Springing forward!

The clocks have changed and the weather this weekend couldn’t have been more different to the grim conditions we saw just 7 days ago.  The sun was out and the vests were on without a warming base layer for almost everyone! This week you have been competing in the English Fell champs, the Northern Road Relays, the Junior fell champs as well as classic fell races and road races.

LATE RESULT: SUNDAY 19 MARCH – TWO CROSSES CIRCUIT

Well done to Martin Terry and Simon Halliday who ran this 25 mile LDWA event in extremely testing conditions to finish in joint 4^th place with a time of 04:15

Full Results

And now on to this week’s action..

WEDNESDAY 22 MARCH

ROSSENDALE & PENDLE MOUNTAIN RESCUE TEAM – DARK DASH

Report from Teresa de Curtis

The Pendle Hill Dark Dash on Wednesday evening was a 6 mile (approx.) fell race. I opened my curtains on the morning of the race and The Hill had been obliterated by black clouds and heavy rain, but hey ho what’s new? As the saying goes… if you can see Pendle, it’s going to rain. If you can’t see Pendle, it’s raining already.

A line of fell runner’s head torches snaking up the Pendle Hill steps. Photo by John Ealing

I came home from work and still no hill, so knew the conditions were going to be poor that evening. However, after running with Barley Badgers on Pendle throughout winter, in all conditions, I hoped it wouldn’t be a problem.

After putting a tonne of pressure on myself when I did The Stan Bradshaw round and hating every step I took, I decided to treat this as a Barley Badgers’ run. I made (several) mental notes to reign myself in at the start and not set off as if I was doing a hundred metres sprint.

84 runners set off from Barley car park and headed towards the Pendle Way where a bottle neck of runners awaited their turn to cross the wooden bridge. As we made our way to the bottom of the steps things were getting boggier underfoot (quelle surprise!). Going up the steps, in the distance, a line of head torches were lighting the way ahead like fairy lights. Here we go, it’s gonna hurt, head down, time to yomp. Surprisingly, it didn’t hurt (I passed quite a few runners too) and I felt pretty good as I reached the top and made my way to the trig then on towards the flags to Ogden Clough, in poor visibility due to the fog and rain. The flags were a bit of a concern as they were wet and looked slippy, then I heard a voice geeing me on, Colin Woolford, just what I needed. Eventually, I got a spurt on after going off piste to get around the guy in front of me.

Runners using the rope set up for the unusually deep crossing in Ogden Valley

Going down Ogden Clough was treacherous. Streams had appeared on the track where usually there aren’t any and the brooks that were normally babbling were now raging torrents of water (slight exaggeration there but you’ve all heard of poetic licence). There were bogs, mud, rain and every path was extremely eroded, with water running over bare stones and rock. This is where you couldn’t let your concentration slip whilst picking your way down at speed without necking yourself.

Now I love a good downhill, and thanks to the Badgers training and the support and advice from them, running in dark, poor conditions is the norm and I managed to get past a few runners just before we hit the knee high stream at the bottom with a rope to help us across. As we got on the track before the drop down towards Upper Ogden Reservoir, a couple of guys in front of me took a tumble, then I spotted Martin Brady just ahead. Just what I needed, somebody I knew that I could keep in sight. I finished just behind Martin and we had a good natter at the finishing line. This time I loved every step and definitely had post run euphoria.

It was a great race, well organised and well marshalled by the Rossendale and Pendle Mountain rescue and there’s talk of a summer one too.

Full Results

SATURDAY 25 MARCH

BOULSWORTH BOG

Report from race winner Peter Coates

Boulsworth Bog fell race an 8.2 mile race setting off from Wycoller Country Park Hall. Exactly 100 runners set off in glorious sunshine to tackle the course.   I soon found myself towards the front of the field with a small group which then became just myself and Calder Valleys Jon Smith. We were side by side as we approached the point where we left the path and went onto Boulsworth Hill. I increased the pace on the main climb and opened up a gap on Jon and then pushed on up to the trig point which we circled before retracing our steps back along the ridge of the hill before dropping back down the decent towards the bridle path and began the run back towards the finish.

Peter Coates at the Boulsworth Bog fell race. Photo by David Belshaw

I was very happy to get a win especially in front of my two young boys who had come along to spectate and who will hopefully now stop asking why does Daddy never win. A great little race in a very picturesque location and would definitely recommend.

Sean Clare at the Boulsworth Bog Fell Race. Photo by David Belshaw

Report from Sarah Helliwell

It was a sunny glorious day as we gathered next to the remains of Wycollar Hall and a few last minute runners signed on. It was a fast start as runners made their way up the track and onto the Pennine Bridleway to the foot of Boulsworth. It was good running terrain apart from the top section which was still saturated with the rain from the previous week as runners tried to avoid the bog! Runners cheered each other on as we crossed paths up to the trig and back before the decent back to Wycollar.

