What a winning week! Chris Holdsworth continues his recent excellent form winning both the Tockholes Evening and Trawden 7 Trail races this week. Briony Holt also continues her superb season winning another BOFRA race; the championship is surely in sight for her now! Dexta Thompson, Jackson McKay, Millie Stubbs and Sophie Ashworth coming in first as well this week. And who could forget Laura Hesketh’s “mixed fun” win at the Oxenhope Straw Race.

Astley Park Trail Series – Wednesday 1 July

Our Junior Team at the Astley Park Trail Race. Photo Nick Olszewski

This is the third race in the Astley Park Trail series and is also the penultimate race in the juniors’ summer race series. Some adjustment to the start of this race made the start line much more spread out this time, so the jostling and pushing of the previous race was minimised and all of our runners managed to stay on their feet in this race.

Bronia Olszewska and Rachel Stevenson sprinting to the finish at the Astley Park Trail Race

Brilliant performances as always from our youngsters on a very hot evening. Curtis Holt was our first finisher and fourth in the race overall and Briony Holt continued her winning streak finishing as first girl in the race. Jenson Bentham and Felix Thompson both had a great race finishing first in their age categories.

Natasha Olszewska is missing from the results but came in around 56/57^th place.

Full Results

Cragg Vale Fell Race – Wednesday 1 July

Jon Sharples took part in this 4 mile midweek evening race organised by Calder Valley Fell Runners with a total ascent of 800 feet. He came 41^st in a field of 81 runners with a time of 38:49

Full Results

Salford Scorcher 5k – Wednesday 1 July

The race is an equal 4 lap course which is flat, fast and has only 80 feet of climbing in total. The course has also fewer turns than many of its similar courses, which also helps runners maintain pace and break PB’s.

Dan Balshaw was the sole Clayton representative at this finishing in fourth place in a time of 17:56

Full Results

Badger 10k – Cuerden Valley – Thursday 2 July

Julie Toman was our sole representative in this 10k trail race through Cuerden Country Park. 126 runners took part. Julie was 109^th with a time of 01:00:48. Well done Julie!

Full Results

Tockholes Evening Fell Race – Thursday 2 July

A comfortable win for Chris Holdsworth and top ten finishes for Breton Holdsworth, Alan Life, Carl Helliwell and Dave Motley.

Christopher Holdsworth at the Tockholes Evening Fell Race. Photo by Paul Livesey

Jean Brown was our first lady finisher. In a good night for our vet runners Alan Life was 1^st V50, and Jeffrey Pickup was 1^st V60. For the ladies 1^st V40 was Jean Brown, 1^st V50 was Linda Bostock and 1^st V60 was Katy Thompson.

Jean Brown at the Tockholes Evening Fell Race. Photo by Lea Pea

95 runners took part in this 5.8 mile race with 1017 feet of climbing.

Full Results

Kirkby Gala Fell Race – Saturday 4 July

Wendy Dodds ran in the senior race finishing as second lady and 1^st Vet 50 as well.

Wendy Dodds at the Kirkby Gala fell race. Photo by Linda Grundy

In the Under 14 race, Briony Holt continued her winning streak and finished as first girl.

Just rewards!

Satisfied grin from Briony having completed and winning the Kirkby gala fell race. Her dad say he took the photo wanting to get the route they ran in but have obscured it nearly completely with the telegraph pole.

Briony Holt enjoying post race goodies at the Kirkby Gala Fell Race.

She remains unbeaten this year with 4/6 championship counter wins, with only four more needed to win the championship.

Northern Athletics Track Meet

Curtis Holt ran the 800m followed by the 200m in the Nothern athletics track meet, (Thats 1kilometer at full tilt! stated proudly to dad when on his return home)

Lostock Hall 5k – Saturday 4 July

Well done Lennon Jackson. He took part in the Lostock Hall Festival 5k and finished in 22^nd place with a time of 22:38; he was the first junior finisher. 60 runners took part

Lennon Jackson at the Lostock Hall Gala 5k

Results – awaiting publication

Saunders Lakeland MM – Saturday 4 July

The Saunders Lakeland Mountain Marathon (SLMM) is a two-day mountain navigation event open to teams of two.

Teams navigate between checkpoints, visiting them in the order given (with the exception of solo Klets competitors). The first day finishes at a mid-way campsite. Competitors must carry the lightweight camping and safety equipment listed in the rules. Competitors need to be competent in the use of map and compass in the mountains. Many checkpoints require accurate navigation, especially in misty conditions.

The 37th Saunders Lakeland Mountain Marathon was held over the weekend of the 4th / 5th July 2015. Competitors arrived in Torver on the Saturday morning to thunder and lightning, but by the time the first finishers started arriving at the overnight camp at Tilberthwaite the sun was shining brightly. On Sunday everybody returned through the Coniston fells back in Torver.

Katy Thompson & Kath Wallis took part in the Kirkfell Event.

Katy reported;

I did the Kirkfell course with Kath Wallis. We were 36th out of 62 starters. 2nd ladies’ team.   It was a tough first day and we were out for 7.5 hours. 5 hrs today. We did 15miles/5750′ day 1 and 11m/4400′ day 2.

Jacob Boyle took part in the Harter Fell course. They looked as though they had a hard time on the Saturday but finished 6th on the Sunday.

Full Results

Bentham Beagles Bash 10k – Sunday 5 June

Described by the organisers as a rural race held on 1 lap of country roads with spectacular views of the Yorkshire 3 peaks. The course is undulating so expect to be challenged. 116 runners took part. Team Brady ran in this event; Martin finishing in 30^th place with a time of 48:12 and Kath Brady finishing in 56^th place with a time of 53:32 earning herself the 1^st Lady vet 50 as well.

