Springing into action!

Spring is definitely in the air, I can hardly keep up with what you have all been up to this weekend with some great results on the fells, trail and roads for the club. As well as running there’s also been duathlon action and some track events for our junior members who also compete for Burnley AC.  And, of course, you have been doing your bit for Sport Relief at Towneley Park.

Messages from the captains

Dave Motley (Fell Captain) – don’t forget the next Club Fell Championship race is coming up. It’s the Pete Hartley Memorial Liver Hill Race organised by Rossendale Harriers at 6.45pm on Tuesday 29^th March from Marl Pits Sports Centre Rawtenstall. 5 miles (7km) 800ft.

Also there is the Lancashire Fell Running Championships at Sabden on Easter Monday (28^th March) with races for senior and junior runners. http://www.lancsaa.co.uk/fell.html

Sounds like an eggs-cellent way to burn off all your Easter chocolate to me!

Sport Relief Events

Team Clayton out in force at the Burnley Sport Relief Event. Photo by David Belshaw

Well done to all of the Clayton Harriers that took part in a Sports Relief event over the weekend whether it was running, walking, swimming or cycling. Plenty of you were at Towneley Park on Sunday for the 1mile and 6mile runs with some fabulous photos of the event taken by our great friend David Belshaw.

Clayton Juniors at the Burnley Sport Relief event. Photo by David Belshaw

Events were also taking place in Clitheroe and Nelson as well as at schools all around the area. Well done to everyone that took part!

Aaron Lundie at the Burnley Sport Relief Event. Photo by David Belshaw

Saturday 19 March

Boulsworth Bog

Five Clayton Harriers took part in this local race. After a battle with Barlick Fell Runners’ Shaun Chew, Danny Collinge took first place. Carl Helliwell was next in 7^th place despite taking a tumble on the way back to the finish. Jack Holt was 1^st MV65, and Helen Burnett and Michelle Butschok decided to test their mettle on this challenging course. Well done to all of you.

Report from Danny Collinge

Danny Collinge battling with Barlick Fell Runner Shaun Chew at the Boulsworth Hill Fell Race. Photo by Woodentops

Boulsworth wasn’t really a race that I had pencilled in. However, after a message from Helen asking if I was doing it, she soon changed my mind and I decided I would give it a crack. When we arrived there and got ourselves registered my legs were feeling good but not perfect as I could still feel them from the races I had done the weekend before. Anyway, after lining up at the start and getting instructions on the course and health and safety precautions, the race was started and off we went.

I had a really quick start and found myself out in front for most of the way until Shaun Chew of Barlick Fell Runners came past me on the climb up to the trig. At the top of the climb it flattened out and that is when the real work came with having to work your way through the bogs on the top of the hill. We then hit the trig of Boulsworth Hill and it was then I knew I had to work hard to catch Shaun after he worked a bit of a lead on the climb and along the top of the hill, however, I used my road pace to catch him when we hit the concrete parts of the course and left him with about 400m to go.

Me and Shaun had a really good battle in the latter stages of the race and we both had to work hard for our results. The rest of the orange army had a great run as well from what I heard from them after the race. Well done Team Clayton, another good day at the office!

Report from Carl Helliwell

Carl Helliwell at the Boulsworth Hill Fell Race. Photo by Woodentops

I decided to do Boulsworth and as usual I was on the last minute and had 5 minutes to spare when I got there! Luckily for me the start and registration were right next to each other. It is a good race with a mix of everything varying from trail, footpath, rocky paths, grassy sections and plenty of bog up at the top. Once the race started to climb, the positions of the front runners didn’t alter much at all. I could see that Danny Collinge was leading for most of the way up. I had a little battle as I tried to catch up with a Todmorden Harrier runner. It was all in vain as on the last bit of the course (and the easiest section) I decked it doing a stunt man roll through the forest! I was happy with my time of around 54 minutes and came 7^th. Danny had a cracking run to come first battling all the way back with Shaun Chew from Barlick Fell Runners.

Report from Helen Burnett

Helen Burnett and Michelle Butschok at the Boulsworth Fell Race.

Michelle and myself decided to do the race at the last minute as it was our “long run” day. We treated it as a fell training run and ran the route together for experience. It’s a great local fell race (I can see Boulsworth Hill from my window at home), friendly, well organised and although it’s a challenging run, it’s an easy to follow, straightforward course.

Full Results

Causey Pike

A quartet of club members took part in this Lakeland fell race organised by Keswick AC. It is a 4.5 mile race with 1781ft of ascent.

Mark Taylor at the Causey Pike Fell Race. Photo by Annabel Callis Holmes

Mark Taylor was the first Clayton finisher in 43^rd place with a time of 55:04, closely followed by Peter Dugdale in 44^th place. Linda Lord was our sole lady representative finishing in 55^th place overall.

Linda Lord at the Causey Pike Fell Race. Photo by Annabel Callis Holmes

Full Results

Coniston 14

The Coniston 14 Road Race was established in 1982 and is a 14 mile road race around Coniston Water. It is claimed to be one of the most picturesque courses in Britain. A group of five Clayton Harriers took part in this tough race to celebrate Roger Brewster’s 60^th birthday and also Tom Brewster’s 30^th.

