Runaroundup!

This week you have been mostly keeping it local and lapping round. There’s been fell running around the reservoirs and monster bracken at Widdop, fast 5K laps racing at Todmorden Park, navigating around Barley and Pendle, loads and loads of laps at the Thunder run, and a huge turnout to the Grand Prix races around Towneley Park.

Late Results

SUNDAY JULY 17

Ironman UK – Bolton

Congratulations to Paul Thompson who completed his Ironman challenge in 11:31:18

Paul Thompson – ironman!

Full Results

And now onto this week’s action….

WEDNESDAY 20 JULY

Lancaster 10K

151 runners took part in this 10K race. Daniel Isherwood and Jean Knightley took part. Daniel was our first finisher in 23^rd place overall and with a time of 39:47. Jean was 67^th overall and 1^st FV55 with atime of 48:44.

Full Results

Widdop Fell Race

Five Clayton-le-Moors Harriers took part in this little toughie of a mid-week fell race. It’s a 7 mile course with 1201ft of ascent. The high moorland route follows good and interesting paths with a few tussocks and chest high bracken thrown in (head height bracken in my case!).

Ryan Belshaw at the Widdop Fell Race. Photo by Nicholas Olszewski

Five seniors took part in this race. Ryan Belshaw was our first finisher in 17th place overall and a time of 59:47.  Jeff Pickup was our next finisher in 61st. Michael Frost was 107th and Robert Hirst was 110th. Adrienne Olszewska was our sole lady runner and finished in 108th place.

Robert Hirst and Michael Frost at the Widdop Fell Race. Photo by Nicholas Olszewski

Report by Adrienne Olszewska

My daughters were taking part in the junior races so I though why not have a run out myself. This is a tough but enjoyable race with a bit of everything.  The start takes runners a little way down the road from the Pack Horse pub before grinding to a (some might say welcome) stop as everyone queues politely to get past a stile. On the first climb the pack begins to spread out and stiles and gates are no longer stopping points.

Adrienne Olszewska at the Widdop Fell Race. Photo by Nicholas Olszewski

Up and over to the Lower Gorple Reservoir and same again to Widdop Reservoir before the slog up the track to the moors. Some good paths and some rough stuff in equal measure for the next couple of miles with a bit of bogginess that I managed to fall in. After that a really enjoyable downhill gets you going again until you hit a short and steep road section to re-join the path that contours back around to the start. This year the bracken is big – really, really big and I was submerged in it most of the way back to the bottom of the finish field.

This is a great race and it would be even better if there were few more Clayton runners doing it next time.

Full Results

Widdop Junior Races

U8 Race

A great race for Ellisia Smedley who held her own in a field of local runners. She was 8^th overall and 2^nd girl in the race.

Ellisia Smedley in the U8 Race at Widdop. Photo by Nicholas Olszewski

U10 Race

Some great running from Jenson Bentham, Matthew Jackson and Rachel Stevenson in this race.

Matthew Jackson emerging from the gigantic bracken at the Widdop fell race. Photo by Nicholas Olszewski

U12 Race

Dexta Thompson won his age category, successfully keep off stiff competition from local Calder Valley runners. Robbie Smedley took 9^th place and Bronia Olszewska was 20^th.

Dexta Thompson (blue vest) in the U12 Race at Widdop. Photo by David Belshaw

U14 Race

Briony Holt was the overall winner of the under 14 race making it look effortless at the same time! Next in was Nicholas Hennessey in 2^nd overall. Adam Stevenson was 7^th and Natasha Olszewska was 8^th.

Briony Holt at the Widdop Fell Race. Photo by David Belshaw

Junior Results

THURSDAY 21 JULY                         

Todmorden Park 5K

It was a great evening of racing for our club members at the Todmorden Park 5K race series. This was the 3^rd race of the series and 11 members took part. Jacob Watson was 3^rd overall and 1^st senior male with a time of 17:18. Jackson McKay was 1^st MU14 and Ron Chappell was 1^st MV65. Amanda Duffy was our first lady finisher in 37^th place overall and 2^nd W35, and Val Lawson was 1^st LV70.

Our Men’s team took first team position (J Watson|D McMullan|S Green).

Full Results

SATURDAY 23 JULY

Clayton-le-Moors Harriers Navigation Workshop

Clayton Members Colin Woolford and Mark Nutter combined 40 years of experience in fell running, mountain marathons, adventure racing and orienteering to put on a workshop to help develop navigation skills. They put on an excellent session that was interesting, relevant and backed up with a navigation challenge event to put new found skills into practice.

