Relays, Road Races and Romance

Running relays on the roads and in the mountains, tearing up trail races, going long distance in ultra races, winning 10k races and fun runs. As always you are a busy bunch. Race wins, our best performance in the mountain relays for 10 years with a talented young team, and a strong presence at the National Road Relays. The future is most definitely bright!

Some Club Announcements

Junior Training – The juniors could do with some help this Thursday, we need 3-4 extra helpers if anyone’s free. It’s a 6pm start from Spirit of Sport, next to the fire station in Burnley. You won’t need to coach or do anything complicated, just run along with the group and be an extra pair of hands if needed. Contact Andy Armstrong if you can help.

Virgin London Marathon –  If any member out there has had their application for London rejected and wants to be entered into the ballot for a club place, please send your rejection letter to the club secretary, John Wilcock. If successful, you will still need to pay the normal entry fee to VLM.

Clayton Harriers Social Evening with Guest Speaker Denise Park
On Friday 30th October we are holding a social evening at Padiham Football Club, at which the highly respected physio Denise Park will be attending to give a talk / questions and answers session on the Recognition and Prevention of Running Injuries.

The evening is aimed at all levels of runners – from beginners to experienced, from young to old. I’m sure all our running members – whether still competing or now just running socially / training could benefit from the pearls of wisdom that Denise can pass on, that maybe the difference between a good winter season of training and a miserable (and grumpy) winter season!

The evening starts at 8.00pm with a small cost of £2.00 per person – payable on the night
Can you please let me know if you plan to attend by emailing me at mgreenwood1969@outlook.com, ringing me on 01254 237485, or by posting a message on the Clayton Facebook page – just so we have an idea of numbers.

Saturday 3 October

Coniston Trail Races

Club member David Black was our sole representative at this 15km trail race in the Lake District. He finished in 91^st place with a time of 1:19:33.

216 runners took part in this race which the organisers, Lakeland Trails, describe as following circuits along well marked and marshalled footpaths and bridleways, taking in panoramic views of Lake Coniston and the surrounding peaks of the Old Man, Swirl How, Wetherlam and Dow Crags. Underfoot conditions are generally good for those used to off road running, although there is one short 200m section after approx 4km on the 15km routes which only agile mountain goats will be able to run!

Full Results

ERRA National Women’s 4 Stage Relays

Our Ladies’ team placed 47^th with an overall time of 1:10:44 in a field of 67 complete teams.

Ladies’ Road Captain Angela Shian reports;

We were Birmingham bound, taking the long route to the start – it pays to recce the route first to find the start. Laura Hesketh had an amazing start on leg 1, getting us to 36th position. Claire Vincent leg 2 head it well for us. Leg 3 was myself; I pushed as hard as I could, out of my comfort zone! Then handed the last leg to my little sister, Helena to pull back any places I lost! Clayton ladies came 47^th , very respectable place In the nationals, really looking forward to qualifying again for next year

Ladies Team. L-R Laura Hesketh, Angela Shian, Claire VIncent, Helena Leathley

ERRA National Men’s 6 Stage Relay

Men’s team placed 53 with an overall time of 2:01:21 in a field of 68 complete teams

Full Results

Isle of Man Ultra

Long distance adventures in the Isle of Man for Paul Thompson and Simon Halliday. This is the penultimate race in the Run Further Championships which classifies this ultra a ‘short’ race. Short it most certainly isn’t! It’s 31 miles with 8500feet of climbing. 73 runners completed this tough event.

Excellent results for both of our runners. Paul Thompson finished in 4^th place, 1^st V40, with a time of 5:32:23 and Simon Halliday was 9^th with a time of 5:59:45.

Full Results

http://www.isleofmanmountainultra.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/IOM-Mountain-Ultra-Results-2015.pdf

Rivington Trail Half Marathon

Six club members took part in this popular trail half marathon taking in Rivington, Yarrow and Anglezark reservoirs and White Coppice on a scenic route.