Tom Brewster Reports

This has got to be one of the hardest races I’ve ever done. I was running in 12^th and felt good until about mile 9 then I just seemed to fall apart. My legs went then about a mile later my head went as well and I dropped to about 35^th by the end. It was tough but looking at my time (1:29 for 14 miles) and breaking it down it was the fasted I’ve run for the distance and I knocked 5 minutes off my half marathon time so that’s a positive to take! I felt much better after some food and enjoyed sitting at the side of the race in the sun with a beer cheering the rest of the field. Overall it’s an excellently organised race and definitely one to have another go at but maybe with a bit more training next time.

Dave Motley Reports

I decided to do this race to celebrate the club legend that is Roger Brewster’s 60^th. I was promised an undulating, scenic and tough course and I wasn’t disappointed. I was a little disappointed with my performance, but the course was great. Having suffered for that last 4-6 weeks with niggles, I’d not managed to get the mileage in for 14 miles at pace. I set off steady but by mile 6 I was fading with the field slowly coming past me with little response from my chunky legs. I finished the race in 60^th place in a time of 1:33:42 with my legs in bits from a tough course. Well organised event and the beer in the sun helped make the event even better. Would I go back? Yes but with more training. Definitely a race to put in the diary for you tarmac lovers.

Full Results

Lakeland Trails Cartmel

Starting and finishing at Cartmel Racecourse, the 18km Cartmel Trail Race, takes runners on an off-road journey through some of the most scenic and varied countryside in the Lake District, along a ‘Beauty and Beast’ of a course. The trails are mainly along waymarked and marshalled footpaths and bridleways, giving panoramic views of both Morecambe Bay and the surrounding peaks. Underfoot conditions are variable with a bit of everything. Good fast sections, but it can be very sticky in places, especially if wet!

L-R Lee Smith, Breton Holdsworth, Chris Holdsworth and Richard Stevenson. Lakeland Trail Races at Cartmel. Photo by Deborah Stevenson

Six Clayton-le-Moors Harriers took part in the 18km race with top ten finishes galore.

Richard Stevenson reports

This was my first time at a Lakeland Trails event and it lived up to the hype that certain club members had given it. A great friendly atmosphere at the event and a tough little course for the race. All very runnable with a few short, sharp climbs thrown in.

Well done to the other Clayton runners who’d made the trip up to Cartmel; always good to see familiar faces on the start line.

Rachel Todd at the Lakeland Trails Cartmel 18km race. Photo by Lakeland Trails

I’m looking forward to the next race at Hawkshead and hopefully Clayton can have another good showing there too.

Full Results

Sunday 20 March

Garstang Gallop 7 Mile Road Race

Four Harriers took part in this 7 mile road race with a course that covers and undulating and scenic one lap route in a field of 114 runners. Brian Wildman was the first Clayton finisher in 44th place and a time of 54 minutes. Danny Pilkington continues to improve his results with a new PB. Julie Toman was our sole lady runner in 83rd place and Ron Chappell was 95th.

Danny Pilkington at the Garstang Gallop

Full Results

Grizedale Duathlon

The Grizedale Duathlon is a multisport event based in the stunning setting of Grizedale Forest Park, in the southern Lake District. With stunning views over the Coniston fells and an extensive network of forest tracks and purpose built bike trails, this is a spectacular location for trail running and mountain biking.

Andy Laycock at the Grizedale duathlon. Photo by Stephen Wilson www.granddayoutphotography.co.uk

There were 69 individual competitors in this event with our new club member, Andy Laycock taking 2^nd place with an overall time of 2:25:24. The duathlon includes a 24km Mountain Bike ride sandwiched between two 6km trail runs in the stunning setting of Grizedale Forest. The trail races climb up to Carron Crag which is the highest point in the forest, a testing route with 255m of ascent. The mountain bike route is a 24km circuit incorporating the full North Face trail with additional sections of undulating forest roads and flowing singletrack.

Full Results

Helm Hill

A couple of familiar vests have been spotted on the photos for this race which forms part of the Kendal Winter League series organised by Helm Hill Runners.

Wendy Dodds at the Helm Fell Race. Photo by Andrew Slattery

On a glorious day, Alan Life and Wendy Dodds took part. As yet no results are available so there is no news on positions or times as we go live.

Alan Life at the Helm Fell Race. Photo by Andrew Slattery

Awaiting results

Heptonstall Fell Race

The Heptonstall Fell Race is a category BL race across the best of the local landscape around Heptonstall in the upper Calder Valley. The 25 kilometres of route takes in a mixture of steep-sided wooded valleys, upland pasture and pathless moorland.

Runners receiving a blessing at the start line at the Heptonstall Fell Race. Photo by Stephen Grimley

After a blessing from the local vicar, runners hurtle down grassy slopes, struggle across stretches of bog, scramble up through thick heather, dodge through dense woodland and – most of all – race over some wild open countryside. If you get the chance to look around, you’ll see for miles across some of the most beautiful and remote scenery in the South Pennines.