Irene Roche in search of checkpoint 5 at the navigation challenge. Photo by Adrienne Olszewska

Report from Sarah Helliwell

We both decided to seize the opportunity and take advantage of the wealth of knowledge that the club has to offer on fell running and navigation. With the kids at the grandparents and the sun shining we set of to Whitehough near Barley.

Everyone was greeted by Colin and Mark with coffee and pastries as we soon got down to the theory side of map reading! We covered a variety of areas from using your compass correctly, identifying the difference between man-made markers and natural markers. Plus learning new terminology such as; ‘re-entrants, ‘saddles’ ‘thumbing’ and ‘hand rails’.

After some good discussions and map reading tasks it was time to put this into practice. We were all given electronic dibbers and the task of finding 10 checkpoints using the navigation map they provided us. This was a great way for us to put our new skills into practice!

We ran the course as pair, this was the first time we had actually run together and I was worried at being too slow for Carl. However, I really enjoyed running with him and it was great to see Carl leading the way with the map reading and regularly using his compass. As before this course I would have confidently said I would have had very little faith in him… 😉

We were chuffed as we got all of the 10 checkpoints and felt like we did it as efficiently as we could.

Checkpoint 5

We would like to say a massive thank you to Colin Woolford and Mark Nutter who put a lot of preparation and planning into the day’s events, putting out the dibbers at 6.30am and collecting them back in late into the evening. We would fully recommend the course and we hope that other club members get the opportunity to do it.

Conti 24 Hour Thunder Run

The Conti Thunder Run is a 24 hour off-road relay race against the clock. It can be run solo, in pairs or teams of 5 or 8. The organisers claim that it’ll test your tactics, endurance, speed and team work. It’s described as an exhilarating, rewarding and tiring race with a great atmosphere. Runners complete as many 10K (?) laps as they can in a 24 hour period.

Four club members took part. Dave Motley and Danny Collinge joined runners from a range of other clubs to make up Team Cannonball and take 3^rd place in the Teams 6-8 race. The team completed 34 laps with Dave Motley running 5 of them and Danny Collinge running 2.

Dave Motley at the Conti 24 Hour Thunder Run

Nerina Gill and Julia Rushton took part in the individual female event and took on as many laps as they could during the 24 hours. Nerina Gill finished 12^th overall and ran an impressive 12 laps. Julia finished in 22^nd place having completed 9 laps.

Nerina Gill and Julia Rushton after the 24 hour Conti Thunder Run

Full Results

Lingmell Dash AWAITING RESULTS

Sunday 24 July

Coniston Country Fair Classic Old Man Fell Race AWAITING RESULTS

Harrock Hill Race 3

Stephen Fish was our sole representative in this 3^rd race of the Harrock Hill Series. He finished in 187^th place with a time of 01:00:04.

Full Results

Towneley Park 10K

Another huge turnout of Clayton-le-Moors Harriers for the latest event in the Pendle and Burnley Grand Prix with 56 seniors and 33 juniors taking part.

Start of the Towneley 10K. Photo by David Belshaw

This is local stomping ground for many of our runners so some great results and, with the addition of a set of junior races, it was fantastic to see so many club members spanning the generations from the age of 6 right up to 73; boys and girls, men and women.

Judith Carey at the Towneley 10K. Photo by David Belshaw

Quite a few members that weren’t running were dotted about the courses supporting or marshalling the event as well.

Senior Race

Jacob Watson was our first finisher in 3^rd place overall and a time of 37:37.

Jacob Watson at the Towneley 10K. Photo by David Belshaw

Joining him in the top ten were Matthew Duckworth (6^th place) and Chris Snell (10^th place). Louisa Powell-Smith won the ladies race and was 20^th overall with a time of 39:51.

Louisa Powell-Smith at the Towneley 10K. Photo by David Belshaw

There were age category wins for John Hartley (1^st M55), Louisa Powell- Smith (1^st F35), Paul Hesketh (1^st M50), Jordan McDonald (1^st MJ), Roger Brewster (1^st M60), David Scott (1^st M70), Bethany Quinn (1^st FJ) and Christine Egerton (1^st F65).