Our first finisher was Andy Bradly, who sends this report;

Perfect running conditions, if a little misty to enjoy the views on Saturday. I was joined at the start by 5 other Clayton members a quick chat and off! Nice undulating course no real killer hills and good underfoot. Managed to be about 30 secs slower than last year but it was my first race as a V50! Highlight of the event was seeing the Burnetts cross the line together it must be love if you can get a half marathon entry as an anniversary present and finish together smiling, surely there was a heated debate somewhere on the way round! Recommended event, hope to do it again next year with a bit more orange on display.

L-R Rachel Todd, Michelle Butschok, Helen Burnett and Dave Burnett at the Rivington Trail Half Marathon.

Romance was in the air as Helen and Dave Burnett were running the event to celebrate their wedding anniversary. Ahh… this is what Helen had to say;

Following on from Hendon Brook and GNR training Michelle suggested that we do a half marathon off road and the Rivington Trail Half seemed a good choice. As it was mine and Dave’s wedding anniversary and his first half marathon we decided to run together.

The four of us travelled together cursing Michelle for what seemed like a bad idea at that point, after such an early foggy start. At the start we met up with fellow Claytoners Andy Bradley and Martin Griffin. Andy was returning for his second year and gave us some pointers about the route (where to expect the hills).

The route has a good 1 mile climb at the beginning and short climb just after mile 10 but apart from that was a lovely route meandering through woodland and trails and round the edges of the reservoirs.

Dave and I ran the route together managing not to bicker and the old romantic held my hand for the sprint finish across the line.

It was a well organised event and all finishers got a T shirt and goodie bag so it made the entry fee good value.We were all on a high at the end, pleased with our performances and now praising Michelle for her choice!

Full Results 

Saddleworth Edges Fell Race

Keith Butterworth was our sole representative in this 8.1 mile fell race with 1148 feet of ascent. He finished in 77^th place in a time of 1:29:56. 108 runners took part.

Full Results

Burnley Fire Station 10K

There was an excellent turnout of 27 Clayton-le-Moors Harriers at this popular local 10k despite it’s proximity to the National Road Relays and the clash with the Hodgson Brothers Mountain Relay.  Our road runners were in fine form with a resounding win from Dan Balshaw.  Jonathan Pye, Matthew Duckworth and Paul Brannon all made top ten finishes.

L-R Dan Balshaw, Jonathan Pye, Matthew Duckworth and Bianca Bennett

There were category wins for Paul Brannon (MV55), Stephen Biscomb (MV60), and Amanda Duffy (FV35). Tracy Michell was our first lady, third lady finisher overall, and took the first FV40 category as well.

Team Clayton at the Burnley Fire 10K. Photo by Geraldine Varley

Full Results

Burnley Fire Fun Run

A number of our junior runners took part in this race. Excellent run from Dexta Thompson who went on to win. No results to be found unfortunately!

Clayton-le-Moors Juniors at the Burnley Fire 10K. Photo by Dave Belshaw

Chester Marathon

Two Clayton-le-Moors Harriers took part in this popular marathon. John Hartley finished in 49^th place overall and was 1^st MV55 with a time of 2:55:55

Angela Shian at Chester Marathon

Not content with taking part in the National Road Relays, Angela Shian also ran the Chester marathon finishing in 820^th place with a time of 3:49:48

Full Results

There was also a mini marathon event which Team Stevenson (Lucy, Adam, Keira and Rachel) took part in, with Adam winning the event! Well done all of you.

Team Stevenson who took part in the Chester Mini Marathon. Photo by Deborah Stevenson

Hodgson Brothers Mountain Relay

The relay is in memory of Ian Hodgson, who at the aged 25 was tragically killed in a road accident whilst cycling the day after winning the score class at the Karrimor Mountain Marathon in 1985. Prior to the presentation Jon Broxap, from the organising team announced that Ian’s brother, Michael (57) had suffered a cardiac arrest whilst out cycling in August and never regain consciousness. The family and organised team had decided to rename the relay The Hodgson Brothers Relay.

