Hobbling, Rolling, Navigating and Running Fast

It’s been a truly challenging weekend for our members. There have been ultra distances (both planned and unplanned!), navigational triumphs and woes, fell running, marathon practice, PB smashing 5Ks, and representing the county in cross country. You’ve been giving it your all.

 SATURDAY 11 MARCH

BLACK COMBE FELL RACE

A dozen Clayton Harriers took the trip up to Silecroft to run in the Black Combe Fell Race. This is a tough race which often has “interesting” weather to contend with. Jack Holt was our first Clayton finisher in 50^th place with a time of 01:40:56. Jean Brown was our first Clayton lady in 88^th place and 01:48:09. Kieran Carr was 1^st V70. Excellent navigation skills are the key to this race it seems.

Martin Brady Reports

At 12:00 on Saturday 13 Clayton members set off to run the Black Combe Fell Race. Visibility was very poor which made route finding quite difficult. After a very steep initial 600ft climb the path up to Black Combe becomes more runnable. After the first visit of Black Combe summit the difficult navigation starts. There were runners comming from all directions whilst I was heading for the White Combe check point (including several Clayton runners).

The second climb up to Black Combe is also very steep to begin with. It is very similar to the last climb in the Tour of Pendle but 2.5 times longer. With the thick mist it was difficult to know how close the summit was which made the climb feel even longer. Pete Browning passed me on this climb and seemed to be moving twice as quick as every one else. I managed to get the wrong line off the last check point and ended up taking an extra 25 minute detour – I think I need the extra miles at the moment. Jack Holt was the first Clayton runner back with Jean Brown being the first Clayton lady. Kieran Carr had a great run just falling short of the V70 record (even after taking a detour on White Combe).

Peter Browning Reports

A typical day at Black Combe greeted the healthy contingent of Clayton runners who made the trip north to South West Lakeland. Low cloud blown in off the Irish Sea meant very limited visibility, and experience and navigational skills were required. It was a day when the fewest errors or following the right group was most important, and after the race there were many tales of going off course and losing time. The vastly experienced Clayton quartet of Wendy Dodds, Kieran Carr, Martin Brady and me all got it wrong at some point or other, and it was said that Kieran’s mistake cost him the chance of a new V70’s course record. All good fun though and all returned safely.

Report from Chris Snell

Drove up to Black Combe for a day out with coach Higgins to include a pub lunch and bit of Lakeland climbing with navigation practice. I navigated the course through the clag fairly well up until the last checkpoint. Unfortunately this is where I got over excited, and didn’t think it necessary to take a bearing being so close to the finish, and nearly ended up miles away from the finish line! Frustratingly top 50 to losing a painful amount of time and places according to the Black Combes dibber splits……lesson well learned!

A Footnote from Kieran Carr

Did Black Coombe, usual dense cloud and drizzle. Got to the top and tried to set my compass to 30deg and the needle was pointing south not north. Not sure how accurate so I’m down to tracking, good job I was brought up and played Cowies. Got help to CP3 with a lovely couple from Trawden, managed ok from there except for minor hiccup on descent. Anybody know what happened to my compass?

Full Results

CROSS-COUNTRY INTER-COUNTIES CHAMPIONSHIPS

Four of our club members took the trip to Loughborough to represent Lancashire in the Cross Country Inter-Counties Championships.

Louisa Powell-Smith running for Lancashire in the Inter Counties Cross Country Championships. Photo by Adrian Royle

Danny Collinge, who only got called up to run three days before the event, ran in the Senior Men’s race finishing in 213^th place in a time of 32:08. Louisa Powell-Smith ran in the Ladies race and finished in 36^th place overall and 2^nd Lancashire counter; the team finished in 8^th place.

Briony Holt and Danny Collinge with Gemma Steel at the Inter Counties Cross Country Championships

Briony Holt ran in the U15 Girls race finishing in 95^th place overall and 2^nd Lancashire counter; the team were 25^th. Jackson McKay ran in the U13 Boys race and finished in 11^th place.

Well done to all four Clayton runners who have done both the club and their County Teams proud!

Full Results

HAWORTH HOBBLE

A team of nine Clayton Harriers braced themselves for the long haul as they took on the Haworth Hobble, a 32 mile route traversing gritstone moors around Haworth, Todmorden and Hebden Bridgewith over 4,400 ft of ascent/descent. Maximum time allowed 11 hours.

