Run it fast, run it long, run it any which way!

This week you’ve recorded times from 4 mins 45 seconds to 33 hours 56 minutes and lots more in between with some short and snappy runs, some really loong ones and some pretty soggy ones too. And there’s been racing action abroad too with more Ironman competition. In other words, the usual spectacular celebration of running (and swimming and cycling) exploits from the Clayton membership. Fantastic stuff.

Wednesday

Padiham Greenway

Organising his first senior race, Junior Coach Jason Pier did a super job with this popular fixture on the Burnley and Pendle Grand Prix series, which ran like clockwork and attracted a record 180 seniors to race on a warm, balmy mid week night.

Fast Wharfedale Senior James Hall blazed into the finish in under 16 minutes with 15:44, followed by our own Danny Collinge in 16:29. From then on, the flood of Clayton runners was pretty constant, with many PBs and course bests peppering the results.

PB for George Pier. Photo: David Belshaw

Donna Airey. Photo: David Belshaw

‘What do you mean I didn’t run quick enough?!’ Nick Hennessey was 1st Junior home in a speedy sub 18 minutes. Photo: David Belshaw

Thank. Goodness. That’s. Over… Lucy Stevenson. Photo: David Belshaw

Christine Leathley brings it home. Photo: David Belshaw

Bit more work needed on the double thumbs up Cassie Smedley? Photo: David Belshaw

Full Results Seniors

Junior races

There was also a record turnout of 83 juniors for these races, a large section of whom were Clayton Juniors. There were age group wins for Freya Birtwistle (U9G), Helena White (U13G), Tom Holden (U17B) and Millie Stubbs (U17G). Podium places were also occupied by Robbie Smedley (U13B), Finley Stubbs (U13B), Michael Stevens (U15B), Adam Stephenson (U15B), Ella Dorrington (U15G), Jay Bowman (U17B), Kaliska Clarke (U17G) and Alfie White (U17B). All our Juniors ran brilliantly and were smiling at one point or another during the proceedings.

Emily Johnson looking good and heading to the finish. Photo: David Belshaw

U7/U9

U11/U13

Michael Stevens chased winner Jack Villiers hard in the U15 race. Photo: David Belshaw

Beth Wheatcroft and Kaliska Clarke in the U15G race. Photo: David Belshaw

U15/U17

Full Results Juniors

Lee Mill Fell Race

This midweek Rossendale Harriers fixture over 6 miles takes competitors on an industrial fell-tour of some of Rossendale’s largest stoneworking sites, past and present, with some good old fashioned moorland running thrown in too. Won by Phil Marsden from Horwich RMI, Chris Snell was the first Clayton runner home in 7th, with Alan Life in 11th and Stephen Fish in 47th.

Full Results

Thursday

Heart of the Lakes Rydal Round

Along with the Guides races, the Rydal Round makes up the fell running attractions at Ambleside Sports. This longstanding AM race is held over 9 miles and 300ft of climb. Matt Perry was 12th in a fast time of 1:31:33 behind winner Simon Bailey (Mercia) in 1:23:37, Richard Briscoe was 63nd in 1:57:30 and Alan Dorrington 72nd in 2:03:32. 144 runners started.

Alan Dorrington reports:

“Chasing Briscoes in the mist… that was the theme for this Fairfield Horseshoe by another name. Following pretty much the same course, save for the initial climb up Nab Scar and a little bit of contouring around rather than over intermediate peaks, the weather during the round deteriorated reasonably decisively as a heavy rain shower and strong winds blew in over Fairfield summit. Depending on where you were in the field, this meant being buffeted and drenched at some point, some escaping the worst and others like myself being battered by the weather over the rougher rocky sections over Fairfield and down to Link Hause.