Our A team finished in 18^th position with an overall time of: 4:14:12. Our Vet team finished in 38^th place with an overall time of 4:47:33. The Clayton ‘Z’ team were 55^th with a time of 5:13:35. Our ladies team were 68^th overall with a time of 5:27:33. Only 10 ladies teams took part and our ladies were 8^th.

Ladies Fell Captain Kath Brady reports

We finished 8th out of 10 extremely competitive ladies teams, in a time of 5 hours 27 minutes, 19 minutes quicker than 2014

1 Linda Lord & Katy Thompson 56.05

2 Wendy Dodds & Avril Duckworth 1.36:56

3 Alison Dugdale & Anna Kelly 1.15:47

4 Jean Brown & Claire Vincent 1.38:45

Thanks must go to Jean Brown who did all the hard work in pulling the team together. I just collected and handed out numbers on the day. Thanks to all 8 ladies for racing hard. Special note must go to Claire Vincent running strong on the last leg with Jean in her first ever race in the lakes.

Claire Vincent and Jean Brown at the Hodgson Brothers Mountain Relays. Photo by Andy Jackson

Men’s Fell Captain Dave Motley Reports

Alarms were off early for the drive to the Lakes, registration and at 9:15am its GO GO GO!. The lads had a really good start with Jordan Mcdonald and Jonny Mckenna bringing the team home in 7th. Next up Danny & Dave Bagot who completed the leg with no navigational issues but they did finish one buff down (I’ll let Danny tell that story ). Me & Lee Smith next and we had a solid run to pass the baton onto Chris & Jacob who brought the team home in 18th place. The vets finished in 38th (8th Vets) which was fantastic performance with the problems I had sorting the team.

David Motley and Lee Smith at the Hodgson Brothers Mountain Relay. Photo by Andy Jackson

Looking at the results I am reliable informed that the A team posted the quickest Clayton time for 10 years, which is a massive positive and the majority of the team were under 25! This really shows the progression of the club in the last couple of years.

I’d like to say a massive Thanks to all the lads but special Thanks goes to Sean Clare & Geoff Gough we were called up on 48hr notice due to injuries in the vets team. Cheers boys and here’s to an even quicker time in 2016!!!

Dominic Carr, Vets Team report

It was cool with a chill in the air before the start of leg 1 of the Ian Hogson mountain relay. Nerves were starting to jangle. We had a last minute drop out for the leg 1 vets team; Andy McFarlane, hamstring, and I was to run with club legend Geoff Gough. He’d been out injured for a while, but class is class so I was worried about keeping up. As usual the nerves went when we set off, and I managed to set the pace which was good. A fast first mile left me wishing for a steeper gradient and my wish soon came true, as me and Geoff traded places back and forth with Rossendales Mick Toman. The recce paid off as I was able to pick the better of the lines as the file of runners in front invariably split in places with route choice up to individual teams.

Dominic Carr and Geoff Gough (No. 19) at the Hodgson Brothers Mountain Relay

We made the first Checkpoint in 27 mins, and had boxed off most of the climb, with a very steep grassy descent to come, which didn’t disappoint. Final Checkpoint at the bottom and a very fast run in on metalled cart track where me and Geoff really dropped the hammer and picked off a couple of teams. We finished fizzing with adrenaline and (for me) relief we acquitted ourselves okay. 3 year in the making running ambition ticked off; nothing else beats running in the lakes and I’ve always wanted to do the Ian Hogson. Hope I make next year’s squad now!! Placed 35th out of 70 teams and 46:35.

Full Results

Parkrun Roundup

Lots of you out and about at a range of parkruns despite the murky, misty morning

Plenty of Clayton runners at a very foggy Burnley parkrun. Photo by Dave Belshaw

Burnley parkrun – A total of 309 runners took part

Pendle parkrun – A total of 55 runners took part

Bolton parkrun – A total of 275 runners took part

Dewsbury parkrun – A total of 88 runners took part

Fell Foot parkrun, Newby Bridge – A total of 125 runners took part.

Heaton parkrun – A total of 510 runners took part

Skipton parkrun – A total of 178 runners took part.

Rockingham parkrun – A total of 242 runners took part