Sarah Helliwell at the Boulsworth Bog Fell Race. Photo by David Belshaw

The race was eventually won by our own Pater Coates, well done! Barbara Savage was our first lady home and was first lady vet 50. (There is a bag of chocolate goodies/winnings at our house, which our kids keep eyeing up )

Teresa de Curtis at the Boulsworth Bog Fell Race. Photo by David Belshaw

With Teresa not far behind and myself as usual bring up the rear!

Full Results

CAUSEY PIKE

Peter Dugdale and Mark Nutter took part in this 4.5 mile Lakeland fell race organised by Keswick AC with 1781ft of ascent

Mark Nutter at the Causey Pike Fell Race. Photo by Paul Dobson

COCK HOWE JUNIORS

Report from Alan Dorrington

A beautiful Spring day greeted runners the first round of the Junior FRA Championships, over at Chop Gate in the North York Moors.

Helana White

Whilst the weather might have been kind to the runners, the course certainly wasn’t. Starting straight up a very steep field and barely letting up before reaching the turnaround points for the U13 and U15 races, the course was clearly going to test climbing ability and with good runnable paths back down, the ability to descend flat out too.

Christopher Brown. Photo by Alan Dorrington

The Clayton Juniors got stuck in straight away with a win in the U9s for Felix Thompson, followed up by a win for his older brother Dexta in the U13s race. Both Jenson Bentham and Helena White had great runs to bag top 5 places in the U13s with Kady Thompson and Emily Nicholls finishing off a really tough race in style. Special mention to Christopher Brown too in the U13s, whose descending was spectacularly fast.

Jackson McKay. Photo by Alan Dorrington

Ella Dorrington. Photo by Alan Dorrington

Jackson McKay was also descending really quickly to a good finish in the U15s and Will Nicholls and Ella Dorrington ran well too, both putting in solid performances despite being right at the younger end of the age group.

Briony Holt. Photo by Alan Dorrington

Briony Holt was the sole older Junior in the U17s race finishing ahead of many older girls in the U19 and U21 races.

U17/19/21

Briony Holt has just stepped up to this competitive category and finished 34^th overall and 3^rd U17 girl. There were 64 runners in this race.

U15

Three junior runners took part in the U15 race. Jackson McKay was our first finisher in 9^th place overall followed by William Nicholls in 34^th. Ella Dorrington was the only girl in this race and was 44^th overall. There were 52 runners in this race.

U11 & U13

Some great performances in this race from the juniors. There were 77 runners in total.

U9

Great result for Felix Thompson in this race! There were 11 runners in total.

Full Results

LONG MYND VALLEYS – ENGLISH FELL CHAMPIONSHIP RACE

A dozen Clayton Harriers travelled to Church Stretton to take part in the Long Mynd Valleys fell race which was the first race in the 2017 English Fell Running Championships. The race has an 11.5 mile route with 4501ft of ascent.

Christopher Holdsworth was our first finisher in 5^th place overall; a superb performance against a quality field a fortnight after his excellent finish in the Haworth Hobble a fortnight ago.

Super Vet, Jack Holt, at the Long Mynd English Championship race. Photo by Sue-Nigel Jeff

Super vets Jack Holt and Kieran Carr were 1^st M65 and 1^st M70 respectively. Katy Thompson and Wendy Dodds were our only lady runners. Wendy Dodds was 1^st W65.

Super Vet Wendy Dodds at the Long Mynd English Championship race. Photo by Sue-Nigel Jeff

Full Results

NORTHERN ROAD RELAY CHAMPIONSHIPS

Despite a clash with the English Fell Championships, two teams of men ( 2 X 12 runners) and three teams of women ( 3 X 6 runners) headed to Stanley Park in Blackpool to take part in the Northern Road Relay Championships.

Women’s 6 Stage

18 Clayton Ladies competed in the Womens 6 Stage relays.

Some of the Clayton Ladies at the Northern Road Relays. Photo by James Boult

Report from Angela Shian

This year’s Ladies 6 Stage road relays took place at a sunny, seaside, Stanley park. It was the first year we have managed to fill 3 teams or this event. For over half of the ladies it was their first time competing in the road relays, which is always quite nerve racking, especially for leg 1 starters, nervously waiting for the dreaded gun to go off.

Laura Hesketh on her super fast leg of the Northern Road Relays. Photo by David Wood

As the sun was shining, Stanley Park was full of day outers, this could prove tricky dodging prams, dogs and toddlers around the park (especially as we were all running at speed). Everyone put in maximum team effort, and I know some ladies took time off work and arranged child care to be able to attend, which the club does appreciate.