Report from Martin Brady

The route this year was a bit drier than in previous years. It almost felt like summer with many running in just vests. The course has good running sections with a few short steep hills, bogs and a river crossing. A few miles from the end, the course markers had been tampered with sending runners on a long diversion up a hill. There were some good performances by Clayton runners especially Avril Duckworth who was the first V50 lady breaking the LV50 course record by 13 minutes, and Dave Bagot being the first Clayton home in 16^th position. The race is well worth considering for next year for those who want an introduction to long fell races. It was only £6 to enter with tea, soup and fantastic flapjack at the finish

Heptonstall Fell Race. Photo by Stephen Grimley

Report by Darren Rushton

This race is an absolute bargain for a long fell race. There is some good running on good ground and if you could order weather like we had, it does not come any better – it was perfect. There are some tasty climbs and the last climb was lovely! I fell victim to the tampered with flags and managed to baptise myself in the river; a lady spectator said I was the best one so far and gave me a ten! I really enjoyed this race. It’s a bit more testing that some of our shorter local fell races but enjoyable in the right conditions.

Full Results

Rivock Edge Fell Race

Report from James Boult

“There are people shooting up on the tops…” is perhaps not the best way to introduce a race.

Four Harriers, in Chris Paul, Orlaith O’Mahony, Richard Briscoe and myself made the trip over to Silsden for the Rivock Edge Fell Race on Sunday – a 7-mile event taking in the surroundings of Keighley and Silsden under beautiful clear blue skies. 57 entrants made the event quite a cosy affair, with prizes for the winners being donated to Sports Relief after a unanimous decision by the competitors. Signs beforehand said it was cold, but iceless, on the tops but the weather was mild and with little to no clouds the decision was made to run in just vests and shorts – a wise decision, it later turned out, when we longed for even the briefest of breezes.

L-R James Boult, Chris Paul and Orlaith O’ Mahony at the Rivock Edge Fell Race. Photo by Woodentops

Starting close to Silsden Sports Centre, we headed off towards a mile stretch of canal running before heading off to one of the courses rather steep climbs up into the Alder Carr wood. After taking us through the Alder Carr and Spring Cragg woods we headed down a Bridleway towards farmland and another, larger climb towards the trig point.

With the sun turning out for the event the trig point opened out a stunning vista over Keighley, Cowling and the surrounding areas and newfound energy after a difficult start, aided by fast descents and a photographer (which saw Orlaith extend her lead of overtaking me just as they take the picture to 2-0), saw us start to pick up the pace for the return leg. Chris Paul, flying through the descents, made considerable ground on Richard Briscoe (back at Rivock Edge after tackling the event a few years before), who was leading the Clayton foursome, as they exchanged positions as the finish neared.

Richard Briscoe at the Rivock Edge Fell Race. Photo by Woodentops

It was Richard Briscoe who was the first Clayton home (20th in 1:07:13), with Chris (21st) just 3 seconds behind in 1:07:16. Orliath and I finished about a minute or so later, in 24th (1:08:02) and 26th place (1:08:11) respectively (Orlaith finishing as 5th lady after a brilliant run), in what was a lovely morning of racing across the border.

AWAITING OFFICIAL RESULTS

Trimpell 20

Report from Jon Cleaver

This was my first time doing this race and it was a beauty. The weather was perfect and the scenery was spot on for a great race. I came over with Dan Plant and we met Paul Hesketh at the start for a warm up. The start/finish location had been changed to the castle, I didn’t know the significance of this until mile 19!

Jon Cleaver at the Trimpbell 20

The race itself is very flat, not much more elevation than the Burnley Park Run so it’s great for pushing your pace ready for a spring marathon. The route is mainly on cycle ways which is good to keep you away from traffic and pot holes!

There was a dash at the start to get some room due to it being very narrow and lots of people converging. That soon sorted itself out and we were underway in just over 700 people.

It was all plain sailing to 13 miles and then it’s a bit of a drag for the next 3/4 back on yourself towards the castle, when there was any lumpy bits you really felt the pain. Personally I started to fade a bit from 17.5 onwards after trying to stick with a 06:30 pace and seen as I had earned a bit of slack I decided to use it. The final half mile was a bit of a nightmare up a very steep climb for the finish at the castle, struggled to do more than walking pace!

Very pleased I signed up for it and well done to the rest of the Clayton team who put in some really good efforts.

Dan Plant at the Trimpbell 20

Full Results

Parkrun roundup

Burnley parkrun – A total of 298 runners took part.

Dewsbury parkrun – A total of 97 runners took part

Fell Foot parkrun, Newby Bridge – A total of 127 runners took part

Pendle parkrun – A total of 63 runners took part.

Note: Natasha Olszewska missing from results. She was in 29^th position and shows as unknown on the official results.

Witton parkrun – A total of 81 runners took part.

Woodbank parkrun – A total of 150 runners took part