Everything is awesome…

…everything is cool when you’re part of a team! It’s been a week of making your presence felt in variety of events. You have been representing the county, competing in the FRA junior championships, running in teams at the Calderdale relay, and turning the Pendle and Burnley Grand Prix tangerine.

Tuesday 10 May

Mearley Clough Fell Race

Inaugurated by Clayton-le-Moors Harriers’ stalwart Geoff Newsham who has organised the race 18 times since. The first race was in 1998 and attracted a field of 34, with the men’s race won by Garry Wilkinson in 31.55, and the ladies’ race won by Carol Greenwood in 37.11. The attendance has since grown to an average of 130. This year the race organisation has been taken over by Andrew Firth.

With the promise of good racing conditions, 153 runners took part in this tough mid week fell race that takes in the famous ‘Big Dipper’ as used in the Tour of Pendle.

Peter Coates at the Mearley Clough Fell Race. Photo by David Belshaw

The race was won by Josh Boyle and the Ladies race was won by Caitlin Rice. Our first Clayton runner was Peter Coates who finished in 19^th place with a time of 36:58.

Briony Holt at the Mearley Clough Fell Race. Photo by Craig Alderman

Briony Holt was our first lady and 3^rd lady overall in the race finishing in 31^st place with a time of 38:41; a superb run from one of the two youngest competitors in the race.

Linda lord at the Mearley Clough Fell Race. Photo by David Belshaw

Richard Bellaries was 1^st Vet 60 and Linda Lord was 1^st LV60.

Richard Bellaries 1st M60 at the Mearley Clough Fell Race. Photo by Craig Alderman

Wednesday 11 May

Cautley Horseshoe

Wendy Dodds was the sole Clayton runner at the Cautley Horseshoe Fell Race. She finished in 46^th place with a time of 01:07:33 and 1^st F60.

Full Results

Wholan Nook Trail Race

There was a whopping turnout of 68 Clayton-le-Moors Harriers at the third race in the popular Pendle and Burnley Grand Prix.

Andrew Webster, Paul Wale and Helen O’Rourke. Photo by David Belshaw

Our first finisher was Jordan McDonald who was 5^th overall and first MJ in the race with a time of 31:44. Carl Helliwell was 1^st M40 and 13^th overall in the race in 33:10, Paul Hesketh was 1^st M50 and 22^nd overall in 33:55, and Barry Mitchell was 1^st M70 in 43:07. The mens’  ‘A’ team finished in 2^nd place with Jordan McDonald, Jonathan Pye, Jonathan Cleaver and Carl Helliwell as counters.  We had an impressive 11 mens’ teams in total.

Jordan McDonald at the Wholan Nook Trail Race. Photo by David Belshaw

Our ladies were out in force with an impressive line-up of 24 female runners from the club. Our first lady in the race was Helen O’Rourke who was 6^th lady overall with a time of 39:56.

Lynsey Birtwistle 1st F35 at the Wholan Nook Trail Race. Photo by David Belshaw

Lynsey Birtwistle was 1^st F35, Irene Roche was 1^st F55, and Anita Jones was 1^st F60. Our ladies’ ‘A’ team finished in 3^rd place with Helen O’Rourke, Elizabeth Mullan and Irene Roche as counters.

Janine Pollard followed by Justin Birtwistle being run in by his son Charlie. Photo by David Belshaw

We had a fantastic showing of 8 ladies’ teams in total.

Full Results

Saturday 14 May

 Fairfield Horseshoe

Couple of Clayton runners spotted on the photos for this classic 9 mile Lakeland Fell Race with 2999ft of ascent taking in the summits of Stile Nab Scar, Great Rigg, Fairfield, and Dove Crag.

Paul Hesketh at the Fairfield Horseshoe Fell Race. Photo by Alex Hinchcliffe

Katy Thompson at the Fairfield Horseshoe Fell Race. Photo by Alex Hinchcliffe

Paul Hesketh and Katy Thompson took part. Katy Thompson reports’

Despite Inter-counties on the same day and Calderdale Relay the following day, there were over 300 runners at the Fairfield Horseshoe Fell Race. A lovely day with a welcome breeze on the top. Great views the few times I looked up. We had to run down the east of the wall from Dove Crag, which was a bit trickier than the west side. I was the only LV60 which meant I could save a bit for running in Calderdale the following day having been called in as a last minute replacement on Leg 3. At least I gave Barbara an easy run!

AWAITING RESULTS

Inter-Counties Fell Running Championship 2016

Congratulations to Christopher Holdsworth and Danny Collinge who were selected to represent Lancashire in this year’s Inter-Counties Fell Running Championships. This year the event chosen was the Ras Moel Eilio, 14th May 2016 (12.8km distance and 915m of climb), starting and finishing at Llanberis.