Unusual race memento from the Bentham Beagles Bash

Report by Martin Brady

Kath and myself decided to take the campervan out for the weekend and go to Fountains Abbey. After an overnight stay near Brimham Rocks, we went to Fountains Abbey to do the parkrun. The run actually starts next to the Abbey and does a short loop and a longer loop around it and through the Water Gardens. This must be one of the most picturesque parkruns and it is free entry into the Abbey grounds until 10.00am.

Next stop was to Lower Bentham to do the Bentham Beagle 10K on the following day. This is a great course and well organised by Bentham Beagle. It is not a PB course as there are long, steady climbs but you do get a great view of Ingleborough at certain points. I did this race last year and really wanted to run it again but it clashed with Trawden 7. It was a tough decision to miss the Trawden 7 but I am glad I did it now.

Kath ran the race and was first lady V50 which was good to see as she has spent a lot of the past few years with various running injuries which has stopped her competing as often as she would have liked.

Well done guys

Awaiting Results

Oxenhope Straw Race – Sunday 5 June

The Oxenhope Straw Race takes place every summer in the Pennine village of Oxenhope, near Keighley. It was started by two men who made a bet about racing from one pub to the next carrying a bale of straw. Since then it has gone from strength to strength, raising around £300,000 to date. The money is raised by teams collecting sponsorship for completing the course, often in fancy dress, whilst carrying a bale of straw and visiting each of the local pubs in the village. The race also involves the consumption of beer at each of 5 venues on the route.  Competitors are required to run approximately 2½ miles – with a bale of straw (20Kg) being carried for 1½ miles up hill. It is great day out with a real carnival atmosphere!

Laura “Aunt Sally” Hesketh with Chris “Worzel Gummidge” Barnes. Photo by Woodentops

Congratulations to Laura Hesketh who ran with Chris Barnes and finished in 11th place overall, winning the “Mixed Fun” category prize as well.

Full Results

Mersey Junior Triathlon – Sunday 5 June

Grace and Ellie Root travelled over to the Wirral today to take part in the Mersey Junior Triathlon. After a beautiful sunny morning the weather took a turn for the worse and just as Grace started her swim the heavens opened and the thunder rumbled. Undeterred she gave a good performance in all three elements and came an adimirable 10th in the T1 category.

Grace Root at the Mersey Junior Triathlon

Big sister Ellie was up next but this time in much better conditions and no rain. Ellie looked comfortable in the swim and made good ground on the bike. She was coming 3rd in her heat and worked hard to hunt down 2nd place who she nearly pipped but sadly missed out by 3 secs. Overall she came a very well earned 6th place in the T3 category.

Ellie Root at the Mersey Junior Triathlon

Well done girls.

Skiddaw FR – Sunday 5 June

The Skiddaw Fell Race is organised by Keswick AC and is a 9 mile race with 2700ft of ascent.

Well done to Dave Bagot who ran in the Skiddaw Fell Race finishing in 31^st place with a time of 01:28:20 in a field of 115 runners.

Trawden 7 Trail Race – Sunday 5 June

Team Clayton at the Trawden 7 Trail Race. Photo by David Belshaw

37 Senior members took part in the Trawden 7 Trail Race. Another with for Christopher Holdsworth, his second win of the week. Breton Holdsworth was the first V40 and Jordan McDonald also continues to run really well in this series finishing as the first junior male. Peter Booth took first V65 and David Scott first V70.

Claire Vincent continues to run up a storm in this series of races once again finishing as our first Clayton lady and third lady finisher in the race. Karin Goss was first V65.

Claire Vincent at the Trawden 7 Trail Race. Photo by David Belshaw

Finishers’ Beer – the real reason for running this event?? Photo by Sarah Angelone

Junior Results

Some excellent runs from our juniors with Dexta Thompson and Jackson McKay winning the U10 and U12-16 races.  Millie Stubbs was first girl in the U12-16 Race. Great performances followed from all of our juniors and a special mention for Lottie Hesketh who made her first appearance for Team Clayton.

Under 8s Race

The Start of the Under 8s race. Photo by David Belshaw

Under 10s Race

Rachel Stevenson in the U10s race being supported by her siblings. Great team spirit! Photo by David Belshaw

U12-16s Race

Sophie Ashworth making it look easy! Photo by David Belshaw

Junior Team at Trawden Races.

Parkrun roundup

PBs galore this week as many of our members were gearing up for other events over the weekend.  There was a little bit of parkrun tourism going on as well.

Burnley parkrun – A total of 284 runners took part.

 Pendle parkrun – A total of 42 runners took part

Dewsbury parkrun – A total of 69 runners took part.

 Fell Foot parkrun, Newby Bridge – A total of 104 runners took part.

 Fountains Abbey parkrun – A total of 197 runners took part

 Other news

Club vacancies

Wanted – Treasurer and Membership Secretary!

The club is looking for a Treasurer to take responsibility for the club’s finances, and advise the committee on all financial matters. The job involves paying our suppliers and members promptly, claiming Gift Aid from HMRC, and producing the annual financial statements. You’ll exercise effective control on the club’s expenditure, as well as recommend charges that are fair and competitive. Whilst a sound financial head and IT skills are needed for the role, advice is available if required on accounting matters.

#This Girl Can

You may have seen the adds for this campaign but did you know – now you can make your own! Click here to get started: http://app.thisgirlcan.co.uk/

Come on ladies – It would be fab to see someone we know on a local bus stop ad board!