Lisa Ellis at the Northern Road Relays. Photo by David Wood

Results are: ladies team A: 21st position Ladies team B: 39th position Ladies team C: 46th position

Team A – 21st place with a total time of 02:52:20

Team B – 39^th place with a total time of 03:12:59

Team C – 46^th place with a total time of 03:26:12

A total of 50 teams competed plus 9 incomplete teams.

Mens 12 Stage

Report from Men’s Team Manager, Jon Cleaver

Set on a sunny day in Stanley Park in Blackpool was the 12/6 Stage Road Relays. We managed to recruit 2 teams for the Senior Men to compete on the day and all agreed they had a fantastic time supporting and running for the team.

Danny Collinge at the Northern Road Relays. Photo by David Wood

It was amazing to see such a vast array of talented runners compete from all across the North. For the Senior Men we had 4 long and 8 short legs (9.5km and 5.2km respectively) and the A team got off to a cracking start with Danny Collinge leading us out with the fastest long leg for the team, unfortunately however we couldn’t sustain the start that Danny gave us, but the A team did finish in a respectable 32^nd place overall.

Andy Quinn at the Northern Road Relays. Photo by James Boult

A big thanks from me for all the runners that put themselves forward and made for a great day!

Report from Michael Clarke

My first road race post injury. No expectations regarding performance, just fun to be had on a glorious spring day together with friends. The route was tricky with lots of twists and turns and the marshals did what they could to enable me to avoid running into the boating lake or small children.

Thankfully none of the aforementioned things occurred and I enjoyed the day whilst contributing to a good team “B” effort.   Huge thanks to Jon Cleaver for putting it all together in what appears a logistical nightmare and thanks to my Clayton friends for a warm welcome back.

Team A – 32^nd place with a total time of 4:48:49

Team C – 59^th place with a total time of 5:39:24

A total of 61 teams competed plus 8 incomplete teams

Full Results

SUNDAY 27 MARCH

CHESHIRE 10K

James Dunderdale and Lucy Scott set off amongst almost 1300 runners at the Cheshire 10K. The race follows the flat and rural roads of Antrobus in Cheshire and is a perfect race to get that PB.

Lucy Scott and James Dunderdale at the Cheshire 10K

Report from Lucy Scott

Full Results

EDALE SKYLINE

Report by Andy Armstrong

Because of its time in the year the Edale Skyline can be blessed with glorious sunshine or be cancelled due to impassable snowdrifts. Thankfully this weekend’s race was the former! Jean Brown and I made the trip down to the Peak District for this 21mile/4500ft fell race over the gritstone landscape of the Dark Peak.

Andy Armstrong at the Edale Skyline (thankfully before the vest came off!) Photo by Sue-Nigel Jeff

The terrain is largely runnable with a mixture of trails, technical boulder sections and slabbed footpaths; the infamous Brown Knoll bog-fest has been largely neutralised and replaced by a faster but mind-numbingly tedious slabbed route instead. The route has changed slowly over the years, due to access and erosion issues but times remain similar and the race was won overall by Chris Steele of Borrowdale who came home in 2h48m (the first lady was Sally Fawcett of Dark Peak in 3h33m).

Jean Brown at the Edale Skyline fell race. Photo by Sue-Nigel Jeff

Both Jean and I kept it under four hours; I came back in 63rd place at 3h47m and Jean followed shortly after in 95th (6th lady) with 3h58m (winning the ladies Vet 40 prize). The event was very well organised; the village hall had steak pie and cakes after the race and the prize table was fully loaded. I’d thoroughly recommend this event, it used to be much more popular with Clayton and it’s a mystery why it isn’t now.

Full Results

MUDDY BOTTOMS 17 MILE RACE

Vicky Heys and Angela Shian took part in the Muddy Bottoms 17 mile race which is described by the organisers as an off-road run, walk or crawl mainly on tracks and trails which are rather muddy.

Report from Angela Shian

Myself and Vicky Heys did the Muddy Bottoms race yesterday. Only thing to say is it’s a really good event. A well organised trail race across beautiful countryside. It’s navigation, but thankfully instructions on the reverse of the map, which helped a lot…!! Hence we only did 18 mile instead of 17, do didn’t go far wrong..!! I would recommend this event, apparently they change the route each time so there’s no cheating!!! Pie and peas at the end so all worth it!

Full Results

PARKRUN ROUNDUP

Bolton parkrun – A total of 331 runners took part.

Burnley parkrun – A total of 381 runners took part.

Burnley junior parkrun – A total of 41 runners took part.

Dewsbury parkrun – A total of 135 runners took part.

Fell Foot parkrun, Newby Bridge – A total of 165 runners took part.

Lytham Hall parkrun – A total of 258 runners took part.

Pendle parkrun – A total of 96 runners took part.

Witton parkrun- A total of 71 runners took part.