Hit the trails

This week you have been kicking up the dust in huge numbers on the trails around Sabden, venturing further afield to events in Swansea, Donnington and the Peak District, as well as the BOFRA championship races and classic Lakeland fells. With some great performances and smiling faces let the long summer days roll on and keep on racing!

Tuesday 21 June

Bridestone Fell Race

Five Clayton-le-Moors Harriers took part in this fell race that goes past the famous Bridestone and takes in some of the lesser used paths in the upper Calder Valley. A short fast race with steep climbs, fast tracks and demon descents, something for everyone.

Ryan Wilkinson was our first finisher and 18^th overall in the race with a time of 42:20.

Full Results

Wednesday 22 June

Harrock Hill Race Series – Race 2

John Francis was our sole runner in the second race of this series. It is a 5.2 mile race with 902ft of ascent. He finished in 225th place with atime of 1:20:13.

Full Results

Sabden Trail Race

There was another whopping turn out for the latest race in this year’s Pendle and Burnley Grand Prix with 56 seniors racing at the Sabden Trail Race.

Clayton Harriers racing at the Sabden Trail race. Photo by Sport Sunday

The race starts with a fast and furious run out along a fairly flat stretch of decent track for a little over a mile before turning off and beginning to climb. After a field crossing and a sharp and twisty climb up another track the runners hit Coal Clough Reservoir.  A nice flat run around the perimeter followed before another climb and a rip roaring descent. Just to add a little sting in the tail, the runners headed back up a steep track to the reservoir and a short and extremely steep scramble up the bank to hit the reservoir path.  All downhill after that, cutting across some fields to hit the flat track and the sprint back to Sabden.

Double Trouble. Twins Irene and Jean at the Sabden Trail Race. Photo by David Belshaw

Dave Motley was the first Clayton runner home with Richard Stevenson and Carl Helliwell on his heels. Tom Bradley was 1^st MJ and 32^nd overall and David Scott was 1^st MV70.

Dave Motley running on home turf at the Sabden Trail Race. Photo by Sport Sunday

Louisa Powell Smith was our first lady runner and first lady in the race and 19^th overall. Jean Knightley was 1^st FV55 and Linda Bostock was 1^st FV60.

Louisa Powell-Smith first lady at the Sabden Trail Race. Photo by David Belshaw

Senior Results

Junior Results

Clayton Juniors having fun after the Sabden junior trail races. Photo by David Belshaw

U8 Race

A great race for Toby and Felix in the U8 category as they bagged 2^nd and 3^rd place in the under 8s race only just beaten by George Fitzpatrick of Barlick Fell Runners.

U10 Race

Finley Stubbs had a comfortable win in the Under 10 race with Jenson Bentham taking 4^th place. Thomas Ashworth was 8^th. Kady Thompson and Rachel Stevenson were 1^st and 2^nd girls respectively.

U12 Race

Dexta Thompson and Helana White were 1^st boy and 1^st girl in the under 12s race with Charlie Birtwistle not far behind in 3^rd place overall.

U14 Race

Millie Stubbs was 3^rd overall and 1^st girl in the under 14s race.  Harry Mason was our sole male runner and finished in 6^th place.

U16 Race

Nicholas Hennessey was the sole U16 runner and finished in 8:35

Thursday 23 June

Todmorden Park 5k Race Series

The first in this popular series of 5K races in Todmorden Park attracted a number of club members.  Jacob Watson was our first finisher and was 3^rd overall with a time of 17:19.

Jacob Watson at the Todmorden 5K. Photo by David Belshaw

Lennon Jackson was our youngest runner finishing in 35^th place with time of 20:45.

Lennon Jackson battling at the Todmorden 5K. Photo by David Belshaw

Amanda Duffy was our first lady runner and first LV35.

Amanda Duffy at the Todmorden 5K. Photo by David Belshaw

Full Results

Saturday 25 June

Darren Holloway Memorial Race (Buttermere Horseshoe)

Nicholas Olszewski and Wendy Dodds took part in one of the toughest Lakeland races over the quiet Buttermere fells run in memory of Pennine Fell Runner Darren Holloway, this race is based on the original Buttermere Horseshoe, and is one not to forget in a hurry.

