Golf Balls, Mini Triathlons and 3 Peaks

Summer is beginning to come to a close and we will soon be turning our attention to long sleeves, long tights and dusting off the cross country spikes. But for now you are all still out and about racing hard and tackling new challenges. This week you’ve been running on the fells, competing with the best at the English Fell Championships, taking on 10K and half marathon road racing and taking part in international triathlons.

TUESDAY 16 AUGUST

Tour of the Hameldons Fell Race

The Clayton-le-Moors Harriers’ Summer Series consists of five Tuesday evening races for all members of Clayton-le-Moors Harriers and Trawden AC only. As well as the usual prizes, in each race prizes are given for the closest pre-race predicted time to the actual time. No watches allowed during each race! A runner’s best three races count for overall series prizes.

The Tour of the Hameldons is a 5.1 mile race with 940ft of ascent. 22 Clayton runners and one Trawden runner took part in this race.

Racing to the finish at the Tour of the Hameldons. Photo by David Belshaw

The race was won by Dave Motley but the best estimated time went to Carl Helliwell who was only 14 seconds out on his estimated time.

Alison Dugdale at the Tour of the Hameldons . Photo by David Belshaw

Alison Dugdale was the first lady finisher.Dave Motley takes the overall series title with wins in the three races he ran. Andrew Howarth took the title for estimated finish times.

Race Results | Series Results

WEDNESDAY 17 AUGUST

Golf Ball Fell Race

8 Clayton Harriers took part in the Golf Ball fell race. It’s a 5-mile race with 900ft of ascent organised by Rossendale Harriers. 151 runners took part. Alan Life was our first Clayton finisher in 32^nd place and 1^st V50. Sarah Helliwell was our sole lady runner and she finished in 127^th place.

Full Results

Kalmar Mini Triathlon

Report from Andrew Webster

I ended up doing my first mini triathlon in Kalmar Sweden as it had been set up by work to bring people from across the European branches of our firm together for teamwork etc. The UK party arrived there early hours Tuesday morning and sorted our accommodation then a few hours’ sleep before we met up with the other groups from Austria, Germany, Norway, Slovakia, Ireland and Sweden for a spot of open water swimming practice on the “bracing” Baltic sea! I needed this as I had done approximately zero swim training relying on old fashioned British stiff upper lip to see me through that bit! Having borrowed a wetsuit as it was going to help me float we then went to get the bikes from the hire place and left them strategically near the town centre before retreating back to accommodation for a planning session (beers).

Andrew Webster at the Kalmar Mini Triathlon

The event registration was from 1400 on the Wednesday so sorted that and found a space to get changed into cycle shorts and wet suit before cunningly coating my transition socks and trainers with talc (more later). Then down to the pens with a yellow swimming cap on rather like a huge minion. 2 minutes before wave off into the water to get ready then counted down and swim started to huge cheers from the massive crowds not having practiced much I stayed at the back and finished it in 19 minutes then the joys of getting the wetsuit off by doing a dance like an angry farmer as seasoned tri people looked on in wonder!

Helmet on shoes, socks and t-shirt and off for the cycle gain massive support from huge crowds on the closed streets and it was great to get speed up only to be disconcertingly passed briefly at 1 stage by a woman pedalling furiously on a call the midwife type cycle complete with basket but pride made me pass her. The transition to run was much easier and I could really get going now unfortunately leaving huge clouds of talc dust behind in my wake from my too eager efforts to not have to towel. A lovely run round the lake and football ground into town back out and then back in under a medieval tower and speeding up slightly to pass people on the home sprint into the finish line for a finish of 1 hrs 17 minutes and some change. Probably not a good enough time to threaten the Brownlee brothers, but I was happy with it and the whole experience was tremendous. Already sorting to go again next year the support all around during was amazing and uplifting and so well organised.  Now where did I leave that spare talc?

THURSDAY 18 AUGUST

Stan Curran Cowm Reservoir 5K

SATURDAY 20 AUGUST

Burnsall Junior Fell Races

Helana White was our sole junior runner at the Burnsall Junior races where she finished in 7^th place in the Under 12 race and 2^nd girl.

Helana White at the Burnsall Junior Fell Races. Photo by Woodentops

Full Results

Darwen Gala Catherine Dowdall Memorial Race

Report by Peter Browning

Darwen Gala – Funfair, rides, stalls, burgers, ice creams, rain, wind and more rain – what a shame. Never mind, there was a fell race to be done, and the runners were sent on their way by David Dunn (you know who he is John Roche).

The route complied with the local by-law that all Darwen fell races must visit Darwen Tower, and up there on the top was a very windswept Maureen Laney, with a quick shout for the three Clayton runners.

The footpaths up there have been greatly improved in recent times so the going was fast despite the wind in our faces. A mucky descent down Jacobs Ladder sorted out the road runners in the field, and a fast run back to the finish in the park where a free beer and hotdog was waiting for every finisher. Did you get that at Pendle 3 Peaks? Enjoying it crouched under an awning wasn’t great but never mind.

62 completed the course and the Clayton runners were Peter Browning, Steve Fish and Jude Ashworth.

Full Results

Pendle 3 Peaks Fell Race

Men’s Race

227 men completed the course in this counter race for the English Fell Running Championships. The weather was grim and feeling a tad wintery at times.

Two Daves. David Motley followed by David Bagot at the Pendle 3 Peaks Race. Photo by Holmfirth Harriers

Matt Perry was our first Clayton finisher in 38^th place overall. Danny Collinge was 48^th and 3^rd MU23, and absolutely buzzing at the end of the race – is this a definite end to his fell running – we shall see!

Danny Collinge looking happy heading to the finish at the Pendle 3 Peaks Race. Photo by David Belshaw

At the other end of the age categories, Kieran Carr was 1^st V70 and 161^st overall.

Ladies Race

75 Ladies raced and they set off 15 minutes before the men. This meant that lead runners would be finishing around the same time. Four Clayton ladies took part with Wendy Dodds finishing first in 40^th place overall and 1^st V65. Barbara Savage, Katy Thompson and Sarah Helliwell were 52^nd, 59^th and 65^th respectively.

Sarah Helliwell followed by Katy Thompson at the Pendle 3 Peaks Race. Photo by Holmfirth Harriers

Full Results

Pilling 10K

There were 66 runners in the Pilling 10K which is the 3 race of the series and is run on flat and quiet road in the pretty village of Pilling. 3 Clayton-le-Moors Harriers took part. Laura Hesketh was our first finisher in 6^th place overall and first lady in the race with a time of 37:37. Daniel Isherwood was our first man in 10^th place and a time of 39:33. Tony Pilling was 48^th with a time of 51:59.

Full Results

SUNDAY 21 AUGUST

Fleetwood Half Marathon

The Race starts behind the Marine Hall Gardens and runs along Fleetwood’s Outer Promenade and Esplanade with great views over Morecambe Bay for the runners (weather permitting!).

Geoff Smith was our sole representative at this half marathon. He finished in 145^th place with a time of 1:48:25 in a field of 399 runners.

Full Results

Parkrun roundup

Burnley parkrun – A total of 264 runners took part.

Burnley junior parkrun – A total of 44 runners took part.

Dewsbury parkrun – A total of 94 runners took part.

Marple parkrun – A total of 134 runners took part.

Pendle parkrun – A total of 74 runners took part.

Tooting Common parkrun – A total of 378 runners took part.