It had started innocuously enough, as I found myself pacing the long initial climb up to Heron Pike, only for Richard Briscoe to stride past at the bottom of the climb. Assuming he had been out clubbing till 4am the night before/raced for 3 days previously/was severly dehydrated* (*delete as applicable), I happily let him go and marvelled instead at the sight of Simon Bailey running the top section of the climb, some considerable way above me. I resolved to catch Richard later in the race for sure.

Except I didn’t, and he remained, tantalisingly, a short distance in front all the way over toward Fairfield and as the mist came in. The rain and wind and clag did for the vision through my glasses and reduced my pace to an embarassingly slow crawl over the rocky sections to Hart Crag till lower ground was gained, it stopped blowing a hooly and I could see again. Except there was no sign of Richard. He’d had a good run over the back side of the course and finished well on the now sodden descent back through Brock Crags and along to the sports field. Next time…

Alan Dorrington makes his way through the rain and clag on Fairfield. Photo: Stephen Wilson/GrandDayOut

Full Results

Ambleside Sports Guides Races – BOFRA

Along with Grasmere, this is one of the oldest and more prestigious Guides Races in the country, following the usual ‘stupid steep up and then down’ format of Guides Races over the years.

Briony Holt revels in this kind of flat out racing up and down 45 degree slopes and took 2nd place in the U17G race by a clear margin behind perpetual rival, Rosie Woodhams. Her time over the same course as the Senior race would have placed her as 2nd Lady in that race too…

Briony Holt in full flight. Photo: Woodentops

In the Senior race won by Rob Hope in 14:15, a plucky Richard Briscoe decided to see just how wrecked his legs might be from the Rydal Round a couple of hours before but still managed a respectable 21:39 and 59th with Andrew Firth in 72nd. Chapeau!

Here’s Richard’s report:

“On Thursday I decided to do the Rydal Round and the short Bofra race at Ambleside Sports. I had to to the Bofra race to try and get 8 championship races in. The main race is the Rydal round a cracking race was a good turn out. Three Clayton runners did the long race Matt Perry, Alan Dorrington, and myself. I started very well behind Matt but in front of Alan. I saw him behind me so I had to improve my game to stop him. The weather wasn’t good especially on top of Fairfield so had to be quick to get round. I managed the race and was faster than previous times. I felt good so I did the 2nd race as well the short Bofra race. Andy Firth and myself did it.”

Richard Briscoe feels the pain of 2 fast race finishes in about as many hours. Photo: Woodentops

Andrew Firth on his way to the finish at Ambleside Sports. Photo: Woodentops

Full Results

Friday

Lakeland 100

Grim, overwhelming, stomach churning and unforgettable. That was just the portable toilets at this years Lakeland 100/50 event, never mind the tough, iconic ultra distance courses and traditional Lakeland ‘weather’ on offer to hardy ultra runners this weekend.

The M*A*S*H themed support station at Dalemain. Photo: Adrienne Olszewska

Put simply, Martin Terry had a knockout performance in the Lakeland 100. He ran consistently well throughout the race and was looking happy and strong at Dalemain checkpoint. He continued to race steadily and, despite a temporary period of tiredness in the later stages, managed to pick off a few runners to finish in 17th place overall with a time of 26:09:03. There are no age categories in the race but that position would have been 1st V50.

Andrew Armstrong finished in 113th place with a time of 33:56:30 despite suffering from sickness and struggling to refuel throughout, opting for a liquid diet of flat Coke and a single cup of soup between miles 25 and 75. Andy does like to keep things simple and minimal, but we’re not sure that nutrition strategy will fully catch on in the ultra world. Nor will the acquisition of trench foot due to the wet conditions that battered the 223 finishers in the 100 race for much of the weekend.

Congratulations to both on a truly mammoth accomplishment. Trench foot pictures withheld due to upsetting content.

Also a special mention to Clayton Juniors Natasha and Bronia Olszewska who worked really hard all weekend at the Dalemain checkpoint, looking after the 100 mile runners brilliantly.

