Hitting the trails and breaking records

It’s been a bit of a trail running fest this week. Starting off in Worsthorne, via Witton Park and finally to Trawden you have truly been out in force this week. Off the trails there’s been some road racing, fell racing and smashing of course records.  Well done to Chris Holdsworth for his new course record at the Heptonstall Festival Fell Race and to Laura Hesketh for her new course record at Burnley parkrun.

Foreword from Club President, David Scott

Where did the morning go?

Having been away for several weeks, more or less incommunicado with home and the UK, I sat down on my return with a breakfast coffee and started to catch-up on Clayton’s ‘Roundups’.  Next thing I knew it was nearly lunchtime.

What a variety of races everyone has been running, representing country, representing county, representing club, raising money for charity, trying a new race or trying to beat a previous time.  The enthusiasm of those of you who wrote about your races really came through and you didn’t mind writing about how hard running can be, whether you’re out to beat a time or just to finish.

And what an age range, from Under 8 to Over 75.  I was wishing I was 40ish again, with the speed and stamina I once had and with all these events to choose from.

Thank you to everyone who has contributed in any way to the weekly roundups, the technical aspect of which largely passes me by. Clayton’s a wonderful club and I feel proud to be its President.

David Scott.

P.S. Reading about the ’22’ run up Pendle, took me back to a Saturday, many years ago……..but what WAS the date my memory asked?  Looking through my training logs I eventually found it to be 18th August 1979, (probably before some of the ’22’ runners were born) when John Haworth ran 15 times from the Pendle Inn to the Trig Point and back in just over 12 hours to raise money for Barley Village Council.  I had a school function in the morning so could only be there from 12 o’clock.  I ran the last 6 reps with him, approx. times being 48, 52, 60, 51, 59 and the last one was from the picnic area and back on a ‘Guess the Time’ raffle of 48.07.

TUESDAY 27 JUNE

CLUB SUMMER SERIES – WORSTHORNE TRAIL

Senior Race

Worsthorne trail race is the second race in the Clayton Harriers summer race series. Listed as a 5 mile race with around 1000ft of ascent this is always popular with our members and this year saw 41 seniors take part. As well as recording the finishing positions of runners, runners must give an estimated time for their run.

Danny Snell and Chris Snell racing down the Gorple Road. Photo by David Belshaw

Chris Snell and Danny Collinge raced to the finish neck and neck with Chris just managing to pull ahead to take the win. Cassie Smedley was our first lady finisher. Nina Kewin gave the best estimate of the event with only 10 seconds difference between her estimate and actual finish time.

Full Results

Junior Race

20 Juniors took part in the junior race with Nick Hennessey finishing in 1^st place. Ella Dorrington was 1^st girl finisher. The best estimated time went to Ella Dorrington who was only 4 seconds out!

Alfie White, Keira Stevenson and Imogen Ferguson. Photo by Nick Olszewski

Keeping the longstanding tradition of spot prizes, Alfie White was awarded a spot prize for “best race face in a sprint finish”.

Full Results

WEDNESDAY 28 JUNE

CRAGG VALE FELL RACE

Alan and Carol Life took part in the Cragg Vale Fell Race. It’s a 4 mile race with 801ft of ascent organised  by Calder Valley Fell Runners.

Full Results

RACE FOR LIFE, WITTON PARK

My son Matthew and I took part in the Race For Life at Witton Park all for a good cause. I love this event and this time we were running for my dad. We set off together but that was short lived – Matthew was flying again and got round the course in 18.20 in 2^nd place he wanted under 19 mins and with grandad watching he wasn’t going to fail. I tried to keep within sight which wasn’t easy and managed 5^th place in 22.30

Michelle and Matthew at the Race for Life in Witton Park

NO RESULTS AVAILABLE

THURSDAY 29 JUNE

WITTON PARK TRAIL RELAYS

There was a huge turnout of 87 Clayton Harriers in 29 teams at this popular trail relay in Witton Park. Our Men’s A team put in a great performance to finish in 3^rd place. Our Junior Boys B Team finished in 14^th place overall and 3^rd Junior Boys team. Our Clayton Vets A team came 13^th overall and 2^nd men’s vets team.