Christopher Holdsworth at the Inter-Counties Fell Running Championships. Photo by Woodentops

Chris Holdsworth had an outstanding run finishing in 14^th place overall with a time of 64:36 and first Lancashire runner. Danny Collinge was 120^th with a time of 81:10.

Danny Collinge at the Inter-Counties Fell Running Championship. Photo by Woodentops

Lancashire finished 6th overall in the team competition. Well done to both of them who did themselves, the County Team and our club proud!

Team Results | Individual Results

Malham Kirkby Junior Fell Races

The third race in the FRA Junior Championships attracted 12 of our junior runners. Felix Thompson was our sole representative in the U8s race finishing in 16^th place. Jenson Bentham was 2^nd in the U10s race and Helana White was 3^rd girl. Jackson McKay was 4^th in the U12 race. Briony Holt was 2^nd girl in the U14 race and Reece Lawrence was our sole representative in the U16 race finishing in 30^th place.

U8 Race

U10 Race

Helana White at the Kirkby Malham Fell Race. Photo by Geoff Thompson

U12 Race

Jackson McKay at the Kirkby Malham Fell Race. Photo by Geoff Thompson

U14 Race

Harry Mason at the Kirkby Malham Fell Race. Photo by Geoff Thompson

U16 Race

Reece Lawrence at the Kirkby Malham Fell Race. Photo by Geoff Thompson

Sunday 15 May

Calderdale Way Relay

 Report from Ladies Captain, Kath Brady

L-R Tracy Mitchell, Julia Rushton, Elizabeth Mullan and Julie Dawes at the Calderdale Relay

We had 18 ladies running in the ladies and mixed teams, including 6 first timers in a fell relay. Big thank you to our club stalwart Katy Thompson, who stepped in after juggling around on various legs (following Louisa Powell-Smith withdrawal through a foot injury). Helena Leathley and Irene Roche were also last minute changes on their legs. Everyone seemed to be smiling after they finished and enjoyed the experience.

Irene Roche and Orlaith O’Mahony at the Calderdale Way Relay. Photo by Kath Brady

Laura Hesketh & Helena Leathley at the Calderdale Relay. Photo by Louisa Powell-Smith

Bianca Bennett and Helen Burnett at the Calderdale Relay. Photo by Louisa Powell-Smith

Novice fell relay ladies, Helen Burnett and Bianca Bennett worked hard on leg 3 climb to Blackshaw Head.

Chris Paul and Paul Wale at the Calderdale Relay. Photo by Louisa Powell-Smith

Paul Wale & Chris Paul ran leg 4 to the outlying Wainstalls change over. Julia Rushton & Julie Dawes ran leg 5. Joanne Bennett and Rachel Todd missed the mass team start at 2pm but still managed to pull back a few places before the finish.

Richard Stevenson and Jacob Watson( Team A)  at the Calderdale Relay. Photo by Louisa Powell-Smith

Breton Holdsworth and Andrew Stubbs (Team A)  at the Calderdale Relay. Photo by Louisa Powell-Smith

George Pier and Adam Shaw (Team B) at the Calderdale Relay. Photo by Jason Pier

Michael J O’Donnell and Keiron Mitchell (Team B) at the Calderdale Relays. Photo by Louisa Powell-Smith

No results or times available at the moment.

Essar Chester Half Marathon

Over 5000 runners took part in the Essar Chester Half Marathon which starts in the city centre at Chester race course. Well done Matthew Duckworth who was our only runner; he finished in 168^th place in a time of 1:28:25.

Matthew Duckworth after the Essar Chester Half Marathon. Photo – own

Full Results

Worden Park Fun Run

There’s just no stopping Helana at the moment. Fresh from racing on the fells on Saturday she also took part in the Worden Park fun run and finished in 2^nd place overall and 1^st girl. Senior runner Jack McGuire was 10^th in 6:53.

Fun Run Results

Worden Park 10K

303 Runners took part in the Worden Park 10K race in Leyland. Three Clayton men took part. Rober Morrison was our first runner over the line in 61^st place and with a time of 45:02. Colin White was 88^th with a time of 47:15 and Geoff Smith was 131^st with a time of 50:43

Full Results

Parkrun Roundup

Even with all the racing that’s been going on there has still been plenty of parkrun action this week. A large turnout, as always, at Burnley parkrun with the top four spots going to our runners. Well done to new member, Danielle Walker who ran up a storm finishing in 9th place, 1st lady runner, and gaining a new PB at the same time. I look forward to reporting on plenty of future success for her. Lots of PBs for our junior runners and seniors too.

Burnley parkrun – A total of 353 runners took part

Dewsbury parkrun – A total of 94 runners took part.

Pendle parkrun – A total of 108 runners took part.

Penrith parkrun – A total of 153 runners took part.

Woodhouse Moor parkrun – A total of 492 runners took part