Team Clayton at the Haworth Hobble. Photos by Laura and David Bradshaw of Sportsunday Photography

Chris Holdsworth was our first finisher in 5^th place overall, an outstanding run and finishing time of 03:57:38. Next to finish was Nicholas Olszewski in 11^th and 05:

Report from Cassie Smedley

To say that I was nervous about the Haworth Hobble would be an understatement. I was being picked up by Team Olszewski/a at 6.15 am! We arrived early and signed, and collected my t-shirt. I must admit I did think now I have my t-shirt I can disappear, but I didn’t.

Team Clayton at the start of the Haworth Hobble.

The start was very busy, and bloody steep! Adrienne was brilliant throughout the race. The pace was steady going, lots and lots of up hills and not enough down. The terrain was varied, with lots of mud! I fell yet again which seems to be the norm for me now, and I hit a brick wall at 20 miles in, but carried on and loved it. Really needed the veg stew at the end as I felt very light headed, and the jam doughnut was the sugar fix I needed . I am now an ultra runner. Thanks Nick and Adrienne for all your guidance pre, during and post race.

Full Results

SUNDAY 12 MARCH

COLTS SALT AYRE JUNIOR DUATHLON

Helana White competed in the Colts Salt Ayre Junior Duathlon. This is the first race in the Triathlon England North West league. This is also her first race in T2 category (U13’s) whilst she is still 10. She had to do 1.6K run, 5.2K bike and 600m run. She did well on the run, coming out 5^th or 6^th, but lost places on the bike, as she is still learning about effective gear changes especially in non-drafting races. She battled back to come 9^th. Now to practice the gears for the next bike race (only unofficial results available so far)

FASTRAX 5K

10 Clayton Harriers took to the flat and fast cycle track in Barrowford to compete in the lasts Fastrax 5K race. Jonathan Pye was our first finisher in 11^th place. Nick Hennessey continues to work hard and was 1^st MJ, 15^th overall. Michelle Abbott was our first lady in 32^nd. Julia Rushton was 1^st F50 and Bryn Barnes was 1^st M65. PBs were in evidence as tough winter training is paying off for lots of our members.

Report from James Boult

Feeling inspired from JR’s endurance workshop on Saturday and the social that followed on Saturday evening with Denise Park and Mark Brown, I found myself race-searching for Sunday as a way to release all the built up motivation I’d gained having well and truly got the racing bug back. Fastrax have a great 5k series from the cycle track in Barrowford, the setting of the Grand Prix race later in the year; a great lung busting, PB searching course with 1km laps and no climb whatsoever. I’d missed the previous two races but felt this was a great way to see what I had in preparation for the Northern Athletics relays at the end of the month.

James Boult at the Fastrax 5K. Photo by David Belshaw

Thankfully it’s a stone’s throw from my house otherwise I would not have made the start at 11am. A warm, beautiful morning gave us the feel of a summery race day as 48 of us started from the corner and set off on a course that does not allow let up. A 6.01 first mile was far too optimistic and made for a struggle through the middle of the race but I recovered well to record my fastest road time in nearly 7 months, 19:49, in what is finally starting to be progress in my return from a plague of injuries stretching back to October last year. Although not where I’d like to be, it’s a start and maybe would have been better had it not been for the stomach full of beer and vodka… rookie mistake.

Report from Judith Carey

We decided to have a go at the 5k Fastrax as we were free and making the most of our holiday as it came to an end. Having just got a parkrun 5k PB in Bryan Bach park the day before I wasn’t sure how my legs would be on another fast run. I was nervous whilst waiting for the start as all the runners were much faster than me so I knew I’d be running on my own at the back and have at least a lap to the end when everyone else had finished.

Julia Rushton (L) and Judith Carey at the Fastrax 5k. Photo by David Belshaw

The race started and I tried really hard not to set off too fast with everyone and was on my own straight away so I began counting down the laps. As Carl passed me on the opposite side of the track I cheered him on thinking the end was in sight with one more lap to go to realise I had 2 argh! Thank you to the shouts out of encouragement and to Julia for running the final half a km with me. I smashed my 5k PB which I’d just done the day before. JR’s winter training has had a huge impact on my running, thank you coach Roche, the hard work is worth it.

Full Results

FASTRAX JUNIOR 2K RACE

Matthew Jackson won the latest race in the Fastrax series and was joined in the top ten by Charlie Plant who was first girl, Emily Nicholls, Olly Plant and Chris Barnes.  Great performances, as always, from our talented junior runners.