Report from Nicholas Olszewski

Nicholas Olszewski on the last climb at the Darren Holloway Memorial Race. Photo by Stephen Wilson, Granddayoutphotography

Having had an ankle injury for a number of months, which doesn’t seem to want to go away, why not enter one of the toughest fell races in the Lakes! It seemed like a good idea at the time and although I suffered a bit on the way round I with it I wouldn’t have missed this for anything. The route is brutal.  The ascents and descents, steep and relentless throughout the 22 miles and 8,500 ft., although I recorded just short of 10,000 ft. but that was probably due to my creative route choice.

Starting at Loweswater Village Hall we headed on down the road, which seemed a little fast to me, so I held back because the first climb up Whiteside looked pretty steep as it lay dominating the view in front. Having not done much in the Lakes for about twelve months, I have got used to Yorkshire bog trotting rather than these steep climbs so this was going to be hard, but as we ascended past Whiteside, the first dibber and onto Hopegill Head, the second, my legs were starting to acclimatise and I was grateful for the few hill reps up Pendle I’d done recently. The weather was brilliant as were the views and as I headed over the 3^rd checkpoint at Grasmoor I felt quite comfortable. From here the route took us over to Whiteless Pike and a very steep descent to the Sail Beck before a short climb to our 4^th checkpoint at Newlands Hause.

The next checkpoint, 5^th was at Dale Head and this is where my route choice went a little off road so to speak, trying to avoid unwanted climbing, up Robinson and Hindscarth , I decided to navigate my way round by contouring what looked, on the map, to be an easy route choice, how wrong I was! Steep scree almost knee high vegetation; very hard work and I shan’t make that mistake again. Anyway, finally reached Dale Head and again a steep descent down to Honister Pass, checkpoint 6, where we bumped into Joss Naylor and his party of followers participating in his 80^th birthday bash.

Climbing out of Honister we were now heading for our 7^th checkpoint, Innominate Tarn, by now I could feel the climbing in my legs and myself flagging a bit on the climbs, plus my ankle was now starting to hurt, just a bit, but it’s back was broken and the end was almost, not quite, in sight and having dibbed in at the Tarn I ploughed onto the penultimate checkpoint, High Stile, 8^th checkpoint, with yet more climbing and descending, but the views were spectacular across Buttermere and you could see all the peaks we had traversed on the other side.

Leaving High Stile, skirting round Red pike, it was a steep and treacherous descent down to Scale Beck and as we dropped in height, Mellbreak South, our last checkpoint, seemed to be getting bigger and bigger and the thought of that last big climb was turning my legs to jelly, but it was the last one of the day, finally dibbing in at Mellbreak South all that was left very short sharp, scree riddled descent down to Loweswater, again not sure this was the best route off, but you live and learn.

This is a fantastic race, extremely well organised with very friendly people involved, it attracts only a small number of runners, which possibly what makes it as friendly as it is, I shall be returning next year, hopefully with a few more hardy Clayton runners or anyone else who fancies it.

Wendy Dodds at the Darren Holland Memorial Fell Race. Photo by Stephen Wilson – Granddayoutphotography

 Full results

Kirkby Gala

Kirkby Gala is the 6 race in the 2016 BOFRA Championship. Briony had a great run taking 6^th place overall and 1^st girl in the U17 Race. Jackson McKay ran in the U14 race and finished in 8^th place.  Ella Dorrington was 5^th overall and 1^st Girl in the U12 race with Jenson Bentham in 9^th place. Joshua McKay ran in the U9 race and finished in 4^th place. Some great racing from our junior runners.

U17 Race

Briony Holt in the U17 race at Kirkby Gala. Photo by Geoff Thompson

U14 Race

Jackson McKay at the Kirkby Gala U14 race. Photo by Geoff Thompson

U12 Race

Jenson Bentham at the Kirkby Gala U9s race. Phot by Alan Dorrington

U9 Race

Full Results

Lancaster 5K Race Series

Daniel Isherwood was our sole representative in the second of this 5k race series run on the cycle paths alongside the River Lune in the historic city of Lancaster.

Full Results

Whaley Waltz

Report by Ivan Whigham

This is a classic peak district fell race organised by Goyt Valley Striders. It is 5.8 miles with 900 ft climbing.