George Pier with Peter Coates handing over to Jonathan Pye,  at the Witton Park Relays. Photo by David Belshaw

Clayton Ladies A Team finished in 68^th place overall and 4^th ladies team. Our Clayton Junior Girls A team had a fantastic run to finishs in 48^th place overall and 1^st Junior girls team. Our Lady Vets A team finished in 95^th place and 5^th lady vets team.

Leg C Ladies and junior girls waiting for their runners. Photo by David Belshaw

Danny Collinge ran our fastest male leg in 15:29 and 6^th fastest overall. Briony Holt ran the fastest leg of all the women and was 1^st junior girl in a fantastic time of 17:35. Jo Perry ran the fastest leg for our senior ladies and the 3^rd fastest senior lady overall with a time of 18:55.

Sprint finish from junior runner, Adam Stevenson. Photo by David Belshaw

It was another great event for the club with all the usual team spirit on show and the last minute substitutions and changes.

Report from Andy Holt

This was my second go at the Witton Park relays and, after informing the junior coaching staff my kids were available, I’d forgotten to tell John Cleaver about my own availability! As the date approached and spaces became available I was asked to join Michael Clarke and Adam Stephensons’ team as a late entry!!

Warm and dry underfoot with no wind made this mile up-mile down course even faster and running the last leg allowed me the possibility of having to run against my daughter. My son was running the first leg for another team so I was spared watching him disappear into the distance!

Thankfully Michael and Adam gave me a head start on Briony’s team, (nothing worse than feeling like you’re being chased down) and I had a clear run up the hill. Choosing grippy fell shoes worked and allowed me a flowing descent to the finish.

Brilliant fun, took 15 seconds off last year’s time, team finish well under 60 minutes and equally as satisfying knowing that Curtis, Briony and myself finished within 25 seconds of each other!

Big thanks to the team captains for the messing around and accommodating as many runners as possible.

Full Results | Individual Legs

SATURDAY 1 JULY

BLACKFELL

Ivan Whigham and Wendy Dodds travelled over the border into the Yorkshire Dales to take part in the Blackfell race.

Report from Ivan Whigham

This race was run by Bingley Harriers as part of their running weekend. It is based in Kettlewell a very nice part in the Yorkshire Dales.

The weather was great with plenty of sun and a brisk breeze. About 60 runners set of with me and Wendy Dodds the other Claytoner.

The route is about 9 miles and goes round Cam Head, Whernside, Great Whernside and returns via Hag Dyke on the route of the Great Whernside race which is fast running on bowling green grass purely awesome.

I finished half way down the field in 1hour 50 with Wendy coming in a little later, a cracking race in beautiful scenery.

Full Results

Catforth Canter 5K

HEPTONSTALL FESTIVAL

A trio of Clayton runners took part in the Heptonstall Festival fell race. A 5.9 mile race with 1627ft of ascent. Starting in the hilltop village of Heptonstall, the route plunges deep into a neighbouring valley before finding its way to the top of a nearby peak. It then returns in similar fashion presenting runners with an almighty uphill struggle at the end!

Chris Holdsworth not only won the race, he also knocked over 2½ minutes off the course record at the same time. A superb result for a runner on top form at the moment. Carl Helliwell ran strongly to finish in 11^th place and Simon Stansfield was 58^th.

Full Results

LOSTOCK HALL CARNIVAL 5K

Amanda Duffy was our sole representative at the Lostock Hall Carnival 5K.

Report from Amanda Duffy

I headed over to the Lostock Hall Carnival 5k on Saturday morning. The race set off before the carnival procession. The course itself was a fairly flat out and back with a loop around the town to finish. It was a great carnival atmosphere with lots of support from the crowds. All roads were closed which made it much better for racing.

I finished 6^th female and won the v35 prize with a second best 5k time. It is one I would like to run next year and was a great day out for everyone.

Full Results

OAKWORTH HAUL

Richard Briscoe was our only runner in the Oakworth Haul fell race, a 5.6 mile race with 820ft of ascent organised byt Keighley and Craven Athletics Club.

