The darling runs of May

At first glance this looked like a bit of a quiet week, but on closer inspection you have been out and about all over the place. Racing  in the BOFRA championship races, sailing to the Isle of Arran, thumping the tarmac in Manchester city centre, busting your lungs in midweek fell races and marathoning around Windermere. Add to that some classic Lakeland fell races, trail runs, triathlons and parkruns, and it’s clear you have been very busy indeed!

Wednesday 18 May

Blackstone Edge

Darren Rushton and Keiran Carr took part in the lung busting Blackstone Edge fell race – 3.5 miles with 1201ft of ascent

Darren Rushton and Keiran Carr at the Blackstone Edge Fell Race.

AWAITING RESULTS

Horwich Junior Street Races

Race 1

Race 2

Full Results

Kildwick Fell Race

Mark Nutter at the Kildwick Fell Race. Photo by Woodentops

Mark Nutter was our sole representative in this 3.7 mile midweek fell race organised by Keighley and Craven AC.

Full Results

Ruth Walczak’s Olympic Appeal 5k

Full Results

Saturday 21 May

Charlesworth Chase (Simon’s Seat)

Four Clayton Harriers took part in this 5.2 mile fell race with 1200ft of ascent organised by Wharfedale Harriers. Neil Hardiman was our first finisher in 25^th place and a time of 46:42. Next over the line was Alan Life in 38^th and a time of 49:08. Barbara Savage was our sole lady competitor finishing in 77^th place and 1^st L50 with a time of 57:04. Stephen Fish completed the quartet of Clayton Harriers finishing in 97^th place with a time of 1:01:01.

Full Results

Isle of Arran Goatfell Race

It’s as much about the weekend as it is about the race, like a mini Jura expedition. In the winter Robin Nicolson suggested we get a trip organised, since he’d done a few races over the border and wanted us to sample a bit of his native culture… that and a good excuse for not entering the OCT.

Team Clayton at large on Arran for the Goatfell race.

We (John Sharples the self appointed team captain, Mark Nutter, Andrew Priory, Robin Nicolson and me, Ralph) travelled up to Kilmarnock on Friday with a gloomy weather forecast for Saturday.  It started off like that but half way across on the ferry everything cleared and we got a fantastic view of the route to come, a 10 mile out and back to the trig.

Heading to Arran for the Goatfell race. photo by Ralph Baines

We met Pete Browning at the race field who had travelled over the day before. The race started with nearly two miles of road then tarmac driveway, the full length of Broddick with Mark setting off at his usual electric pace and me struggling to keep up with him.

The race set off through the forest, then onto the open fell. Andrew was stretching away on the climb as we passed our coach/manager/photographer John. The climb was on a good track through the granite and got steeper as it went on.  As it steepened I got stronger taking several places. Out to the trig was a hands and feet scramble, then a blast back to the finish. The rock was granite and super-grippy, however Geoff Newsam had earlier been telling the tale from several years back of him and Mark Brown racing off the summit and Mark falling on the abrasive rocks and making a mess of himself.

I met Mark climbing, soon after I started on the descent, then Pete not far behind. I made good ground coming down without wanting to put in too much effort due to the 15 minute road run to the finish.  I don’t know any fell runners who like these road miles at the end of a race except for maybe Ivan as he demonstrates to me every year at the end of the Ian Hodgson! The run in was as bad as expected topped with blazing sunshine and once round the football pitch to finish. I came in with a time about 1:49, Mark was just over 2 hours and Pete not far behind. Poor Robin took a while longer and it was lashing down by the time he got back but we were all safely inside with a cup of coffee, some sandwiches and cake!

After the race we got changed and Andrew and I prepared to cycle over to Lochranza to the campsite where Pete and Sandie were also staying. As a bit of a ploy to keep them out of the pub for a while longer I hid Robin’s car keys in my back pocket while everyone had a good search for 20 minutes!

On Sunday we locked up our bikes on the front at Broddick and had a wander over to Lamlash.  We sat in the sun watching the Scottish Island Peaks Race as they sailed in from Jura, and previously Mull, and ran up Goatfell as the last hill on their long weekend. While waiting for the ferry Mark casually asked about my date of birth and wandered over to the bikes, I felt quite smug about this since the number code was nothing to do with this but less so 5 minutes later when Mark was seen waving the lock in the air.  I learned a lesson or two there, one about the security of number locks and they other about Mark’s credentials.

Probably back next year.

Full Results

Junior Great Manchester Run

Junior runner Helana White came second in her age category in the Junior Great Manchester Run out of 131 runners.

Full Results

Lancaster 5K race series 1

78 runners took part in the first of the this Lancaster based 5k races. Daniel Isherwood was our sole representative finishing in 26^th place with a time of 18:15

Full Results

Old Counties Tops

Jean Brown ran with Kirsty Hewitson from Dark Peak. She reporths they had a wet and windy day with the compass earning its keep!  They were first ladies in 8hrs 38 mins. I think 19th overall. Top race!

AWAITING OFFICIAL RESULTS

Sedburgh Gala

Briony Holt disappearing into the distance at the Sedburgh Gala fell race. Photo by Alan Dorrington

Clayton Juniors were out in force at the first Bofra race, Sedbergh Gala. There was a 1st for Briony Holt in U17G and a second for Ella Dorrington in U12G with some great runs from the other boys and girls as well.

