Due to the track being renewed at Longford Stadium, the usual Tuesday meeting was moved to the Bury track which was bathed in sunshine as athletes prepared to compete on the night. Blackburn Harriers had some 20 athletes competing on the track and in throws – posting a new Club Record and eleven new personal bests. (RESULTS).
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One of the highlights of the night came in the 3000m which saw (U20) Isabel Holt break the U20 Women’s Club Record held by Judith Croasdale – set forty two years ago in July 1982 – Judith having run 9.51.7 at Trafford and Isabel in breaking that record at Bury – recording a new PB of 9.42.1. U15’s Agatha Taylor and Millie Jordan went in the first 800m race at the beginning of the evening, the only girls in the race, and had a real tussle – Agatha coming home in 6th spot overall in 2.17.37 and Millie just a couple of tenths behind her in 2.17.62. U23 Matt Ramsden was racing just his second 800m since June 2022 and was edged out of the win by a single tenth of a second in a new PB time of 1.52.56 alongside team mate U17 Oliver Gill who also posted a new PB of 1.55.44, being the only U17 in the race. Bottom of age U17 Sam Aspey went into his race with a personal best time for the 800m of 2.08.75 – coming with a great run and finish, Sam took the win in a new PB time of 2.03. 43 – a full 5 seconds off his previous best. U17 Logan McCredie clocked 2.08.83 in this Heat alongside Abigail Stratton in just her third race since February earlier in the year clocking 2.11.96. U17 Ethan Cutler was determined to run a new personal best in his 800m race and set off round the first lap as if it was a one lap race. Paying the price for that effort, Ethan still hung on to set himself a new PB of 2.10.05 and first home of the two U17’s in the race. Next race saw an equally determined Alex Rothwell – bottom of age U17 – also embrace similar tactics which in the end paid off for him too, with a new PB of 2.15. 32 in 2nd spot. Bit of a ffamily affair in the next 800m race which featured U17 Daniel and V40 Dominic Bretherton and V40 Rebecca Ward – all three posting new PB’s – Daniel winning the race, his first ever over the distance in 2.18.23, father Dominic placing 2nd in 2.20.37 and his sister, Rebecca clocking 2.31.56. Three Blackburn Harriers in the next race over 1500m resulting in Daniel Bebbington running only his second race of the season placing 2nd in a seasons best time of 3.53.28 followed by U23 Ben Makin clocking 3.56.10 in 5th and Joe Gebbie posting a new PB time of 3.56.61. Bottom of age U20 Jack Lamb added to the tally of new PB’s as he clocked 4.12.38 followed in the next 1500m race by U17 Jack Wood and U17 Henry Ward – both in their first year. Jack clocked 4.24.67 in 5th place with Henry just a tenth behind with a time fo 4.26.17. Over in the Throws V60 Tony Balko was involved in Discus and Shot Putt – throwing a new PB of 36.36m in the Discus (1kg) and then made it a double new PB in the Shot Putt with a distance of 10.55m.
Isabel Holt (153)
Millie Jordan (277) – Agatha Taylor (7)
Oliver Gill (285) – Matt Ramsden (260)
Sam Aspey (316)
Logan McCredie (222)
Abigail Stratton (3)
Ethan Cutler
Alex Rothwell (8)
Daniel Bretherton (66) – Dominic Bretherton (71)
Rebecca Ward (294)
Daniel Bebbington (65)
Joe Gebbie (186) – Ben Makin (42)
Jack Lamb (160)
Jack Wood (163) – Henry Ward (136)
Tony Balko
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Over the weekend, Endurance Coach Mark Taylor was out in very difficult conditions at a Triathlon as was U 15 Lyra Krige along side family members and fellow Blackburn Harriers, mum, dad and sister. Mark was out at the Long Course event in Tenby, described on the race website as “the Long Course athletes have The Wales Swim to complete – a 2.4 mile swim that takes place on Tenby’s North Beach. On Saturday their attention turns to The Wales Sportive, and 112 miles of undulating Welsh countryside lined with enthusiastic crowds. To finish the weekend, the athletes have the small task(!) of completing the 26.2 miles of The Wales Marathon, which is quickly establishing itself as a fantastic event in its own right.” After posting times of 1hr 33.04 for the Swim, 8hr 21.20 for the Bike and 3hr 49.05 for the Marathon, Mark told the Club about his weekend, commenting “Friday night swim – strong currents and a rough sea made it really difficult with 300 DNF’s out of the 850 in my race. 15 minutes slower than normal seemed the par so just happy to get round in 90 mins. After the swim I had motion sickness and nausea all night so the bike on Saturday was about survival from the off, but other than one small tumble got round ok. Marathon day on Sunday went more to plan, a very hilly course and I was happy with 3:48. Always an amazing event and I was treating it as a long training weekend ahead of other races and it fulfilled that brief. More than happy to get the 4th medal given to finishers with an end drop out rate of 50%.
Mark Taylor
Meanwhile Lyra, Anton, Sarah were all out competing in triathlons at the weekend. Lyra competed in her first open water non-drafting triathlon on Saturday in Cheshire & won the girls – only beaten by 1 boy and was over the moon with the experience. (RESULTS)
Sarah and Anton raced in the Darwen Sprint Aquathon & Triathlon respectively where Sarah was 2nd lady Anton took 13th overall & 3rd vet. It was tough course with over 400m climbing in 20km over Hoddlesten moors with some 16% gradients & run up to Darwen Tower & down to Bold Venture Park.
Lyra Krige
Lyra Krige (3246)
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