We are the champions

Blimey! Mountain masters, FRA Champions, BOFRA Champions; well done to all of our outstanding athletes.  You’ve also been rubbing shoulders with Mo at the Great North Run, running really rapid relays, hitting the roads, fells, mountains and parks. Another action-packed week for the Clayton-le-Moors Harriers

Thursday 10 September

Bryan Lawton Brownhouse Reservoir Race

Full Results

Saturday 12 September

North West Road Relays

Team A finished in 12^th place overall and Team B in 23^rd Place. There were 75 senior men teams in the competition.

Broken down by county our teams were 6^th and 11^th in the Lancashire group. 21 Lancashire teams competed. Christopher Holdsworth ran one of the fastest legs from the Lancashire competitors.

Christopher Holdsworth at the North West Road Relays. Photo by Nick Gaskell

Report from David Bagot

The ‘A’ Team featuring Jacob Boyle, Danny Collinge, Dan Balshaw and Chris Holdsworth had a solid run finishing 12^th out of 75 teams (6^th in Lancashire) and apparently led the start of the race after a blistering start by Jacob Boyle which I missed while warming up. The ‘B’ Team were not too far behind in 23^rd position (11^th in Lancashire) and were represented by Jordan McDonald, David Bagot, Jonathan Pye and Breton Holdsworth (special mention to Breton who gained 6 places on his leg and posted not only the fastest time in the B Team but also Clayton’s 3^rd fastest time).

Breton Holdsworth at the North West Road Relays. Photo by Nick Gaskell

Personally I enjoyed the run out and recorded a marginal PB but really struggled around the second lap where I lost 4 places having gained 2 on the first lap. Support from Jim Hickie and Dave Scott was much appreciated on the way round.

A few of the lads seemed disappointed with their times, which is not surprising given that many of the team have recorded numerous PBs throughout the season, but taking into account the trail surface, gradual climbs and the odd sharp bend, it was still not a bad effort around the enjoyable, yet relatively slow, course which I clocked at 3.18 miles.

Dan Balshaw at the North West Road Relays

Many of the Clayton times were very close together which should make for some interesting racing going forward. Hopefully the PBs will continue to tumble and we will see even stronger team performances in the future. Quite a few of the lads are back in action next weekend at the Northern Relays where the competition will be even faster but we will be boosted by the return of fast lads Captain Brewster and Jonny McKenna!

Clayton-le- Moors Harriers ‘A’

Clayton-le-Moors Harriers ‘B’

Full Results

Pilling 10k Series

This is the fourth race of the series; there are five in total organised by Lancaster Race Series. The course is described as a flat and fast with some excellent opportunities to stretch your legs. You will enjoy the views down the River Lune.

Dynamic duo Stephen Biscomb and Tony Pilling took part in this race. Stephen Biscomb was 12^th with atime of 43:54, making him 1^st V60 as well. Tony Pilling was 30^th with a time of 51:04. A total of 49 runners took part.

Full Results

World Masters Mountain Running Championships

Kicking off a week-long series of races and events, the World Masters Mountain Running Championships is a highly attended and thoroughly exciting competition which celebrates the heart of the world mountain running community.

Wendy Dodds at the Masters. Photo by Nancy Hobbs

Last year, the World Masters Mountain Running Championships were held in Telfes, Austria, separate from the World Mountain Running Championships in Italy. This year’s event will offer the chance for spectators to enjoy both championship events in one place over separate weekends. The World Masters Mountain Running Championships is open to participants between the ages of 35 and 79.

Peter Browning at the World Masters Mountain Running Championships. Photo by Woodentops

Three of our super vets took part in a field of over 200 master mountain runners. Peter Browning was our first Harrier completing the course in under an hour. Just a few seconds separated him from Wendy Dodds and Keiran Carr completed the course in just over the hour.

Kieran Carr at the World Masters Mountain Running Championships. Photo by Woodentops

Full Results

Sunday 13 September

Burnsall Fell Races

Danny Collinge and Richard Briscoe competed in the senior race. Danny finished in 5^th place with a time of 15:44 and Richard was 34^th with a time of 21:17.

Danny Collinge at the Burnsall Fell Race. Photo by Bruce Craig

Congratulations to Briony Holt who is once again the BOFRA Champion! With both the FRA and BOFRA titles to her credit this season there is just no stopping her! She was first girl in her race and with that victory has secured the title.

Jackson McKay had a great run finishing in 3^rd place in the Under 12s race with Dexta Thompson chasing him hard to finish in 5^th just a few seconds later. Lennon and Matthew Jackson ran strongly placing 23^rd and 32^nd respectively. Kady and Felix Thompson ran in the Under 9s race finishing in 24^th and 28^th places.

Senior Race

Under 14 Race

BOFRA Champion, Briony Holt, flying down to victory at the Burnsall Fell Race. Photo by Geoff Thompson

Under 12 Race

Jackson McKay at the Burnsall Fell Race. Photo by Geoff Thompson

Under 9 Race

Kady Thompson at the Burnsall Fell Race. Photo by Geoff Thompson

Full Results

Garstang Half Marathon

Organised by the Garstang Running Club this half marathon is described as an undulating, scenic, one-lap course.

