On the countdown to a few biggies; London Marathon, Yorkshire Three Peaks, the Fellsman and no doubt many more, you’d expect a quiet kind of week in the run up wouldn’t you? Absolutely not!  Team Clayton is at large, in all terrains, scoring PBs, winning events and picking up awards. Wouldn’t expect anything else!

Mid Lancashire Cross Country League Presentation – 17 April

It was a very good night for Clayton-le-Moors Harriers and a very well organised evening for all in attendance.

Team Awards – Gold for the Vet 60 Men’s team, Silver awards for Senior Men in Division 2 and the Vet 50 Men’s team, and Bronze awards for the U-13 Girls and the Vet 45 Women’s teams.

U-13 Girls with their Bronze medals at the Mid Lancs Cross Country Presentation Evening

Individual Awards – Silver awards for Briony Holt (U13 Girl), Jordan McDonald (U17 Men) Kevin Davies (VM50), Irene Roche (VF55), David Scott (VM70), and Bronze awards for George Pier (U20 Men), Peter Booth (VM60), Richard Lawson (VM70)

Irene Roche with her silver FV55 award at the Mid Lancs Cross County Presentation Evening

If you weren’t at the presentation, and you won a senior award or team award, contact John Roche to arrange collection of your trophy/medal.

The Mike McGee Memorial Cowm Reservoir 5K – 15 April

Andems Runners assisted by Rochdale Harriers stage this 5K race around the scenic Cowm Reservoir, in memory of Mike MGee who passed away in 2012. All proceeds go to Bowel Cancer UK.

Clayton Ladies out in force at Cowm Reservoir Memorial Race

Fourteen club members turned out for this race.  Laura Hesketh ran up a storm finishing in 19 minutes and taking the first female position.  Team Roche cleaned up the V55 category with first category finishes for John and Irene. Some great performances all who ran and plenty of PBs.

West Nab – 18 April

Report by Andrew Holt

The third FRA English junior championships race took place across the M62 in Meltham. As usual it was well organised and well attended. The course is similar to the FRA route at Pendle, with an uphill start, longish flat straight and a sharp ramp upwards into the moors. The weather was sunny, warm and hard underfoot with the only mud to be found in the occasional bog and small river crossing. Unusually for a fell race a good percentage of this course is singletrack making overtaking difficult.

Clayton juniors were represented by three runners, Dexta and Liberty Thompson, running only their second FRA fell race, and Briony Holt. Dexta was first away, pacing himself well along the single track and overtaking where and when he could. Finishing we think (photo counting) an amazing fourth. (he was nearly half way back at the start!)

Dexta Thompson in the U8 & U10 Race at Wet Nab. Photo by Woodentops

Briony and Liberty ran next, climbing further up and around the farm. Liberty was rightly cautious about starting too quickly and started towards the rear of the group. Liberty held a steady position around the course, even gaining ground on more experienced athletes. Obviously feeling tired at the end, Liberty finished strongly in approx 25th position, (counted via photos on Woodentops) in a competitive field on a difficult course.

Liberty Thompson in the U14 Race at West Nab. Photo by the Woodentops

This was Briony’s second attempt at West Nab, but first at the longer u14 route. After the usual dash out of the field Briony was placed 5th or 6th the, but gained ground and led from from the first downhill stretch, and had a healthy lead at the half way point. A strong challenge from two athletes including last years champion, provided an excellent finish, with Briony narrowly claiming a victory via a sprint in the starting field.

Briony Holt in the U14 Race at West Nab. Photo by Woodentops

Briony has only to finish one of three races to be joint english champion,and she’s won three out of three so far. 

Well done Dexta, Liberty and Briony!

Awaiting results

Lakeland Trails Hawkshead – 18 April

Starting and finishing at Hawkshead, the 17km Hawkshead Trail Race, 17km Hawkshead Trail Challenge and 10km Hawkshead Trail Run follow circuits along well marked and marshalled footpaths and bridleways, taking in panoramic views of Lake Windermere and the surrounding peaks of the Coniston Hills, the Langdales and most of the Lakeland fells. All of the routes take in the infamous, mile long, near vertical, killer climb of the “Coffin Trail”! Underfoot conditions are generally good, particularly for those used to off-road running.

Clayton Lady, Sophie McIntosh tackled the 10k. She described it as a tough one with an extra 1.7km (making it 11.7km), not to mention the 1 mile vertical climb called ‘the coffin trail’. However, the scenery was beautiful and she really enjoyed it.

Sophie McIntosh at the Lakeland Trail races. Suitably tangerine t-shirts for completers as well!

Christopher and Breton Holdsworth tool part in the 17km race finishing in 2nd and 4th place respectively.

Chris Holdsworth and Breton Holdsworth who were 2nd and 4th at the Lakeland Trail 17km Race

Full Results

Podium 5k – 18 April

The sun shone but a cold easterly wind hit the runners on each of the 5 laps in the April version of the PODIUM 5K at Barrowford, Lancashire. Three Clayton men took part in the B race.