Ivan Whigham chasing Rossendale Harrier Mick Toman

The runners line up in the main street and watch the carnival go by then it’s a fast and furious run to the climb through park, woods and finally to wind gather the top of the run. It started raining here which was a huge relief as it was a warm afternoon. The grand finale was leaping into the River Goyt (worth watching on YouTube for tips), I remembered to leap as far as I could then the finish was another 100 metres. I thoroughly enjoyed the afternoon but was glad to change into dry clothes and I didn’t need to wash my shoes!

1^st runner was Chris Doneley of Sale Harriers  in 40.0 and 1^st lady was Hayley Ashby also of Sale Harriers in 46.53 (28th).

Ivan Whigham 49.05 (51)

216 runners finished

Full Results

Sunday 26 June

Arniston Dash

Except of Race Organiser’s Report

The Arnison Dash fell race is held as part of the Ullswater Country Fair. Like many fell races it is a friendly, low key race in a fantastic setting, overlooked by Arnison Crag and Birkhouse Moor.  And as with many fell races, it has its own quirky bits.  This year the biggest problem was how to negotiate getting round the burger van, which was blocking the race route exit from the show field, without leaving studmarks on visitors’ burgers.

Once out of the field, the 34 runners had the fell to themselves. The Arnison Dash combines all that is quintessential about fell running:  lovely grassy slopes; some rocky sections; some steep bits where you get the opportunity to get mud under your finger nails; and a proper precipitous descent.  And conditions were good underfoot as there had been no proper rain in the Lakes for weeks.  And on the day the sun shone until the last runner had finished and then it started to rain.

Thank you to everyone who took part.  This race attracts a lovely mix of fell runners; runners who have never done a fell race before; and runners who support us just about every year.  And as requested, just about everyone finished with a smile on their face.

See you next year!

Donnington Summer Running Festival

Ian Hargreaves and Hayley Copeman ran in the 10 mile race at the Donnington Summer Running Festival.

Report from Hayley Copeman

Ian Hargreaves and Hayley Copeman at the Donnington Summer Running Festival

We (myself and Ian Hargreaves) were using this event to get miles in, in preparation for the great North run in September.  It was 4 laps of the racing track plus two extra loops at the end of the third and fourth lap.  That meant four runs up a large, steady, unexpected hill. Who knew racing tracks had hills? The sun came out from the start which meant a very hot running event but thankfully there were plenty of water/Lucozade stations and a run through shower.

Despite the heat my comeback from injury went well with lots of encouragement and patience from Ian who, despite having the ability to run much faster, ran with me throughout.  My time was 1:43:00 and Ian was a second faster.

If you’re a runner and an F1 fan this race is for you.  Looking forward to the great North run where there should be more cheering.  There were marshals around the track today but all the spectators were in the stands at the start and finish so not much encouragement.

Full Results

North West England Triathlon

Helana White went to Salt Ayre for the North West England Triathlon Series – She only has 2 races left in the series. She had (in her words) a horrible swim but carried on regardless to come 7th on the count (results / times not published yet). This may mean she slips from 3rd to 4th in the overall ranking depending on the points awarded on the time difference, as the top 4 are pretty close in points leaving all to play for in her last race in two weeks time in Blackpool.

Go for it Helana!

Swansea Half Marathon

Well over 4000 runners took to the roads of Swansea to take part in the Swansea Half Marathon. The race has a route that follows Swansea Bay and provides stunning view for the runners.

Carl Dale at the Swansea Half Marathon

Congratulations to Carl Dale who was our sole runner in the event finishing in 1027^th place with a time of 01:46:13. He managed to complete the course despite suffering a lot of pain from IT Band Syndrome and even managed to beat the time he was aiming for.

Full Results

Parkrun roundup

Plenty of parkrun action this week with great results and PBs all over the place!

Burnley parkrun – A total of 396 runners took part.

Dewsbury parkrun – A total of 103 runners took part.

Fell Foot parkrun, Newby Bridge – A total of 194 runners took part.

Pendle parkrun – A total of 120 runners took part.

Witton parkrun – A total of 68 runners took part.

Woodhouse Moor parkrun – A total of 346 runners took part.