Running further!

Another amazing, action-packed week on the roads, trails, parks, fells and mountains. We’ve been out in force at the Mid Lancs cross country at Towneley Park, Accrington 10K and Bronte Way fell race, with some great individual and team performances across all disciplines. Congratulations to Martin Terry for his MV50 win in the RunFurther Ultra race competition.

Club Announcements

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.

Val Lawson will also be there with club kit, so an ideal opportunity to kit yourself out.

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

Saturday 24 October

Great Whernside Fell Race

Report from Andrew Walmsley

Heavy rain was forecast for the morning of the race. Just before the start at 11:30 am it had stopped raining, though still looked threatening and promised a cold tailwind to the summit turnaround, so not all bad!

Andrew Walmsley at the Great Whernside Fell Race. Photo by Scott Leach

Before the start Andrew Jebb informed the assembled runners that after organising the race for 25 years Peter Jebb was standing down as race organiser. this being his last race in charge and asked for a round of applause in appreciation of his years of service. This was answered by warm applause from all present. Wharfdale Harriers have taken up the reins for future events.

Peter set us off straight into the steep climb which quickly strung the field out into a long line. I found myself 5th out of 5 clayton starters with Ivan [Whigham ] and Mark [Nutter] already out of sight! Peter [ Dugdale ] and Andy [Firth] were locked in battle 50M ahead, then 80M, steadily pulling away. Being passed by “Sumo”[ Andy Holden ] was a kick up the backside and I began to gain a few places. Through the broken crag above Hag Dyke and onto the marshy ground beyond I picked up a couple more before the leaders began to fly past in the opposite direction, heading for the finish, the first few very close together and pointing to a tight contest, amongst them Victoria Wilkinson of Bingley Harriers looking secure as first lady in this leading group.

Andrew Firth at the Great Whernside Fell Race. Photo by Scott Leach

By this time Ivan had a clear lead over Mark with Peter and Andy still having a battle that wasn`t resolved until the final steep descent where Andy used his trademark descending skills to open a gap to take 3rd Clayton.

Some way back up the course I was enjoying quite a good descent too picking up a few more places and chasing to the finish to complete the tough but enjoyable outing.

Unofficial times: Ivan Whigham 41.00, Mark Nutter 45.37, Andrew Firth 46.59 Peter Dugdale 47.09, Andrew Walmsley 52.02.

Awaiting Official Results

Jedburgh 3 Peaks Ultra & RunFurther Update

Congratulations to Martin Terry, this year’s Runfurther MV50 winner Martin Terry and 6th overall in the competition. Andy Armstrong was 44th and Nicholas Olszewski was 45th. The three of them as a team came 5th. Well done!

At Jedburgh, Martin came in 22nd in 5:58:54 in the Jedburgh 3 Peaks Ultra, and took the race MV50 trophy.

This was the 12th and last of the 2015 Runfurther Championship races, and it really was a belter.  The start location was in Jedburgh. There were marshals and supporters everywhere, and the reception at the finish was quite something, with everyone cheered in by name over the PA as they approached the finish, to a chorus of cheers, yelps and handclaps.

The route has great views, and is mainly very runnable.  It starts with an offroad half-marathon, predominantly on an old Roman road and then along the banks of the River Tweed.  That is followed by a stiff fell race over the Eildon hills, then another half-marathon back, mainly on the same route you came out on.  Conditions were good, despite the poor weather forecast: there was a spell of rain early on, but it soon cleared, and we even had a bit of sun later on.  It was a bit muddy in places, but we’re used to that aren’t we?

Awaiting Jedburgh Results

RunFurther Final Results

Mid Lancs Cross Country League – Towneley

Another great turnout for the club at the Towneley Park fixture of the Mid Lancs Cross Country League. There was a record number of younger runners, many of them running for us.

U11 Girls

A great run from Ella Dorrington in this race who finished in 6^th place. Helped to a great team position by Helana White and Imogen Ferguson.

Imogen Ferguson in the U11 Girls’ race. Photo by Nicholas Olszewski

Team position 5^th (E Dorrington/H White/ I Ferguson)

U11 Boys

A third place finish for Dexta Thompson and a first place team position along with Christopher Brown and Jenson Bentham. A great performance from our under 11 boys.

