A really busy weekend saw the Harriers competing at the British Championships & Olympic Trials. Mid Lancs T&F League, UKYDL Upper Age Group League, Road and trail races, often with changeable weather and not the best of conditions. Starting off at Sportcity with the British Championships in the 800m with Dominic Walton who was unfortunate in his Heat to have to contend with a faller in the race and despite a very strong finish came home in 5th place overall (1.50.32) and just outside the qualifying times for the Final. Moving on to the field, Charlotte Williams was in action in the Women’s Hammer Final and missed out on the top eight who went forward with three more throws finishing with a best of 53.28m. Back on the track and this time in the 1500m with David Holman and Daniel Bebbington both competing. David went in Heat 1 which featured the eventual winner – Neil Gourlay – and clocked 3.54.43 in 11th place whilst Daniel lined up in Heat 2 with eventual Silver Medalist George Mills winning it as Daniel ran a seasons best time of 3.49.14 in 12th position.
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The third of this years Mid Lancs T&F League fixtures took place on Saturday – June 29th at Bury – with the day starting off with drizzle, but still with the imterminable wind that has dogged a lot of fixtures during this years track and field season. (RESULTS). A big thank you to all of our volunteer officials who turned out this weekend, Saturday and Sunday to support the athletes and the Club: Alison Hulme; Lindsay Davies; Kevin Hogan; Alison Heywood; Krista Camara; Linzi Lancashire; Jean Hoyle; Christine Smith; Georgina & Scott McCredie; Dominic Bretherton;
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Some 25 athletes from the Harriers prduced a dozen new PB’s with some taking on events for the very first time to gain experience in a stress free competition atmosphere. The Throws events featured five Blackburn Harriers – Matthew Heywood threw consistently to win the Senior Men’s Hammer with 48.85m whilst in the Junior Throws bottom of age Loucas Lancashire won his Javelin contest with a distance of 34.63m, Zakariya Haq won the U13 Boys Javelin with a new PB of 27.70m, U17 Olivia Thomasson came 2nd in her Javelin event with a throw of 30.40m with the 500g and Dana Juma also placed 2n in the U15 Girls Shot Putt with 8.97m, just 20cms outside her personal best.
Olivia Thomasson
Matthew Heywood
In the Sprints U15’s Jack Duxbury placed 2nd in Heat 1 (12.3), Keir Michie won Heat 2 in 12.4 and Abdollh Shriha ran a new PB by half a second to win Heat 3 in 12.6 with team mate Jack Thompson in 2nd spot (12.9).. Keir then went and smashed his 200m best time in winning his Heat in a new PB time of 24.4 – the best time of all the four Heats combined. U13’s Callum McKone and Oscar Threlfall ran the 100m with times of 15.00 (6th) and 16.5 (6th) respectively. U17 Alisha Lehner clocked 13.9 (5th) in Heat 1 of the 100m and in the U15 Girls 100m Dana Juma clocked 13.9 (th) in Heat 1, Evie Fort ran 14.6 (6th) in Heat 2, Imogen Boardman ran a big new PB time of 13.8 ( 4th) in Heat 3, an improvement of over half a second. In Heat 4 Grace iLunga came home in 3rd place with 14.3 as Isabelle Pawson had a bad fall 20m out from the line, got up with serious grazing to her body and finished the race which was a really brave effort and she was followed by Holly Moore clocking a new PB of 14.6 (2nd) in Heat 5 with team mate Lydia Knowles running 17.2 in 6th spot – her first attempt at the distance. Three girls ran the U15 200m – Bella McCredie clocking 30.9 in 5th (Heat 3), Holly Moore knocking 8 tenths off for a new PB of 29.6 in 2nd (Heat 4) and Lydia Knowles running 35.9 (5th) in Heat 5.
Abdollh Shriha (123) – Jack Thompson (12.9)
Holly Moore (73)
Middle distance races had botton of age Loucas Lancashire running a new PB in the U17 800m of 2.22.7 in 3rd place as U15 James Acton-Grieves came 3rd in his 400m Heat 2 with 67.1 and U15 team mate Eliot Unsworth ran a new 800m PB with his 2.21.2 in 5th place. U13 Max Unthank was running his first 1500m race and did really well in clocking 5.05. 5 (7th) on his debut. In the Senior Women’s 1500m Tanith-Jade Ellis was looking to run a new personal best and she did that comfortably, running a new PB of 5.44.2 in 4th spot to improve her time by some five seconds. Three Girls went in the U15 300m – Imogen Boardman winning Heat 3 in 46.1 and her first run over the distance, Evie Fort clocked 47.4 (5th) in Heat 1 and Lydia Knowles ran 56.6 (6th) in Heat 2. Bella McCredie came 5th in Heat 2 of the U15 Girls 800m (2.43.0) whilst Lyra Krige came 2nd in the U15 Girls 1500m in a new PB time of 5.01.1. U13 Hannah Moore was having only her second attemtp at the 800m, finishing 6th in her Heat (2.58.7).