Dexta Thompson at the Sedburgh Gala fell race. Photo by Alan Dorrington

AWAITING RESULTS

Sunday 22 May

Brathay Windermere Marathon

Over 500 people took part in this year’s Brathay Windermere marathon. The Marathon starts and finishes in the beautiful grounds of Brathay Hall, at the Northern end of Windermere, England’s largest Lake. The course takes you through some of the Lake District’s most stunning scenery as you pass through the picturesque village of Hawkshead, towards Newby Bridge at the Southern end of Windermere. You then head back to Brathay Hall passing through cheering crowds in Bowness and Waterhead. The race ends on the front lawn of Brathay Hall.

Martin Terry chasing the first lady at the Brathay Windermere marathon. Photo by Kath Brady

Martin Terry had a great run and finished in 16^th place overall, 1^st MV50 with a time of 3:09:37. Martin Brady was 219^th in 4:13:13 battling calf and quad cramps from the 16 mile point.

Full Results

Crazy Cow 10K

Just two Harrier in the senior race. Steven Blake was our first finisher in 154th place with a time of 52:27 and Kevin O’Brien who was 368th place with 01:02:26.

Steven Blake reports

I thought the crazycow event was well organised easy parking and also chip timing which I didn’t expect,course was flat and great for p.b chasing I was hoping for 55min but got 52mins. The park is really nice and all set next to the River Ribble well worth the £12 fee.

Steven Blake at the Crazy Cow 10K. Photo by David Belshaw

Full Results

Crazy Cow Fun run

Fylde Tri-logy

Report from Rachael White

After a successful run at the Junior Great Manchester Run, Helana White took part in the Fylde Tri-logy triathlon in St Annes. She was on the promenade at 6.30am practising her gear changes after getting a bit mixed up after her last event. So she was a lot more confident – more confident than me it seems. There are many competitors in her class and the pool starts are every 5 minutes in each lane so you do not know until the presentation who came in which place.

Helena White proud to be wearing her Clayton tracksuit and 1st girl.

When the organiser said that the results were in, and that he recognised familiar names, I thought Helana would not have won and started to say “Better luck next year”. Then he announced her name as 1^st girl! Waiting for the full results with split times for each event she was over 2 minutes in front of 2^nd place. A very proud girl in her Clayton-le-Moors tracksuit to get the 1^st place trophy over the tri clubs

Great Manchester Run

Nine Clayton-le-Moors Harriers took part in this hugely popular city centre 10k. Jacob Watson was our first finisher in 66^th place overall and a time of 35:21. He reports;

The Great Manchester Run was one of my first ever races back in 2014, at the time getting my 10K PB. I came back to run it in 205 to claim another PB and had to do it this year to see if I could repeat this streak.

Jacob Watson at the Great Manchester Run.

Thankfully the weather held out for the first few waves of runners and the atmosphere around the course really helped drag me round. I took it upon myself to start near the front of my wave, quite daring as I was only a few rows behind the elites! From the off I had no choice but to start running at 5 minute mile pace, slowing slightly to clock 5:24 (my fastest opening mile for a 10K!). Predictably, I did slow slightly for the next 5 miles but managed to hold my pace quite well, knocking nearly 55 seconds off last year’s time. All in all, a successful day out and I’ll certainly be back next year to run the new half marathon.

Jonathan Cleaver followed in 145^th and sub 40 minutes.

Lynsey Birtwistle was our first lady finisher in 2826^th place and 47:50. Lynsey Birtwistle reports

Lynsey Birtwistle with her Great Manchester Run medal.

This was my third year of doing this race and it’s definitely my favourite. It was my first ever race in 2014 and the reason I started running to challenge myself. This year I smashed my PB and got 47:50. I have waited so long to see 47 on my watch and I worked so hard for that. It was hot when my wave was out and I hadn’t expected that at all. I managed to keep a pretty consistent pace and when I felt like giving up I could hear John (Roche)’s voice and I pushed on! Those Tuesday night mile reps in the dark, cold rain are certainly worth it. I am still buzzing today!

Full Results

Keswick Mountain Festival 10K Trail Race

Report from Jane Hylands

After 2 nights of live music, camping and a beer or two the weather improved dramatically on Sunday morning ready for the 10k trail run (and the 50k trail run but I wasn’t daft enough for that one). The 10k sets off in 4 waves with runners meeting on the jetty to catch a boat across Derwent Water to the start line. The trail follows the lake towards Grange for a little way before a long steep ascent part way up the side of Cat Bells. The view from the top of the path was stunning and for the next few miles followed the line of the lake before dropping down into the trees and then returning to Keswick via the roads and back into the festival village. The route was longer than 10k (6.72 mikes) but stunning and the event was very well organised – last year’s timing issues were all resolved.

Post run we all received a t-shirt, medal and free pasta meal. A thoroughly enjoyable event with the added bonus of other activities throughout the weekend (5k, 25k, 50k runs, triathlons, swims, road and mountain biking events). The kids also enjoyed cycle races, bike airbag, climbing walls, caving, segways and archery as part of the festival – £15 for unlimited access all weekend. A fantastic family friendly weekend.

North West Junior Triathlon Series

Ellie Root competed in her 4^th event in the North West Junior Triathlon series. The aquathlon was hosted by Chester Triathlon club and consisted of a 500m swim and a 3.6km run. After coming out of the pool 3^rd in the swim, she had a strong run and confidently maintained her 3^rd place overall in the youth category.

Ellie Root at the North West Junior Triathlon Series

Parkrun roundup

Burnley parkrun – A total of 325 runners took part.

Pendle parkrun – A total of 87 runners took part.

Fell Foot parkrun, Newby Bridge – A total of 178 runners took part

Conwy parkrun – A total of 213 runners took part

Lytham Hall parkrun – A total of 174 runners took part.