Bronia and Natasha – experienced ultra helpers. Photo: SportSunday

Full Results to follow

Saturday

Lakeland 50

Andy Laycock had a fantastic run in the 50 mile event, starting on Saturday. He was in first position for the first half of the race until he was overtaken by Casper Kaars Sijpesteijn who then went on to break the course record. Andy finished in 07:51:42.

Full Results to follow

Pilling 10k

Laura Hesketh had a fantastic run here, placing 1st Lady in 35:23 (a PB), and 7th overall. This continues her super run of form in recent races including last weeks Sale Sizzler 5k (16:44) and which has seen her place 16th overall in the UK rankings, the highest position ever for a Clayton senior lady.

Full Results

Turnslack Fell Race

This 8 mile race with 2001ft of climb starts out of Calderbrook near Littelborough and heads out over Hades Hill to Ramsden Clough before returning over Shore Moor. The race was won by Mike Fanning from Holmfirth in 1:10:52 and Paul Hesketh, Jack Holt and Jeffrey Pickup ran coming in 17th, 30th and 48th respectively.

Full Results

Cowling Gala Fell Race – BOFRA

Helana White popped across the border to this local gala fell race with its stone wall obstacled finish and came back with a 3rd place in the U12G race. And probably an ice cream.

Whoosh! Helana White getting those arms in the air. Photo: Woodentops

Full Results

Sunday

Sabden Fell Race

This English Hill Runners fixture takes in a 5.25 mile loop from Sabden over the quieter end of Pendle with some nice contouring running amongst a couple of stiff climbs giving around 1500ft of climbing. Dave Motley got his race face on as well as the bit between his teeth, and took a fine second place behind winner Grant Cunliffe of Rossendale Harriers with support from Chris Snell in 8th, Rick Moore in 31st and Peter Dugdale in 44th.

‘You looking at me?’ Dave Motley leading the chasing group up onto Pendle with Chris Snell in close attendance. Photo: David Belshaw

Full Results

Ironman Switzerland

After Jon Cleaver’s recent efforts at Ironman UK, Vicky Heys has earned the right now to a very specific tattoo with a successful completion of Ironman Switzerland. Or Schweize/Suisse/Svizzera/Svizra depending on your language preference. Despite the multiple language options in Switzerland, the Ironman format remains the same: a 2.4-mile (3.86 km) swim, a 112-mile (180.25 km) bicycle ride and a marathon 26.2-mile (42.16 km) run. A long way in other words…

Angela Shian sent us this report as presumably Vicky is putting her feet up somewhere and refuelling with cheese and chocolate:

“Vicky Heys is an Ironman!!!

Vicky is mostly known for racing the fells, being noisy at cross country….!! And has ran the odd road relay for us (with a little persuasion!). However this year her Inov8s have had to take a back seat. Vicky has always competed very well in local triathlons, but it seems that this is not enough of a challenge for her! Vicky and Julia Hartley booked to take part in the Switzerland Ironman, 2.4mile open water swim, 112 bike, then finish off with a full marathon, all this in hot and humid conditions. The hard training of 2017 paid off, she ran over the finishing line in 13hrs 40, in 17th position in her age category. Congratulations on the mammoth achievement, Vicky can now have a well earned rest, well until Yorkshireman marathon next month anyway….!!!”

Congratulations from all of us too!

Parkrun

Burnley parkrun – a total of 356 runners took part.

Rugby parkrun – a total of 171 runners took part.

Harrogate parkrun – a total of 373 runners took part.

Sewerby parkrun – a total of 234 runners took part.

Lyme Park parkrun – a total of 126 runners took part.

Pendle parkrun – a total of 81 runners took part.

Fell Foot parkrun, Newby Bridge – a total of 241 runners took part.

Witton parkrun – a total of 62 runners took part.

Lytham Hall parkrun – a total of 150 runners took part.

Lancaster parkrun – a total of 218 runners took part.

Blackpool parkrun – a total of 173 runners took part.