U11 Boys getting ready to race. Photo by Nicholas Olszewski

Team position 1^st (D Thompson/C Brown/J Bentham)

U13 Girls

Despite some changes to last year’s lineup our under 13 girls continue to work extremely well together. Millie Stubbs was our first finisher in 7^th place and the team counters alongside her were Liberty Thompson and Sophie Ashworth.

Sophie Ashworth in the U13 Girls’ race. Photo by Nicholas Olszewski

Team position 2^nd (M Stubbs/L Thompson/S Ashworth)

U13 Boys

Jackson McKay was our first under 13 finisher in the boys race, finishing in 5^th place. Good runs from his team mates Lennon Jackson and Jay Bowman place their team in 9^th place.

Lennon Jackson and Jay Bowman in the U13 Boys’ race. Photo by David Belshaw

Team position 9^th (J McKay/L Jackson/J Bowman)

U15 Girls

As a couple of our girls have moved up the age groups we are able to field an U15 girls team. Briony, back from an injury at the English Schools Fell Running Championships had a great return and finished in 6^th place.

Eleanor Root in the U15 Girls’ race.

Team position – not listed but 4^th by my reckoning! Well done girls.

U15 Boys

Brothers Thomas and Daniel put in some solid runs in this race.

U17 Women

Alice Pier was our only U17 Lady and she finished in 10^th place with a time of 18:25. 

U17 Men

Solid performances from our under 17 men. Curtis Holt was our first finisher in 15^th place overall backed up by Ryan Clarke and Simon Wilshaw to earn a third place team finish.

Team Position 3^rd (C Holt/R Clarke/S Wilshaw)

U20 Ladies

Beth Quinn was our sole representative in the U20 Ladies and finished in 4^th place.

U 20 Men

George Pier ran well finishing in 11^th in the U20 race and 56^th overall in the men’s race.

Senior Ladies

 A great run from Laura Hesketh who was 6^th in the Ladies Race. Irene Roche took the 1^st LV55 category. Our Ladies team were 8^th overall and we had some good placings in the Vets team categories winning first Vet 55 team.

First Clayton lady, Laura Hesketh. Ryan Clarke in the background in the U17 Boys’ race. Photo by David Belshaw

Ladies Team positions

Team A – 8^th   (L Hesketh/H Leathley/ I Roche)

Team B – 17^th (E Mullan/A Shian/V Heys)

Over 35 Team A – 10^th (I Roche/A Shian/V Heys)

Over 35 Team B – 12^th (J Dawes/J Bennett/J Knightley)

Over 45 Team A – 4^th (I Roche/V Heys/J Dawes)

Over 45 Team B – 8^th (J Bennett/J Knightley/J Rushton)

Over 55 Team – 1^st (I Roche/J Knightley/K Thompson

Elizabeth Mullan chasing Angela Shian to the finish. Photo by David Belshaw

 Senior Men

Cross country captain, Chris Holdsworth, had a fine race finishing in 9^th place and helping push the men’s team into third place overall. As with the ladies, the men’s teams had some great placing particularly our Vet 40s who finished in 2^nd place.

The unmissable Breton Holdsworth. Photo by Dave Belshaw

Men’s Team Positions

Team A – 3^rd (C Holdsworth/A Stubbs/B Holdsworth/T Brewster/G Pier/M Perry)

Team B – 9^th (L Smith/A Armstrong/D Bagot/C Helliwell/D Motley/M Duckworth)

Over 40 Team A – 2^nd (A Stubbs/B Holdsworth/A Armstrong/C Helliwell)

Over 40 Team B – 10^th (A Holt/A Dorrington/A Life/A Clarke)

Over 50 Team A – 7^th (A Life/J Wilcock/S Ainsworth)

Over 50 Team B – 18^th (S White/J Hickie/P Browning)

Battling for the finish at the Towneley Cross County. Photo by David Belshaw

 Full Results

 OMM – Original Mountain Marathon

OMM (Original Mountain Marathon) is a test of endurance, navigation and mountain survival. Held in some of most remote locations and at a time of year when conditions can be extremely challenging, an OMM is meant to be hard; it is hard!

Well done to Jean Brown (partnered with Nicky Spinks) in the Elite, and Wendy Dodds (partnered with Helene Whittaker) in the A class of the OMM

Full Results

Accrington 10K

Hundreds of runners took part in the Accrington 10k road race’s 30th anniversary event. Former Olympian Ron Hill also joined runners for the start of the race but nfortunately due to injury he was only able to do a couple of miles before he had to retire.

