and Jack Duxbury made it a double win and another new PB of 24.2 with team mate Isaac Brindle also seeting a big new PB in winning the B in 25.5. Elliot Unsworth smashed his 300m time by three seconds as he placed 4th in the A with a new PB time of 43.7 with team mate James Acton-Grieves taking 2nd in the B (45.7). In the 4 x 100m Relays the boys broke the existing Club record of 48.3 set in 2022 when the team (Tomi Birch, Isaac Brindle, Abdollh Shriha, Jack Duxbury) won in a time of 47.7. Caris Peter-Thomas was on fire in the U15 Girls 100m winning in a new PB of 12.6 with team mate Isabella Finn also setting a new PB of 13.6 in 2nd place in the B. Caris then knocked three tenths off her previous best in winning the 200m A race in a new PB of 25.8 alongside Evie Fort who came 2nd in the B, aslo running a new PB of 28.2. Millie Jordan made her debut over 300m for the team running 46.2 in 3rd (A) with team mate Bella McCredie clocking a new PB of 46.4 in the 2nd spot in the B. The U15 Girls relay team (Eleanor Woodford, Evie Fort, Isabella Finn, Caris Peter-Thomas) finished 3rd in a time of 53.1. In the 4 x 300m the Harriers team (Millie Jordan, Annie Heaps, Emma Robertshaw, Bella McCredie) came 4th in 3.11.8 – the boys team (George Holman, Elliott Unsworth, James Acton-Grieves, Tom Falencki) also placed 4th in 2.57.6.
L-R Bella McCredie – Emma Robertshaw – Annie Heaps – Millie Jordan
In the Middle Distance events Jack Baranowski led from gun to tape in setting a new PB of 2.02.5 in winning the A race with George Holman also clocking a new PB in the B race with 2.21.7 (2nd) and in the non-scoring 800m Elliott Unsworth made it three new personal bests over the distance on the day as he clocked a new PB of 2.22.7. Tom Falencki had never un on the track previously and ran 5.06.4 – 4th in the A with Liam Bennison in 2nd in the B (5.31.5). Charlotte Smith and Emma Robertshaw ran times of 5.14.2 (4th) and 5.15.9 (2nd) respectively in their 1500m race. The 80m Hurdles was a really competitve race – Abdollh Shriha being given a time of 12.4 (2nd) the same as the winner – the time being a new PB for Abdollh by three tenths. Ellie Charnock came 3rd in the 75m Hurdles A (13.1) – a new PB by half a second.
Abdollh Shriha and Jack Duxbury paired for the Long Jump – Abdollh plaing 5th in the A (4.73m) and Jack winning ther B (4.49m). Isabella Finn jumped 4.32m in the A Long Jump (4th) alongside Emily Dai (3.90m) in 5th in the B. Isabella then cleared a new PB height of 1.41m in 2nd place in the High Jump with Charlotte Smith also jumped a new PB of 1.35m in 2nd spot in the B. Abdollh set himself a new PB of 1.61m in 2nd place in the A with James Acton-Grieves taking 3rd in the B (1.35m). In Throws Isaac Brindle placed 4th with 6.55m, then took on the Discus for the first time ever, throwing 14.36m in 4th whilst Elliot Unwsorth also had a go for the team and winning the B with 13.40m. Great team mentality to see athletes take on events to help the team. George Holman and Liam Bennison paired up for the Javelin with George in 3rd in the A (22.64m) and Liam 2nd in the B (14.11m) – Liam never having done this and again, just helping the team. In the same spirit Millie Jordan and Bella McCredie took on Shot Putt with throws of 5.43m (5th) for Millie and 4.97m for Bella (5th). Bella and Evie Fort took on the Discus with Bella 6th in the A (9.67m) and Evie 6th in the B (9.33m), both of the girls setting new PB’s. In the Javelin Charlotte Smith and Emily Dai had never thrown Javelin but again, helping the team out, they took it on – Charlotte placing 6th in the A and Emily 4th in the B.