Full Results

Great North Run

A select group of Clayton-le-Moors Harriers headed north to give Mo Farah a run for his money at the massively popular Great North Run. In the event, as you probably know, Mo just had the edge over our runners and sneaked the victory!

L-R Justin Birtwistle, Lynsey Birtwistle, Leanne Cottam and Michelle Butschok at the Great North Run

Road Captain Tom Brewster Reports

My first great north run and what ended up being a comeback run of sorts after a year out with a severe ‘niggle’, after dispelling the idea of attempting a fast time due to my starting position near the back and the sheer volume of runners I resolved to soak up as much atmosphere as possible, exchanging high fives with the crowd and encourage any fellow Clayton Harriers I saw along the route. As it happened I managed a PB over the half marathon distance, my only other HM attempt being the Hendon Brook half last year!

I fully intend to have another crack next year, hopefully with a bit more training involved!

Leanne Cottam Reports

This was my first ever Great North Run and I really enjoyed every moment of it. Such a great atmosphere and I found it very emotional watching the Red Arrows fly over the Tyne Bridge as I was just about to go cross. Only thing is, it’s just so busy you were constantly tripping over people. But I loved all the support of the crowds all the way along – it really helped me carry on. Plus it was a very hot day but can’t wait to do it again

Lynsey Birtwistle Reports

Second time doing this run and it was an amazing atmosphere again! I wasn’t a Clayton Harrier when I did this last year and with all the help and support and wise words from everyone at the club, especially Coach Roche, I managed to knock 7.5 minutes off last years time!

Nerina Gill Reports

Last year I ran it as part of a team from BBC Breakfast in memory of our boss, whose birthday it would have been had she not died from breast cancer. We started from the front, which was fantastic. This year Morrisons offered us places again, so I moved my holiday to do it, and slotted it in on the way up to Scotland. Started in the pack this time, and boy was it busy, and warm, but the atmosphere was great, the Red Arrows were amazing, and there is so much going on the time just flies by. It’s not a PB race, but the great thing is I feel it’s set me up nicely for a PB attempt in the near future.

Michelle Butschok Reports

My first half marathon (not counting Hendon as its longer!) and what an emotional roller coaster the GNR is, couldn’t help but both smile and cry at the folk running around me for so many worthy causes. Overwhelming support from the crowds all the way, so glad I was able to experience it. Not a PB race but still a must!!

Full Results

Lake District Mountain Trial

Wendy Dodds and Katy Thompson took part in the Medium Course which is aroun 13 miles with 5000ft of climb. The Trial is an annual event held at different venues in the Lake District in mid-September. All courses are severe tests of route choice, navigational skills and stamina in difficult mountain country.

Full Results

Rombalds Romp

Alan Life was our sole competitor in this event. It’s an approximately 6.5mile Fell v Trail Race on Ilkley Moor. He finished in 14^th place with a time of 52:02 and was 1^st V50. There is a choice of fell or trail race. Alan, of course, did the Fell race.

Full Results

Yorkshireman off-road Marathon and Half Marathon

The Yorkshireman Off-Road Marathon and Half marathon is organised by Keighley and Craven AC. The route covers open moorland and the highest point in West Yorkshire. This was originally a pairs event but is now open to solo runners as well.

Dawn Terry ran in the traditional pairs race with Lorna Bulmer and finished in 18^th place in a time of 5:39:28. This year 27 pairs of runners took part. Martin Terry and Alex Cran ran as solo competitors finishing in 13^th (4:05:30) and 28^th (4:26:54) respectively. 134 runners took part in the solo race.

In the half marathon, dynamic duo Vicky Heys and Angela Shian finished in 21^st (2:33:59) and 24^th (2:35:30) respectively. The half marathon event attracted a field of 149 runners

Full Results

Parkrun roundup

Burnley parkrun – A total of 200 runners took part.

Richard Stevenson storming along at Burnley parkrun. Photo by David Belshaw

Pendle parkrun – A total of 51 runners took part.

Witton parkrun – A total of 162 runners took part.

Burnham and Highbridge parkrun – A total of 89 runners took part

Cuerden Valley parkrun – A total of 129 runners took part.

Dewsbury parkrun – A total of 96 runners took part

Fell Foot parkrun, Newby Bridge – A total of 82 runners took part

Lyme Park parkrun – A total of 73 runners took part.

Medina I.O.W. parkrun – A total of 189 runners took part.

Skipton parkrun – A total of 113 runners took part

British and English Fell Championships

The final results in the British and English Fell Championships are now out on the FRA website with team Clayton taking six individual medals and one team placing! Fantastic result – well done to the medal winners and everyone else who raced and supported.

British Championship Results :
Wendy Dodds – LV50 Bronze
LV40 Team – Bronze (counters were Wendy, Barbara Savage, Katy Thompson, Linda Lord and Jean Brown)

English Championships Results:
Wendy Dodds, LV55 Gold, LV60 Silver (long races don’t count at LV60 and above)
Linda Lord, LV65 Bronze
Kieran Carr, MV65 Bronze, MV70 Gold

Club Competitions

The final race in the Clayton Fell Championship will now be Shepherds Skyline on the 7th Nov. Who is going to be Mr & Mrs Fell 2015?

Fancy being the king or queen of Cross Country?  Here are the races you need!

Finally…

Good luck to everyone taking part in the Northern Relays this weekend, and all the other events that are going on this week. Have a good run.