Full Results

SUNDAY 2 JULY

ALDERLY BYPASS 10K

Michelle Abbot and her two sons headed to Cheshire for the Alderley Edge Bypass 10K and fun runs.

Report from Michelle Abbott

Me and the boys had a change and headed over to Wilmslow for the Alderley Edge Bypass 10K and fun run. With about 2000 runners in the 10K, it was very busy, well organised with food ,beer ,and a funbus for the little ones. It was a fast course when the winner comes in in 29 mins; I just about managed a reasonable 47.11 while Lennon and Matthew whizzed round the 1.8K course in sub 6 mins with Lennon coming in 3^rd closely followed by Matthew in 4^th,   no official timing for the funrun as it is 100% all for charity

Michelle Abbot at the Alderley Edge Bypass race.

Full Results

EDGWORTH HALF MARATHON

Well done to Geoff Smith who was our sole runner in the Edgeworth Reservoir Challenge Half Marathon. The course takes runners on 2 laps of the popular 10K route in the picturesque countryside of Edgeworth over challenging terrain and offering stunning scenery. Geoff finished in 27^th place and 1^st V40 with a time of 1:54:58.

Full Results

SKIDDAW FELL RACE

Jack Holt was our sole runner in the Skiddaw race organised by Keswick AC. He finished in 66^th place overall in a field of 136 runners. This is a 9.6 mile race with 3154ft of ascent over mainly hard paths.

Jack Holt at the Skiddaw Race. Photo by Stephen Wilson of Granddayoutphotography

Full Results

TRAWDEN 7

65 Clayton Harriers took part in this 7 mile trail race organised by Trawden AC and the latest race in the Pendle and Burnley Grand Prix series. Danny Collinge was our first finisher in 4^th place overall. Kevin Davies was 1^st M55 and Jeff Pickup was 1^st M65. Elizabeth Mullan was our first lady finisher in 129^th place overall and 2^nd senior lady.

Donna Airey and Chris Lawrence enjoying the Trawden trail race. Photo by David Belshaw

Report from Cassie Smedley

Yet another grand prix race arrived. I was looking forward to this one but hoped that I wouldn’t follow last year’s antics and fall mid race.

Cassie Smedley staying on her feet this year at the Trawden trail race. Photo by David Belshaw

I set off far too fast, as always, but managed to find and maintain a good pace. I decided to try and stay focused on the paths rather than the views in order to remain on my feet. The race was great. Well-supported and great weather. Added bonus at the end as I’d pre-registered so got a pie and a bottle of good beer! Well done to all that raced.

Full Results

JUNIOR RACES

U7 & U9

Ruby Cleaver was our sole runner in the U7 & U9 race. She finished in 21^st place. A total of 40 runners took part.

Ruby Cleaver in action. Photo by David Belshaw

U11 RACE

34 runners took part in the U11 race. Charlie Barnes was our first finisher in 10^th place. Emily Nicholls was our first girl in 27^th place.

Lining up for the U11s race. Photo by David Belshaw

U13, U15 & U17 Race

Nick Hennessey won the race with Jackson McKay not too far behind in 2^nd place. Helana White was our first girl to finish and 2^nd girl overall.  There were age category firsts for Nick Hennessey, Jackson McKay, Helana White, and Millie Stubbs

Lining up for the U13/15/17 Race. Photo by David Belshaw

Full Results

PARKRUN ROUNDUP

Here are this week’s parkrun results for registered Clayton Harriers. To see them in more detail, please check out the consolidated club report.

Arrow Valley parkrun – A total of 300 runners took part.

Burnley parkrun – A total of 388 runners took part.

Dewsbury parkrun – A total of 111 runners took part.

South Shields parkrun – A total of 198 runners took part.

Cheltenham parkrun – A total of 440 runners took part.

Cuerden Valley parkrun – A total of 171 runners took part.

Keswick parkrun – A total of 174 runners took part.

Pendle parkrun – A total of 81 runners took part.

Witton parkrun – A total of 80 runners took part.

Blackpool parkrun – A total of 144 runners took part.