Marathons, mountains and skylines

It’s been a bag of all sorts this week.  There was another win for fast lad Dan Balshaw with Jordan McDonald snapping at his heels in second at the Autumn Breaker. You’ve been up in the high mountains, running long in full and half marathons, hitting the Yorkshire skylines and competing in cross country. The end of summer brings no end to your running adventures.

Saturday 10 October

Langdale Horseshoe

Eight Clayton Harriers took part in this 131 mile Lakeland fell race with 4757Ft of ascent.

Report from Ivan Whigham

Ivan Wigham at 3 tarns with the Sca Fell massive in the background. Photo by Mark Nutter

There was a strong Clayton turnout at the Langdale Horseshoe Fell Race. The weather was perfect with high cloud and good visibility .Tim Edwards retired early on with calf problems. Dave Naughton and Andrew Orr were fighting for first Claytoner.

Jon Sharples at 3 tarns with Langdale pikes in the background. Mark Nutter

Jon Sharples overtook me past Esk Hause. I tried to hang on but his down hilling speed was too fast for me . As I was climbing Blisco I could see him in the distance but he just got away. I finished just after the 3 hour mark a few minutes behind Jon.

Andrew Firth at 3 tarns also with the Sca Fell massive in the background. Photo by Mark Nutter

Our other finishers were Wendy Dodds, Andy Firth, Pete Dugdale and Ian Connell

Full Results

Red Rose Cross Country League – Leigh

Some great results both individually and teams for our junior runners at this cross country fixture. Second place finishes for both Dexta Thompson and Ella Dorrington in the U11 races and some great team placings as well.

A slightly depleted senior turnout as many of our runners were taking part in other events over the weekend but still some solid performances on show.

U11 Boys

Team Position 2^nd (Thompson/Bentham/Stubbs)

U11 Girls

Team Position 7^th (Dorrington/White/Ferguson)

Millie Maccabe in the U11 Girls’ race. Photo by Nicholas Olszewski

 U13 Boys

Team Position 6^th (McKay/Jackson/Stevenson)

Lennon Jackson and Adam Stevenson in the Boys’ U13 Race. Photo by Nicholas Olszewski

U13 Girls

Team Position 8^th (Stubbs/Thompson/Stevenson) Incorrect due to Natasha missing from results. Should place a bit higher than 8^th.

The U13 girls are off! Photo by Nicholas Olszewski

* Natasha is missing from the results

U15 Boys

Team position 5^th (Bradley/Quinn/Bradley)

Thomas Bradley in the U15 Boys’ Race. Photo by Nicholas Olszewski

U15 Girls

No team

Lucy Stevenson in the U15 Girls’ Race. Photo by Nicholas Olszewski

U17 Men

Team Position 3^rd (Holt/Clarke/Wilshaw)

U17 Women

No team

U20 Women

No Team

Senior Women’s Race

Team Positions

Ladies Team 12^th (Leathley/Roche/Heys)

Vets Team 9^th (Roche /Heys/Shian)

Men’s Races

Senior Men

Team Positions

Men’s Team 13^th (Armstrong/Berry/Snell/Vleaver/Wilcock/Paul)

Vet’s Team 14^th (Armstrong/Wilcock/Quinn/Pier)

 Valiants Half Marathon

Photo

A team of three Clayton Ladies, Elouise pemberton, Clare Wilson and Steph Hawkins took part in this half marathon

Jubilant Clayton Ladies winning team at the Valiants Half marathon

Valiants Half Marathon was a totaly different experience to any other race I have taken part in, collecting our race numbers from a farm building out in the middle of the countryside.

There where only about 80 runners taking part so it was nice that there where three Clayton ladies together at the start.

The course was very scenic and the weather was perfect which made it a very enjoyable run.

To top off getting a new half marathon PB we also won first ladies team for Clayton so all in a great success!

Results???

Wasdale Show Fell Race

Thankfully, not dressed as a sumo wrestler, Richard Briscoe was our sole representative at this late season Lakeland fell race. He finished in 44^th place with a time of 55:46.

Richard Briscoe at the Wasdale Show Fell Race. Photo by Bruce Craig

Report from Richard Briscoe

The Wasdale show is a popular Lakeland event where there is a shepherds meet, dog classes, hound trails and,of course most important, the fell race. The fell race is only 3 miles but you go to the top of Kirk Fell which is over 2000 feet and back down again. BOFRA organise the race and to qualify for the prizes you have to do at least 8 races, so I had to do it to qualify. The race is a fast and furious start jumping over a wooden fence and straight on the mountain. I did really well on the climb and was in a good position then on the descent it was lethal. The top of the mountain there are lots of boulders to jump unfortunately I twisted my ankle on one of them I thought it was broken so I lost quite a lot of places. The finish got nearer I was glad to finish. After the event it was good to enjoy a beer at the Wasdale Inn before going back to the campsite. Overall was a great event.

Full Results

Autumn Breaker

First and second place in this race for Dan Balshaw and Jordan McDonald. Chasing them down and finishing in 9^th was Matthew Duckworth. First V60 position for Stephen Biscomb and some solid runs from Brian Wildman and Ian Hargreaves made for a successful showing for the club at this popular 10k with 349 runners taking part.

Jordan McDonald (L) and Dan Balshaw at the Autumn Breaker 10K

Report by Dan Balshaw

Another early Sunday get up for some, I arrived outside the Turf where I was due to pick Jordan and had to make the ‘are you up yet’ phone call (he wasn’t up!) I drove up to his house and a couple of minutes later armed with an excuse that he’d been on a double date with George, beetroot juice and a banana we were on the road to pick up Matt Duckworth.