Loucas Lancashire (92)
Lyra Krige (64)
Jumps always provide lots of athletes at Mid Lancs and the latest was no exception with two Long Jump beds in action, side by side.U15 Abdollh Shriha was just 2 cms out side his best, clearing 1.60m in 2nd place in the High Jump before going on to win the Long Jump in a new PB distance of 5.58m, Callum McKone won the U13 Boys Long Jump with 3.79m alongside Zakariya Haq with his 3.16m jump (10th). Four Girls went in the U15 Long Jump featuring 20 athletes – Grace iLunga in her first ever long jump placing 4th (4.23m); Imogen Boardman 10th (3.73m); Holly Moore in 15th (3.49m) and Dana Juma in 17th (3.39m).
Dana Juma
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Sunday June 30th was the date for the latest race in this years Pendle & Burnley Grand Prix Series – the Trawden 7 – described on the race website as “Upon leaving Trawden recreational ground, turn right along the road and continue through Higher Stunstead, Near Wanless and Far Wanless before dropping steeply down to the road at Hollin Hall. Turn left here following the road as it gains height past Lodge Hill and Mean Moss farms to meet the Pendle Way at the foot of Boulsworth Hill. Turn left onto the bridleway keeping the wall on your left along this undulating section until the path descends to a wide concrete bridge. Cross this and continue on the Pendle Way to the prominent signpost (SD948385) where you turn sharp left onto the Bronte Way and gradually decline through a very scenic stretch by the river into Wycoller. Go over the clapper bridge just before the village centre then follow the road as it leads up a short climb then past the main visitors’ car park. Make sure you’ve kept a bit in reserve for the last mile of road beyond Wycoller and back to the finish as it’s deceptively uphill most of the way!”
V40 James Bretherton and V40 Rebecca Ward ran in the Senior race, James placing 13th overall in a time of 46.37, the race being won by William Walker in 40.49. Rebecca came in 5th in the Women’s race and 2nd V40 running 53.40. U15’s Jack Wood and Liam Bennison were racing in a combined race of U15 & U17 male and female runners. Jack had a great run to win the race overall in a time of 14.37 alongside Liam who placed 4th U15 Boy in a time of 18.21. Bottom of age U13 Ryker Hanson was running his second race of the series and placed 4th in the U13 race on the day.
Liam Bennison
Ryker Hanson
Meanwhile, at Lancaster on Friday June 28th, Dominic Bretherton and nephew Henry Ward were out at the local 5k race which saw Henry run 17.14 and Dominic 19.04 for the 5k road course.
Dominic Bretherton (26) – Henry Ward (27)
Staying off road and this time up in Scotland at the Half Ben Nevis Race – (RESULTS) – with the redoubtable Helen Leigh who although having been affected by not feeling well, she nevertheless, pulled it out of the bag to win the Women’s race in 1hr 11.15 from 2nd placed Elidh Prise (1hr 17.20) and Sarah Macdonald in 3rd (1hr 18.32.). Afterwards Helen, running for Highland Hill Runners told the Club that she was “Super chuffed with a win on the half ben when have been stuck down with a bug for over a week. Looking forward to Snowdon in a couple of weeks“.
Helen Leigh (32)
A huge well done to Leah Hoole who competed in the Ironman 70.3 in Bolton at the weekend – her first ever attempt at the event. (RESULTS). Leah posted times of 40.05 for the Swim, 3hr 11.52 for the Bike and then ran an impressive Half-Marathon in 1hr 45.37 for a combined time of 5hr 45.41. leah was competing in the 18 – 24 yrs age group and finished abrilliant 4th as well as being 44th overall in the Women’s race.
Leah Hoole
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Back on Track & Field on Sunday June 30th and this time the UKYDL (UAG) Match of the season which was critical for the Harriers given that they were going into the Match with the danger of relagtion from the Premier League – largely due to the impact Inter-Counties had on the team in the 2nd match where many athletes had been selected for Lancashire. The Club finished in joint 4th place with North Wales with regard to League Points – both having 7, however, North Wales had more Match Points, all of which means that the Harriers will be in West 1 Division next year. On the day the Club placed 4th with 488 points, 35 points behind Liverpool who took the 3rd spot and 40 points behind Wirral in 2nd. In many ways the season boiled down to what might or could have been, but that is the way it goes sometimes and you have to just try and boiunce back.
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L-R Daniel Bretherton – Logan McCredie – Sam Aspey – Oliver Gill
MIDDLE DISTANCE
The wind was a real factor for everyone on the day impacting Pole Vault, Throws and track races throughout. Dexta Thompson and Ben Stratton took maximum points in the U20 800m – Dexta leading from the gun to tape in a time of 1.54.7 and Ben winning with a final home straight burst in 2.01.5. Oliver Gill ran an excellent race to win the A 1500m (4.03.7) by a tenth of a second in a real battle with Trafford’s Alfie Simons (4.03.8). Daniel Smith coming back from injury took 2nd spot in the B (4.14.5). Keira Haxton ran 2.37.5 in the U20 A 800m with team mate Isabel Holt winning the U20 1500m in 4.39.6. Logan McCredie smashed his 800m time despite the wind clocking a new PB time of 2.01.1 to win the U17 A race with team mate Max Belshaw replicating the victory by taking the B race in 2.09.3. Sam Aspey running a new PB by 7 seconds and George Ramsden also running a new PB by 9 seconds, then added more points by taking 2nd places in the U17 1500m in times of 4.17.1 and 4.29.0 respectively. Callum Singleton followed in his dad’s footsteps – taking on the 1500m steeplechase and placing 4th in 5.14.5. Charlotte Robertshaw (3rd) and Isabelle Perry (3rd) took on the U17 800m race with respective times of 2.27.1 and 2.41.0 with team mates Isabella Pacelli coming 5th in the 1500m (5.16.8) and Lottie Smith making her debut at the distance, clocking 5.24.3 (3rd).