U13’s
Charlie Collins and Lucas Pickens set off the sprints with time sof 11.3 (6th) and 11.5 (5th) in the 75m, Charlie then running 21.7 in 5th in the 150m with Max Unthank 2nd in the B (20.9) and a new PB. Anvitha Reddy and Ava Shannon ran 11.1 (3rd) and 11.3 (5th) respectively in their 75m race whilst Shahad Almitwally ran 12.7 in the non-scoring 75m race (6th). Anvitha followed her PB in the 75m with another new PB in the 150m placing 3rd in 21.7. The 800m had Theo Addy running a new PB time of 2.44.1 in 5th spot with team mate Lucas Pickens running 2.53.3 in 4th having never done the distance previously. It was another new PB for Max Unthank in the 1200m finishing 3rd in 3.55.2 and in the Girls 800m Amelia Pacelli came 4th in 2.51.0. Ava Shannon posted a time of 14.6 (6th) in the 70m Hurdles. The 4 x 100m team (Lucas Pickens, Noah Baah, Max Untank, Charlie Collins) came 4th in 58.1 whilst the Girls team (Anvitha Reddy, Amelia Pacelli, Kalista Harrington, Ava Shannon) came 6th in 63.0.
L-R Ava Shannon – Kalista Harrington – Amelia Pacelli – Anvitha Reddy
In the Field events, Zakariya Haq jumped a new PB of 3.61m (5th) and Lucas Pickens 3.52m (3rd) in the Long Jump – the Girls Long Jump seeing Anvitha Reddy come 6th (2.81m) and Shahad Almitwally 5th with 2.74m. Zakariya came 3rd in the Shot Putt (6.28m) and won the A Javelin with a new PB distance of 27.03m alongside team mate Max Unthank taking 4th spot in the B. Kalista Harrington was competing in her first fixture and came 6th in the Shot Putt (4.03m) and 5th in the Javelin in helping the team fill spots on the sheet.
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On to something different – the Fells. Ian Clarkson (V55) had run two races last week – Pendle Clugh and Mearley Clough. Close to 300 runners finished the Pendle Cloughs race on Saturday May 11th – (RESULTS) – won by Ben Rothery (Ilkley Harriers) in 1hr 58.48 with Finlay Grant in 2nd 2.00.18 (Dark Peak) and Harry Bolton 3rd in 2hr 00.34 (Keswick). Ian finished in 280th place in a time of 4hr 25.54. During the week he ran his second race, this time at Mearely Clough running 49.36 in 125th and after his efforts, Ian spoke to the Club about the week saying “Two fell races in a week, Pendle Cloughs, Saturday 11th May, 14 miles and over 4100ft of total elevation on an extremely hot day !! This is one seriously hard race on a normal day, but I’m not going to pretend, I did not enjoy this one single bit. Everything went wrong, psychologically and physically. If it wasn’t for my motivation crew Danny T & Tom C ‘one hill at a time’, it would have been game over. Stubborn streak kicked in and I crawled to the finish in 4hrs 25min 54secs. Next on the list, 3 days later, Tuesday 14th May back on Pendle, Mearley Clough, 3.5 miles and just over 1200ft of climbing. A great little steep uphill and very fast downhill on tired and stiff legs !! A great night for it, the rain disappeared and my confidence was restored ,35 minutes to the scout cairn from Worston and 14 minutes back to the finish. Legs wobbling over the finish line, 49 min 36sec, 125/202 with a smile. I’ll take that. A cracking little mid week race.”
Lottie Hesketh was competing again in this years FRA JUnior Fell Championships at Shutlingsloe on Sunday May 19th (RESULTS). Racing in the U17 age category Lottie ran a time of 23.41 and was 8th in the U17 Wones race.
Ian Clarkson (12)
Last but by no means least, on to the Road and firstly with Katie Buckingham who, fresh from her sub 3.30 Marathon in London, took on the Chester Half-Marathon on Sunday May 19th (RESULTS). Katie came 21st in the Women’s Race in a time of 1hr 39.23. Katie’s mum – Jan Buckingham also ran the race in a time of 2hr 10.20 in 11th oplace in her V60 age group category. Charlotte Atkinson was out in the Offerton Park 5 on Wednesday May 15th posting a time of 37.22, and finishing 3rd in the Women’s Race. (RESULTS). On Sunday May 19th Paul Bradshaw lined up with 220 other runners at the Worden 10k which was won by Liverpool Harriers Stephen Campbell in 33.39. Paul came home in rd spot in a time of 36.05. (RESULTS)
Paul Bradshaw