After the warm up we lined up, my aim was to make it four podiums in four weekends, myself and Jordan came up with the plan for Jordan to stick with me for 5k and see what he had for the 2nd 5k, this kind of didn’t go to plan, after the first lap of the Stanley Park track the pace was slow and no one willing to take the lead, so at this point I took it on myself to up the pace, one lad from Liverpool who’d won on the same route in the spring came with me and kept with me, as we came through 5k in just over 17min I kicked a little to see if I could break him and managed to get a 100m gap within 30seconds, a quick look around as I left the track once again and I could see Jordan on the track in a well placed 4th

From this point It was me and the lead bike, navigating past dogs, trees, prams etc. at a cross over point at about 9km I spotted Jordan in 4th still and shortly after a speedy looking Matt giving it a ‘go on Dan’ cheer, a few minutes later I crossed the line in 34:44.7 which I was happy with on the twisty cluttered course.

I turned around after having my picture taken by the local paper and there was Jordan coming home in 2nd a high five and pat on the back, Jordan had the biggest smile on his face for a PB and second place until……….. We got the prizes of a pair of tennis socks and a size large tennis brand top! This may have been down to one thing…… as people may have noticed I was wearing an Up & Running vest (don’t worry it was still orange! Breton would have been proud!)

It’s quite political why I wore it mainly due to the race being sponsored by Sweatshop and as I’m coached by Ben Fish who used to work for them before leaving to manage Up and Running Clitheroe all though he left on good terms they didn’t let him leave with quite the same respect.

A big well done to Jordan, Matt and Ian on PBs

 Full Results

Carsington Duathlon

The Carsington Short Course Duathlon is set in the scenic countryside of the Derbyshire Peak District. Julia Rushton took part in this running and cycling event and completed in an overall time of 2:06:17. Well done Julia!

Julia Rushton at the Carsington Duathlon

The first run is an undulating, out and back route along side the reservoir, the course is traffic free on country tracks and footpaths. Next comes a 30K bike ride that takes competitors on a loop through the beautiful Derbyshire Peak District on an undulating course, all on roads. With a challenging climb towards Middleton Top. The route is marshaled and signposted throughout but extra care should be taken on some of the steeper descents. Finally, after taking in the sights on your bike, competitors head out onto the out and back run, repeating the first run.

Full Results

Plusnet Yorkshire Marathon

A quartet of Clayton-le-Moors Harriers took part in the Plusnet Yorkshire Marathon.

Breton Holdsworth

Breton Holdsworth at the Plusnet Yorkshire Marathon. Photo by Matthew Lalor

On Wednesday I was contemplating not doing the marathon due to the total lack of marathon prep, zero long runs and no carb loading planned. The newly appointed road captain (my nephew) convinced me that I should do it. My plan was to go at 6.30 pace which would bring me in at 2.50, that sort of went out of the window and I kept around 6.20 pace till it all really started hurting from 16 miles onwards. Atmosphere was great, tango man, you’ve been tango’d etc was shouted at me throughout and I got plenty of cheers for my subtle attire! I managed a 2.50.16 in the end so was very happy all things considered and DEFINITELY no more road marathons for me!

Richard Stevenson

Richard Stevenson at the finish line of the Plusnet Yorkshire marathon

Sometimes things don’t always go to plan, after months of training and some promising times in warm up races I decided to give this marathon a real go. The plan was working well as I was steadily knocking out the miles until I got 22 miles in, from then on things fell apart quite badly and was just pleased to get to the finish. Overall I’m pleased to have completed another marathon and finished with a new pb, no plans at the minute for another marathon but I did achieve a good for age qualification time for London 2017 so you never know I may just give it another go.

Donna Airey

A jubilant Donna Airey celebrating completion of the Plusnet Yorkshire Marathon

Perfect choice for a first marathon. Not too many there to hold you up, and plenty of other runners around for support. The Yorkshire people were fantastic and as always a well organised Jane Tomlinson event. There was a minute applause at the start for the Great North run runner David Colley who died. Overall a great first marathon for me and I am over the moon with a sub 4 hour result.

Andrew Webster

Successful first marathon from Andrew Webster

I’m glad I picked this for my first marathon; great atmosphere and well organised. The support was fantastic, people out shouting you on and offering you sweets I’m happy with a sub four for my first attempt and would recommend it. My longest run was 18 in training and I didn’t properly carb load (unless a few packets of jammy dodgers while playing c o d on line count!) the support that made me laugh was the man on his own with a sign that said ” if you think you’ve had it hard try clapping for 3 hours!!”

 Results

Withins Skyline Fell Races

Six Clayton Harriers took part in this 7.5 mile fell race with 984ft of climb in and around the Penistone Hill area in Yorkshire. The race is organised by Woodentops and features junior races as well.

Jean Brown at the WIthins Skyline race. Photo by Woodentops

Senior Race

Junior Race (U10, U12, U14, U16 & U18)

Christopher Brown at the Withins junior races. Photo by Woodentops

U8 Race

Full Results

Vernons 4 mile & Fun Run

No results or information as yet about this event

Parkrun roundup

Burnley parkrun – A total of 294 runners took part.

New club hoodies on display at Burnley parkrun. Photo by David Belshaw

Pendle parkrun – A total of 65 runners took part.

Witton parkrun – A total of 171 runners took part.

Bolton parkrun – A total of 258 runners took part

Brockwell parkrun, Herne Hill – A total of 250 runners took part.

Dewsbury parkrun – A total of 98 runners took part

Marple parkrun – A total of 151 runners took part.

Skipton parkrun – A total of 155 runners took part

Woodhouse Moor parkrun – A total of 441 runners took part