Matthew Jackson racing at the Fastrax 2K junior race. Photo by David Belshaw

Full Results

HEATON PARK 10K

Two Clayton Ladies took part in the Heaton Park 10K. Helen Harrison was our first finisher in 177th place and Deborah followed in 205th place. A total of 385 runners took part. The race runs on the paths through Heaton park.

Full Results

HELM HILL

Four seniors and one junior member took part in the latest race of the Kendal Winter League Series. The Helm is a 4.8 mile race with 1197ft of ascent. Alan Life was our first finisher in 51^st place and Wendy Dodds was our first lady finisher in 75^th overall and 1^st L60.

Wendy Dodds at the Helm Hill Fell Race. Photo by Andy Holden

 U13 Race

Christopher Brown was our sole junior runner in the U13 race. He finished in 14^th place overall with a time of 08:26.

Full Results

RODDLESWORTH ROLLER 

Report from Wayne McIntosh

Just myself and Ron Chappell ran at the Roddlesworth Roller today. An undulating 5.5 mile trail race around the picturesque roddlesworth reservoirs. Treated as more of a training run after a spell of reduced running through a virus. I’d set a modest target of getting round in approx 50 mins and came in slightly outside that finding it tough over the largely uphill first half of the race. Finished in 51:48 and 144th overall. A good little race which I would recommend to fellow harriers.

Wayne McIntosh at the Roddlesworth Roller.

Full Results

SWEATSHOP 10 MILE

Five Harriers toed the start line of this 10 mile race on the lower and upper promenade at Bispham near Blackpool. Elizabeth Mullan was both our first Clayton finisher in 45th place overall and fourth lady in the race.

Elizabeth Mullan at the Sweatshop 10 Mile race. Photo by David Wood

Report From James Dunderdale

Good old Blackpool was the stage for the Sweatshop 10 miler and just as the seaside town lures us northern folk to its coastline with the promise of ‘cheap and cheerful’, this race followed suit and offered an absolute bargain of a run out for around a tenner. That’s right… at the same price as ten sticks of rock or two donkey rides! Runners lined up to take advantage of the low cost and Blackpool’s flat promenade and set their sights on a new potential PB.

James Dunderdale at the Sweatshop 10 Mile race. Photo by David Wood

The ten mile route was more or less two laps of both the upper and lower promenades following a well known Blackpool to Bispham and back route that is well known to be at the mercy of the elements. However, the weather on the day while not good enough to warrant ice creams and deck chairs did behave itself enough to allow a fair effort without battling too much wind or rain. As expected, there was excellent team spirit on the day before and after the race and it’s worth noting that all Clayton runners stayed on to cheer the last of the Harriers across the finish line. Whilst there were only the five of us there on the day, this showed real class – defo something that makes me proud to have joined the club this year. Bargain run – well organized – get on it next year!

Full Results

SPEN 20

Five Clayton men took part in the Spen 20,  a hilly two loop road run in rural and urban areas. Lee Smith was our first Clayton finisher in 8th place

Report from Dave Motley

Another weekend, another road race! God I’m looking forward to getting back to the fells!

This weekend saw me target the Spen 20, a hilly 20-mile course in Yorkshire to see how my marathon preparation was going. I travelled across with fellow marathon men Lee Smith, Jon Cleaver & Dan Plant and we met Dave Bagot on the start line. I’d completed the course 5 or 6 years ago and had a vague memory of hills and I wasn’t disappointed, if you’re not going up you’re coming down in this tough 20miler.

Me & Dave B set the early pace for the Clayton men and found ourselves well inside the top 10 after 5 or 6 miles running probably a little too quick, early 6 min miles, mile 9 and we hit a long descent and my watch flashed up 5:50, definitely too quick as me & Dave B got carried away. We later paid for the early pace as Smithy came breezing past us with 4 or 5 other runners and went onto smash the 2nd half of the race finishing in 7th (I think) in a time of 2:09.

I struggled mile 10-12 but then got my s**t together and managed to come back and pick up 12th (I think) in a time of 2:12, Dave Bagot ran strong and finished in 2:14, Jon Cleaver 2:18 and Dan Plant smashed his target for the day finishing in 2:24.

Looking back I finished with an average pace of 6:35 on a very hilly course which is way in front of marathon target time, this despite me setting off and running mile 9 like an idiot, what was I thinking 5:50. On the form of this bunch of marathon men then I think the marathon will be a piece of cake.