Beth Quinn at the Towneley 10K. Photo by David Belshaw

Roger Brewster at the Towneley 10K. Photo by David Belshaw

A Testing 10 – Report from Mick Hughes

Following a week of hot, humid weather came race 11 of the Pendle & Burnley Grand Prix (Towneley 10k). Slight showers presided just before the off and it remained a humid 68 degrees F. A series of junior races preceded with excellent attendance and many mini orange striped vests could be seen amongst the showing from several clubs and the junior Harriers once again riding high on the results tables for all races (A testament to the excellent training and development continuing in growth at the club).

As a very new member, and relative newbie to the hilltops, I was slightly nervy and the banter with fellow Harriers at the Stables Café pre-race was a welcome diversion.

Mick Hughes at the Towneley 10K. Photo by David Belshaw

The senior turn out was a terrific example of how popular the PBGP and local races have become as I saw vests of so many clubs, some from as far afield as Fylde coast, Morecambe, Prestwich & Lancaster. 11am came and the route left Towneley via a lap on the concrete path and slight pull up through the woods (luring us into a false sense of security, especially those who set off with a little hasty pace!) to exit onto Todmorden Road. The humidity kicked in as our legs started feeling the strain as we hit the elevations of the dreaded Mount Lane leaving walk mill and winding up to the heights of Red Lees Road (at least with the solace of great views of our mill town in the distance). I had a quiet word with myself and pushed on through the aches until we levelled out near the fighting Cocks Pub. Most of the runners around me seemed to recover a little and manage to pace up slightly.

After (according to my watch) 486ft of elevation we finally turned left guided by one of many lovely marshals, and descended down the steep track back into Towneley Park to the welcome sound of those cheering us on. As a newbie I was of course super keen to represent the club well and managed to our overtake and gain a few places to the cry of ‘c’mon Clayton’!.

I could see several Harriers and Trawden Vests (usual rapid suspects and seasoned runners) already through the finish and I didn’t have much left in the tank as I managed the final lap and stretch to the finish. John Roche patted me on the back and asked me how I’d got on.. I have to agree with his words exactly ” It’s a hilly course that”!.

3 Harriers came in within the top 10 with times under 40 mins and the overall representation and results for us across all age groups look great. It’s started out, and will remain a personal challenge training and improving on the hill climbs for me, but looking at my fellow club runners and the progress we see every race, long may it continue.t

Full Results

Towneley Junior Races

With Towneley Park being home turf for so many club members, it was hardly surprising to see a big turnout for the junior races as well as the seniors.

Clayton Juniors out in force at the Towneley Races. Photo by David Belshaw

33 of our juniors took part in three races making up just over half of the total field. There were some great runs from everyone and wins in all the race. A great day’s racing for our younger runners.

U8 Race

22 junior runners took part in the U8 race. Harry Smith won the race in 3:03. Ellisia Smedley was our first junior girl finisher and 3^rd girl in the race. Very strong performances from all of our youngest runners in this race.

Harry Smith in the U8 Race at Towneley. Photo by David Belshaw

 U12 Race

Team Clayton dominated the U12 race with all but one top ten place taken by a Clayton runner.

Start of the U12 Race at Towneley. Photo by David Belshaw

Dexta Thompson was the winner with Ella Dorrington taking the girls race and 5^th place overall. There were individual age category wins for Dexta Thompson (1^st M10), Summer Hargreaves (1^st F10), Robbie Smedley (1^st M12) and Ella Dorrington (1^st F12). A great set of results for our junior runners.

 U16 Race

With Clayton runners making up more than half the field, it was undoubtedly a great set of results for our juniors.

Under 16 Race at Towneley. Photo by David Belshaw

Jackson McKay won the race and Millie Stubbs won the girls race. Age category wins were Jackson McKay (1^st M14), Millie Stubbs (1^st F14), and Reece Lawrence (1^st M16).

Junior Results

Parkrun roundup

This week saw the inaugural running of the Burnley junior parkrun with 54 junior runners taking part. 11 of our junior runners took part (and a handful stayed on to run the junior Grand Prix races a little later).

Burgess parkrun – A total of 163 runners took part.

Burnley parkrun – A total of 348 runners took part.

Burnley junior parkrun

Dewsbury parkrun – A total of 100 runners took part.

Glossop parkrun – A total of 85 runners took part.

Mile End parkrun – A total of 237 runners took part.

Pendle parkrun – A total of 101 runners took part.

Witton parkrun – A total of 76 runners took part.