Starting out on Burnley Road by the Whitakers Arms pub, the race takes on a challenging 10-kilometre course, which winds through Huncoat and Clayton-le-Moors before finishing at Accrington Cricket Club on Thorneyholme Road.

18 Clayton-le-Moors Harriers took part in this popular local 10K road race. Matthew Duckworth was our first finisher taking 5^th place overall in a time of 38:28. Phil Hall followed not long after in 8^th place and with a time of 39:01. Stephen Hall was our third finisher in 15^th place with a time of 40:10. These three made up the 1st place mens team so well done to all three!

Our first lady was Fabienne Richmond who was fourth lady finisher with a time of 43:47.

Fabienne Richmond. Our first lady finisher at the Accrington 10k. Photo by David Belshaw

Matthew Duckworth Reports

For me it was a no brainier to run this as soon as l so the route, as it take us through our namesake. It was a fantastic race that was well marshalled and very well supported, which was a very big boost on the 2 mile long hill coming out of Altham. It was a good result for the club winning the male team prize and on a personal note a great achievement for me after running my first XC the day before, I wasn’t expecting such a good result!

Matthew Duckworth, first Clayton male finisher at the Accrington 10K. Photo by David Belshaw

 Full Results

Bradford City 10K

Dan Balshaw was our sole representative in this 10 race in Bradford. He finished in fourth place with a time of 35:24

Full Results

Bronte Way

 Fifteen Clayton Harriers took part in this 8 mile fell race with 1150ft of ascent organised by Keighley and Craven AC. Neil Hardiman was our first finisher in 32^nd place with a time of 01:03:45. Our first lady finisher was Vicky Heys who finished in 138^th place with a time of 01:20:23. 210 runners took part.

Barbara Savage (on stile) and Linda Bostock at the Bronte Way Fell Race. Photo by Andrew Graham

Andy Bradley reports

Third year running for one of my favourite races the Bronte Way, perfect running weather and plenty of familiar faces at the Aisled Barn at Wycoller. An unusual one way race which needs a bit of organisation in order to get to the start at Wycoller and back from the finish at Howarth, (the coach has to be booked well in advance), the number of runners asking for lifts back suggests that not everyone had thought this through! Just short of 8 miles of fell and trail over the moor tops makes for a great run, especially when there is no rain and hail en route. A quick dash up the final cobbled street, hand over your beer token for a pint of Timothy Taylors and a post mortem on the race with fellow runners, what could be better? Oh yes a chip butty on the way home, love this race!!

 Full Results

Fairclough 5

Paul Walsh at the Fairclough 5 race.

Report from Paul Walsh

This was a friendly well organised, well marshalled event, with plenty of encouragement from them. It was a cold day and the course is a mostly rural figure of 8 with a few shallow climbs. Goody bag at finish included a banana, apple, kit-kat, bottle of water & a red Thornton-in-Cleveleys running drinks bottle (can’t take that to Training nights!!..ha-ha) In summary, a very friendly well organised race, made better by me getting my V60 5k PB down to 25:03 

Full Results

Tandle Hill Trail Race

Peter Butterworth was our only runner in this trail race organised by Cannonball Events.

Full Results 

Blackpool Illuminations

Not a race at all but a social event. A 9.4 mile up and down the prom run with a chippy treat at the end. Sounds like great fun and maybe something we can all join in with next year? Ian Hargreaves and junior runners Aaron Lundie and Adam Stevenson all went along with a number of fellow runners from Burnley parkrun. It was the furthest Adam has ever run so very well done! (amazing what the promise of chips will do!)

Clayton runners on the prom at Blackpool

Parkrun roundup

Some great runs in some far flung places this week. Well done to Colin Shuttleworth on his first place in Inverness and Jacob Boyle for his 4^th in Chelmsford. Closer to home there were top ten finishes at Burnley, Pendle and Witton parkruns and a couple of PBs as well.

Burnley parkrun – A total of 215 runners took part.

Pendle parkrun – A total of 59 runners took part.

Witton parkrun – A total of 163 runners took part.

Chelmsford Central parkrun – A total of 487 runners took part.

Fell Foot parkrun, Newby Bridge – A total of 123 runners took part.

Heaton parkrun – A total of 495 runners took part.

Inverness parkrun – A total of 77 runners took part.

South Manchester parkrun – A total of 356 runners took part.