Report from Jon Cleaver

Spen 20: We had 5 Clayton runners at the event Dave Motley, Lee Smith, Dan Plant and myself preparing for the Marathon in a few weeks and Dave Bagot preparing for the 3 Peaks. The course was tough clocking over 1400ft of climbing. Scenery was great and the weather was perfect. Lee Smith came in first in 7^th place showing all us youngsters (relatively speaking!) up. Decent day out and I think we were all chuffed with our times. Now onwards to the Trimpell 20 next Sunday where I will be pushing the pace a bit harder!

Full Results

WEST PENNINE MOORS TRAIL MARATHON

Report from Richard Stevenson

I was looking for a long race to primarily use as a long training run and was unsure whether to choose the West Pennine Trail marathon or Howarth Hobble in the end I went against the majority and headed over to Darwen as I was put off with the 31+ miles of the Hobble.

The marathon promised me – 26.2 challenging miles across the glorious West Pennines, taking in the Iconic Darwen Tower!  The route would take me on a journey across the Darwen Moor towards Rivington, stopping short, the route would change direction and takes runners to Peel Tower and over Holcombe Moor before running back to Darwen.

The weather was perfect on the morning and from the start in Sunnyhurst Park we headed off up the steady climb to Darwen Tower, the route took us straight past the tower and off towards the moors, a few miles in I had found myself out in front and with the course being partially marked I was finding the navigation ok.

By the time I’d reached CP1 near Belmont Reservoir I’d been joined by 2 others mainly due to me doing the navigating and they just following. We’d stayed pretty much as a group on to CP2 and for a few more miles before we hit a problem, we’d lost any sign of the route and the way the map showed us all looked to be fenced off with DANGER: KEEP OUT signs and plenty of barbed wire, we followed a track to the left which brought us to a farm but it turned out to be the wrong farm and we were about a mile off course.

So after our 2 mile detour we’d got ourselves back on the course again and I’d managed to open up a gap on my 2 comrades as we headed up to Peel Tower and onto Holcombe Moor, I’d gone past 1 chap and could see 2 more in front of me but I didn’t know how many had gone past when we went off on our detour.

Heading over the moors and the lovely peat bogs towards Entwistle I’d managed to overtake the 2 in front and was informed at CP3 that I was back in the lead, from here it was a slow and steady climb back towards Darwen Tower but by now the weather had turned and the mist was down so you couldn’t see the Tower, which seemed to make the climb back up drag on forever. Once there though it was a quick 1 mile straight down into Sunnyhurst Park and through the finish taking first place.

So I’d managed to turn the marathon which had a longer course anyway into a 30 mile ultra, maybe I should have done the Howarth Hobble after all.

AWAITING OFFICIAL RESULTS

JACKALS RUN HALF MARATHON

The Jackals Run Trail Half Marathon is a very challenging 2000ft trail half marathon round Darwen Moors. With an uphill start out of Sunnyhurst Woods, it’s a very tight start and you can lose a few minutes getting stuck behind people walking up the hill. The first mile and half was mainly uphill road and trail followed by 2 miles of more uphill through mud.

Someone had taken the markers down at this point and although the RD had sent a route video out to everyone I was glad I’d done a recce with Julia as the front runners did go the wrong way. The next 2 miles was more up and down in more mud and included a very technical decent which I was petrified of! I was pleased I managed both attempts without any bone breakages. Finally arriving at the Tower there was a lovely trail path downhill for about a mile back to the start. Then round again for those on the half! First lady Angela was in my sights most of the way round the 1st lap. She absolutely smashed the 2nd lap and I only caught glimpse of her once.

Very happy with 2nd place though and an overall top 10 finish (8th I think). Marshals fab as always and the veggie soup at the end was lovely. LOVE the medal, definitely on my list for next year!

AWAITING OFFICIAL RESULTS

AND FINALLY…

A very happy 60th birthday to David Belshaw, a great friend and supporter to our club.

PARKRUN ROUNDUP

Bolton parkrun – A total of 352 runners took part.

Bryn Bach parkrun – A total of 135 runners took part.

Burnley parkrun – A total of 453 runners took part.

Burnley junior parkrun – a total of 58 runners took part.

Fell Foot parkrun, Newby Bridge – A total of 198 runners took part.

Lytham Hall parkrun – A total of 193 runners took part.

Pendle parkrun – A total of 88 runners took part

Penrith Lakes parkrun – A total of 121 runners took part.

Witton parkrun – A total of 87 runners took part.

Woodhouse Moor parkrun – A total of 718 runners took part.