Thunderbolts and Lightning

…very, very frightening race! Well it was on Wednesday evening for some of our hardy fellrunners. Other than a bit of thunderbolt dodging, you have been uphill and downhill, out in force at the Towneley 10K and junior races as well as the Todmorden Park 5K and the Widdop Races.

TUESDAY 18 JULY

WORSTON UPHILL & DOWNHILL RACES

Two races on one evening for club members with the first being the uphill race from Worston village to Pendle Summit and the second the downhill race from the summit back down the village. Like all the summer series races, runners must estimate their time.

Carl Helliwell was the first to reach the finish in the uphill and Mark Nutter was the best estimate being only 8 seconds out on his guess

Uphill Results

Andy Armstrong was the fastest descender in the downhill race and Sean Clare was the best estimate being a mere 7 seconds out on his guess.

Downhill Results

WEDNESDAY 19 JULY

BLISCO DASH

Three hardy fell runners headed to the Lake District for the Blisco Dash which is a low key, rough and tough short race with a bit of everything. It’s a 5 mile course with 2133ft of ascent.  A troubling weather forecast was issued and here’s what the race organisers had to say;

This was a race organiser’s worst nightmare! After three days of blazing sun, a forecast showing isolated thundery showers. The electric storm begins an hour and a half before the race, and is both heavy and very local. We wait and I take no money until we see how it pans out. The summit marshals are prepared to set off and our Plan B is for them to turn the runners before the summit. We are on the start line when the lightning comes again and two runners drop out when I spell out the danger. Both of my children are running. The race sets off and it stops raining in time for Phil and John to take the results. As Phil Davies says afterwards,”this is how fell running ought to be – on the edge”

Exciting stuff.

Full Results

WIDDOP

Report from Peter Coates

There were some few Clayton Harriers at Wednesday evening’s fell race at Widdop. This was my first time doing this fantastic mid-week race organised by Calder Valley Fell Runners. This is a 7-mile race taking in the moorland around Widdop. No really big climbs but a great route on twisty paths and plenty of tussocks and bracken.  I took a tumble on some wet rocks half way round but managed to get round and finished a respectable 8th place out of 144 finishers. Clayton were third men’s team overall.  This is a great race, and certainly one of my favourite local mid-week fell races and will definitely do again next year all being well.

Full Results

WIDDOP JUNIOR RACES

Eleven juniors headed just over the border to take part in the Widdop fell races.

Imogen Ferguson emerging from the bracken at the Widdop fell race. Photo by Alan Dorrington

Report from Ella Dorrington

On Wednesday I ran the Widdop Junior fell race. It was a really good course, one which suited me quite well. There wasn’t too much steep climbing, most of the climbs being long and draggy. Luckily, there were only three girls in my age group so I was guaranteed to be in the top three!

I had a good start and ran all the climbs but on the way down, I got quite annoyed because I kept on tripping and falling over loads. One was a spectacular fall, I face planted and have a few battle scars – some cuts on my face, legs and a swollen knee! The weather was all right, a perfect temperature and a little bit rainy. The atmosphere was really good and it was great to see all the Clayton Juniors that ran.

U9 RACE

U11 RACE

U13 RACE

U15 RACE

Full Results

THURSDAY 20 JULY

TODMORDEN PARK 5K SERIES  – RACE 3

Eight club members took part in the third race of the Todmorden Park 5K series organised by Cannonball Events. Jacob Watson was our first finisher in 2^nd place with a time of 17:14. Michell Abbot was our first lady finisher in 24^th place overall and 1^st F35. Richard Lawson was 1^st M75. Matthew Jackson was 1^st junior in the race. Jacob Watson, Matthew Jackson and Lennon Jackson took 1^st men’s team place.

Full Results

SUNDAY 23 JULY

CRAY  – awaiting results

TOWNELEY PARK 10K

55 Clayton Harriers ran in the Towneley Park 10K the 11^th race of the popular Pendle and Burnley Grand Prix race series. Danny Collinge took the win with Barlick’s Julian Hood snapping at his heels.

Danny Collinge racing hard for the win. Photo by David Belshaw

Jon Cleaver and Luke Turner continue their great form to finish in the top ten. Curtis Holt was 1stMj in 40^th place overall. Kevin Davis was our first vet male finisher in 22^nd place and was 1^st V55. Cassandra Smedley was our first lady finisher in 72^nd overall. Irene Roche was 1^st F55.

Report from Cassandra Smedley

I nearly missed the start of this race as I was too busy watching the juniors and chilling. Standing on the start line I was feeling rather relaxed. As we set off round Towneley I got into my stride and felt good.

Cassie Smedley at the Towneley 10K. Photo by David Belshaw

As I got to Mount Lane, I was feeling strong but I was very pleased to see the top. A few friendly faces definitely helped! As I started down the hill into Towneley I was still feeling strong, so pushed on past a few more runners. The support all way round was brilliant. Great PB 10k for me, as well as taking 6 mins off last year’s time.

TOWNELEY PARK JUNIOR RACES

Over 30 junior members took part in the Towneley Park Junior races with some fantastic performances in all age categories.

Clayton juniors out in force at Towneley. Photo by David Belshaw

U7 RACE

U9 RACE

U11 RACE

U13 RACE

U15 RACE

U17 RACE

PARKRUN ROUNDUP

Burnley parkrun – A total of 374 runners took part.

Dewsbury parkrun – A total of 92 runners took part.

Dunfermline parkrun – A total of 135 runners took part.

Heaton parkrun – A total of 626 runners took part.

Pendle parkrun – A total of 81 runners took part.