Report by Richard Stevenson

After missing out on a sub-18 for 5k at Hollingworth Lake 2 weeks ago, I thought I’d give the Podium 5k a go. I’d heard it was a very flat and fast course. We got there early to watch the A race; boy these guys are impressively fast! Then straight after was the B race with a few from the first race kindly helping out as pacers for us. My tactic was to try and stay just in front of the 18 minute pacer which I just about managed then it was down to an eyeball out sprint for the line. Oh yes 17:49! A new PB and my first sub-18 minute 5k. Well done to the fellow Clayton runners there John and Andy. I know Andy was very pleased with his time.

Richard Stevenson heading for the finish at the Podium 5k. Photo by Jamie McIlvenny

Report from Andy Bradley

Podium 5k perfect for PBs! No pacer for someone hoping to beat 20 mins, not sure some of the a race guys could go that slow!! Asked a couple of lads what they were aiming for and tried to hang on to them, just managed it! Enjoyed the encouragement from the Trawden and clayton attendees, always a help in the last lap when your legs feel like lead. will hope its less windy time as I think I can go (a little bit) faster. £4 well spent and loved watching the a race, some proper runners there!

Andy Bradley at the Podium 5k. Photo by James McIlvenny

Full Results

Y Moelwyn Fell Race – 18 April

Race report from Paul Shackleton

A bakers dozen of Clayton-le-Moors Harriers were at the first British Fell Championships race of the year at Blaenau Ffestiniog on Saturday for the Ras Y Moelwyn race; 16.9k (10 miles) with 850 metres of ascent. Under a cloudless sky we went off down the road from the town centre and climbed up through the old quarries to Moelwyn Mawr at 770 metres. After a steep descent, we then climbed Moelwyn Bach, down a rocky and boggy descent to the Llyn Stwlan dam where the locals offered us jelly babies and flapjacks and then climbed again to Moel Yr Hydd. A fast descent and a run back through the quarry tracks and we were at the finish. The race is a classic! Finley Wild won the men’s race with Rob Hope second and Jasmine Parris was the first lady. Clayton men were led home by Neil Hardiman and fist Clayton lady was Jean Brown. 362 runners took part in the race.

Garry Wilkinson and Paul Shackleton at the Y Moelwyn race. Paul did not run the race barefoot!

Full Results

Great Langdale St. Georges Day 10k – 18 April

Graham Kissack was our sole representative at this 10k out and back road run along the beautiful Great Langdale Valley. The Great Langdale St Georges Day Run is a 10k run held in April each year. The course is an undulating route, along the Great Langdale Road. Starting at the New Dungeon Ghyl, running to The Langdale Estate in Elterwater and returning to the New Dungeon Ghyl.

Full Results

Asics Greater Manchester Marathon – 19 April

Congratulations to the dynamic duo of Clayton runners that took part in the Greater Manchester Marathon. Nick Roscoe was first Harrier over the finish with a time of 03:17:13, followed by Stephen Biscombe in 03:51:17.  Well done guys.

Nick Roscoe at the ASICS Greater Manchester Marathon. Photo by Garry Wilkinson

Stephen Biscomb said, “I found it very tough over the last five miles, my pace dropped off considerably. However, I have ticked the marathon done box. 4 months of thinking about this race is over.” 

Full Results

Cheshire 10k – 18 April

The Cheshire 10k offers one of the fastest 10k road racing courses in the North of England. Racing around the flat and rural roads of Antrobus with full road closures, this Run Britain/UKA licensed, officially measured 10k road race offers the perfect opportunity for runners of all abilities to get a chip timed personal best.

A couple of our members ran in this event, Paul Hesketh and Richard John.  Well done!

Full Results

Great Welsh Mountain Marathon – 19 April

Well done to Nerina Gill who competed in this event.  She beat her personal best by 15 minutes to finish a few seconds over the 4 hour mark.  Congratulations.

Awaiting Results

Clitheroe Triathlon – 19 April

Clitheroe Triathlon consists of a 400m pool swim. a 30k road cycle and an 8k trail run around some of the most beautiful and challenging place in the Ribble Valley with rolling country lanes, sneaky challenging climbs and views to die for.

Very well done to Claire Vincent and Martin O’Rourke who both took part in the Clitheroe Triathlon organised by Epic Events

Full Results

Parkrun roundup

Clayton Men dominating the Burnley parkrun. Photo by David Belshaw

Well we’ve had an outbreak of PBs this week from lots of our runners from the youngest juniors to the most senior veterans, but particularly for lots of our juniors at Burnley!  On a sunny and cool morning, conditions were ripe for such a crop of great runs.  As usual our male runners dominated the top ten at the Burnley parkrun and at the Pendle event as well this week so well done to them.

Burnley parkrun – 275 runners took part

Pendle parkrun – 53 runners took part

Dewsbury parkrun – 71 runners took part

Fell Foot parkrun – 156 runners took part