Wild, wet and windy; it’s been grim at times but you have been making your presence felt this weekend. Our younger men made their mark at the Ron Hill 10k on Sunday, but this weekend it’s really been all about the girls!

Northern Road Relays – 28 March

Chairman, James Hickie said; ‘It was great to see not one, but two, Clayton Ladies’ teams competing in the Northern Six Stage Road Relay on Saturday. Our ladies last competed in this important Northern event way back in 2009, so Saturday’s performances clearly demonstrate that our ladies have re-established themselves on the road. Our men are also moving up, with a substantial improvement on last year’s position of 48th in the Northern Twelve Stage Road Relay to 37th on Saturday. Well done everyone, and particular thanks to Captains Angela Shian and Tom Brewster!’

Clayton Ladies at the Northern Road Relays

Ladies’ Road Captain, Angela Shian, reports; “The ladies teams had a early start on Saturday 28th March, leaving the torrential rain In Burnley to head for the sunnier climates of Liverpool. We had 2 ladies Teams entered:

Team A: (*= long leg)
Leg 1 Fabienne Richmond*
Leg 2 Helena Leathley
Leg 3 Nat Harrison
Leg 4 Irene Roach*
Leg 5 Vicky Heys
Leg 6 Angela Shain

Team B (*= long leg)
Leg 1 Sarah Angelone*
Leg 2 Jean Knightley
Leg 3 Sarah Whittaker
Leg 4 Irene Roach*
Leg 5 Julia Rushton
Leg 6 Helen Bennett

For the Majority of the ladies, this was the first time competing in an event such as the relay championships. There were a few nerves at the start and some stressful moments (very keen change overs Jean Knightley…!) It was soon all overcome by the sunshine, a picture and a cuddle from Sir Steve Cram and, as you know, us ladies always like a giggle!!!!!

To the important part though – great results of team A – 31st place and Team B came 45th place, there were 55 complete teams entered and 6 incomplete teams. Thank you to all the ladies who ran, we had a very enjoyable “noisy” day – I can only see a bright orange future for these prestigious events.”

Full Results – Women
Full Results – Men

Errwood Hall Junior Fell Running Championships – 28 March

Congratulations to Briony Holt for her performance in the U14 race in the first race of the English Junior Fell Running Championship series.

Briony ran her first U14 fell race of the year in the Peak District yesterday. As an FRA championship qualifier it was well organised and well attended as usual. The weather was awful, driving rain and wind, although it broke during the races becoming showery. The race itself was 4.6k, an increase from the 3k standard she ran last year. The route was her first in the area and was straight up from Errwood lake to Shining Tor, turning round nearly at the top. The ground was firm underfoot and cushioned on the moor with gorse and heather. Briony finished an amazing 1st girl, 14th overall against some tough competition. She ran hard uphill as normal but maintained her intensity on the downhill section too, finishing saying how she’s gonna have to train harder to maintain that standard!

Flying the flag for our juniors – well done Briony!

Clayton Junior, Briony Holt, in full flight at the Errwood Hall Fell Race. Photo by the Woodentops

Full Results

Boulsworth Bog – 28 March

It would seem that Boulsworth Bog fell race lived upto its name this year and conditions were reported as being particularly wet and boggy for the runners. Seven of our members took part in this 8.2mile race with 1394ft of climbing. 74 runners took part. Neil Hardiman finished in 4^th place and Jeff Pickup was 1^st V60.

Neil Hardiman, first Clayton finisher at the Boulsworth Fell Race. Photo by the Woodentops

Neil Hardiman reported; “Boulsworth is a hill that has plenty of bogs! Even in summer the summit plateau is never dry. Our elite runners were on relay duty so I fancied a prize. The first couple of miles involved farm tracks and even some Tarmac, before the tough ascent of Boulsworth and a great descent with fast trails back to Wycollar. Stuart Fogg and Christian Holmes of Wharfedale led out from the start and I was not far behind until we turned into the brutal head wind. A group of runners including Mick Dobson (Trawden) caught me up on the gentle climb and seemed unwilling to pass my windbreaker like body. I deliberately slowed and sat in behind Mick who started the main climb strongly. The mainly flat summit area was swamped, and the wind was smack bang in the face. Turning the summit cairn led to a fantastic descent allowing me to pass a couple of runners and move up to third place. Once I was back on the Tarmac I was quickly passed by one fella who had no idea of the way back. I was shouting directions from 50m guiding him home. What would Worswick say. Foggy won, I came in 4th and got 1st vet 40, closely followed by Kieran on his 1st fell race for some time. Jeff, Sean, Colin, Gaz and Babs followed us home on a tough but enjoyable day.”

Barbara Savage at the Boulsworth Bog Fell Race. Photo by the Woodentops

Colin Woolford reported; “Boulsworth Bog by name bog by nature. Wet and windy in equal measure! Different finish improved the race, but made it muddier still.”