Oliver Gill (11)
Isabel Holt (1)
SPRINTS & HURDLES
Daniel Nuttall kicked off a good day for him by equaling his personal best in the A 100 (11.2) as Aidan Downes went even better as he clocked a big new PB of 11.9 in 4th in the B – both races with + 2.4 wind readings. The same pairing saw Daniel run 23.3 in 4th spot in the 200m A with Aidan clocking his second new PB of the day in 3rd spot with 24.0 in the B race. Codie Dewhurst was 4th in the U20 400m A race (55.2) alongside George Ramsden – 2nd in the B with his 55.6 on debut over the distance. The U20 Women’s 100m had Isabelle Hartley in 6hth running 14.5 and Millie Pilkington 5th in the B with 14.6 – her first time ver of sprinting 100m – both girls reversing in the 200m with Millie 6th in the A (29.9) which was a new PB and Isabelle 4th in the B with 30.0. Great to see Poppi Watson and Niamh Gater back out competing in the U20 400m – Poppi running 63.7 in 4th and Niamh 69.9, 2nd in the B race – neither of them having ever run a 400m race previously. Daniel Bretherton had a fine rin in the U17 400 to take the win in a new PB time of 53.8 with Matthew Haxton placing 4th in the B with 59.7, just tenths outside his best time. Cracking race in the Women’s U17 100m race with Millee Schofield taking the win in 12.6 from Olivia Schrishaw in 2nd given the same time. Team mate Alisha Lehner took 3rd in the B with 13.7. Millee and Alisha also paired for the 200m – Millee clocking 25.2 in 2nd place, wit the same time give to the winner – Alisha clocking 28.9 in 5th spot in the B. Despite the wind, Codie Dewhurst ran a well judged race to take the win the U20 400m Hurdles (63.3) whilst Kiera Booth (4th) and Millie Pilkington (3rd) ran times of 79.1 and 80.6 respectively in the Women’s 400m Hurdles. George Camara doubled up in the 100m and 400m Hurdles placing 3rd in the 100mH in a new PB of 15.5 and 4th in the 400m Hurdles (67.5).
Millee Schofield (1)
George Camara
JUMPS
The wind had a real and visible impact on the Pole Vault featuring nine athletes in total. Tamzin Osborne – who cleared 3.0m the week before was impacted by the conditions and managed 2.60m in 2nd place. Ben Stratton filled in for Long Jump witjh his inimitable style, leaping out to jump 3.12m in 2nd place alongside Samuel Mutombo who placed 2nd with 5.63m in the A. Kiera Booth finished 4th in the U20W Long Jump (4.03m) whilst Logan McCredie jumoped 4.36 in 5th place in the U17 mens event. George Camara was just one cm outside his best in the High Jump, clearing 1.55m in 4th. Millee Schofield had plenty of speed on the board as she jumped 4.73m in 2nd place in the U20 W Long Jump and a new PB by some 30cms. Imogen Robinson and Tamzin Osborne were the Club’s pairing in the U17 Women’s High Jump – Imogen clearing 1.40m in 5th and Tamzin 1.35m in 2nd in the B.
Logan McCredie
Tamzin Osborne
Imogen Robinson
THROWS
U20 George Williams took on three throws – winning the Hammer (41.86m), placing 2nd in the Shot Putt (9.01m) and 3rd in the Discus (17.87m) – Shot Putt and Discus being his first ever competitions in the events. Isabelle Hartley 3rd (6.57m) and Kady Thompson 1st in the B (5.55m) paired in the Shot Putt as they did in the Javelin – Isabelle 3rd in the A (23.47m) and Kady 2nd in the B (20.88m). Kiera Booth and Kady coupled to do the Discus – Kiera 3rd in the A (14.46m) and Kady 2nd in the B (13.32m). Harry Pilkington placed 2nd in the A Shot Putt (9.31m) and a new PB with team mate Loucas Lancashire in 3rd in the B (6.40m) – also a new PB. In the Discus Harry went again throwing 25.72m in 3rd place whilst Jacob Fisher won the B (22.26m). Harry had earlier thrown 25.72m in 3rd in the Hammer. The final throws event was the Javelin in which Loucas Lancashire threw 32.53m in 3rd in the A with team mate Felix Thompson in 3rd in the B (20.90m). Tamzin Osborne topped off her day with a third event in the U17 Discus placing 5th with a new PB of 14.42m.
George Williams