Colin Woolford at the Boulsworth Bog Fell Race. Photo by the Woodentops

Full Results 

Ron Hill 10K – 29 March

On a wet and miserable Sunday morning, 35 Clayton-le-Moors Harriers, 17 men and 18 women, lined up for the second running of the Ron Hill 10K, some of them having also raced the previous day at the Northern Road Relays in Sefton and some of them running for the club for the first time.

New Clayton Members with Ron Hill

The rotten weather didn’t deter a hardy band of spectators and the atmosphere was buzzing. With a strong young group of male runners, expectations for a great result for Clayton-le-Moors Harriers was running high and we were not disappointed.

A wall of Clayton talent! L-R Jacob Watson, Christopher Holdsworth, Danny Collinge, Jordan McDonald.

Christopher Holdsworth set off at the front and stayed there for the duration coming in over a minute clear of the second runner. A video clip posted on facebook by one of the spectators absolutely summed Chris’s race up when she commented “Bloody miles in front!” On his birthday, and gashing his leg on the way round, Danny Collinge put in a superb first run for the club landing third place in the race. Not far behind, Jacob Watson battled hard for his 7^th place. Our vet men had a great race with 1^st V55 going to John Hartley, Paul Brannon and John Roche were 3^rd and 4^th V55 respectively. Stephen Biscomb was 2^nd V60 , Ron Chappell was 2^nd V65 and legendary Ron Hill took 1^st V75.

The first Clayton lady was Nat Harrison who ran a blistering race finishing as 14^th female overall in the race. Sarah Angelone followed just a minute later. There were some great results for our vet ladies with 1^st V60 for Katy Thompson, 1^st and 2^nd V55 for Irene Roche and Jean Knightley, and 2^nd V50 for Julia Rushton. It was great to see such a large turn out of Clayton ladies, some of them running for the club for the first time, many of them getting PBs as well.

Natalie Harrison, first Clayton Lady over the line at the Ron Hill 10K

The eponymous man, Ron Hill, was running himself and took 1^st Vet75 crossing the line with alongside some of our younger club members, Sophie McIntosh and Adam Hamer.

Full Results

Padiham Junior Aquathlon – 29 March

Six Clayton-le-Moors Harriers were spotted in the results of this local duathlon event held in and around Padiham Leisure Centre. Swimming in the pool followed by a run on the Padiham Greenway.Seniors Natasha Newell (competing as Ribble Valley Tri), Beth and Andy Quinn and Deborah Gasse competed in the senior event. Adam Quinn competed in the 12-13 junior competition and Keira Stevenson took part in the 10-11 competition. Keira took part in the event last and she wanted another go to see if she could do better. She practiced her swimming with a real focus this past month and knocked 38 secs off her 2014 time. Such a positive attitude and unrivalled determination – well done Keira!

Clayton Junior, Keira Stevenson at the Padiham Aquathlon

Padiham Aquathlon 2015 Results

Vitality Liverpool Half Marathon

This as the 22nd Liverpool Half Marathon and, with over 6,000 entries, it was a big day for everyone as the massed ranks pound the streets of Liverpool. Three Clayton Ladies made the trip to Merseyside to take part. PBs all round for  Clare Wilson (01:46:02), Stephanie Hawke (01:54:36) and Nikki Kay (02:06:57).  Well done ladies!

Stephanie Hawke, Nicola Kay and Clare Wilson at the Liverpool Half Marathon

Full Results

Parkrun roundup

Wild, wet and windy conditions didn’t put you off your Saturday morning fix and lot of our members warmed up for weekend races at their local, or slightly further afield, parkrun. We had 3 top ten finishes at Burnley and a PB for junior Liberty Thompson. At Pendle a couple of top ten finishes, first female position for junior Natasha Olszewska and a PB for her mum, Adrienne. Well done also to Colin Shuttleworth for a top ten finish at the Preston parkrun.

Other Race News

Andrew Armstrong took part in the Blubberhouses 25 which he says “went ok, windy & showery; my kind of race weather!”

Burnley parkrun – A total of 163 runners took part.

Pendle parkrun – A total of 38 runners took part.

Heaton parkrun – A total of 417 runners took part.

Preston parkrun – A total of 165 runners took part.

Bolton parkrun – A total of 224 runners took part.

 Dewsbury parkrun – A total of 73 runners took part.

Ormskirk parkrun – A total of 124 runners took part.

Fell Foot parkrun, Newby Bridge – A total of 75 runners took part.

YOUR CLUB NEEDS YOU!

Help is needed for the Pendle Fell Races this weekend, Saturday 4th April, for both senior and Junior races. Junior races, in particular are still in need of a number of marshals.

If you are not taking part, and you can lend a hand, then please show your support and contact David Bailey:

via email: david.bailey80@ntlworld.com
tel: 01282 618554  after 8.00pm