The times they are a changin’

There’s a change in the air and the leaves are beginning to fall. Summer is over and Autumn is moving in. The summer races are fast fading but there’s still plenty going on for Clayton Harriers. It’s been a great week for our senior and vet runners with some category wins at several fell races and a fantastic time and race win for Laura Hesketh. Our junior runners have also had a great week with a great performance at the junior mountain running trials for Briony Holt and some great times from the Jackson brothers.

TUESDAY 22 AUGUST

SHIPMAN KNOTTS FELL RACE

Report from Mark Nutter

The Clayton car containing Pete Dugdale, Andy Firth, Ivan Whigham and me (Mark Nutter) set off from the “Triangle” for this superfast midweek race up Shipman Knotts in the Lake District. It’s organised by Helm Hill and starting at the Green Quarter in Kentmere it’sjust short of 4 miles with 1300ft of climbing, making it an ‘AS’.

At a humid 7pm just short of 50 runners set off up the steep climb at the start, which soon turns into a cattle / land rover track, gradually climbing and undulating for about a mile. A few lonesome cattle had made a mess on the track so it’s best to keep your mouth shut whilst trying to breathe ~ not easy when you’re already in oxygen debt! Once though the gate in the wall you turn on to the fell proper and here is where the fun begins. It’s a short run / scramble up a rocky outcrop which then turns to more undulating ground to the trig point of Shipman Knotts at 587m. At the turn it’s the same way back, but there are a few “best options” known to the locals. With that in mind I decided to follow a Helm Hill runner, but soon got cragbound as we took a bad route off the top. Helm Hill runner shouts “I’ve only been with the club for 3 weeks!” ~ just my luck! We soon got back on track but had lost about 4 places so the pressure was on to catch up. We were soon back on the land rover track with even more mess from the cattle, but I managed to regain my 4 places in a scrabble to the finish.  Following a quick wash down using the farm “tap” it was off to the Eagle & Child for a well-earned pint.

We should have gone to presentation as I managed 1st V50 and Pete won 1st V60. We only found out when another runner picked up our prizes and delivered them to us in the pub ~ he knew where we’d be!

Results:

18^th Mark Nutter      1st V50     46.46

29^th Ivan Whigham        V50     49.30

40^th Andy Firth                V50     56.41

42^nd Pete Dugdale   1st V60     59.24

THURSDAY 24 AUGUST

STAN CURRAN 70^th BIRTHDAY RESERVOIR RACE

Eight Clayton Harriers took part in the Stan Curran 70^th Birthday reservoir race.  Lennon Jackson was our first finisher in 21^st place and with a new PB time of 19:24. Michelle Abbot was our first lady finisher in 58^th place overall also with a new PB time of 21:56.  Richard Lawson was 1^st M75.

Full Results

SATURDAY 26 AUGUST

BLACKPOOL ILLUMINATIONS 5K/10K 

Clayton Runners at the Blackpool Illuminations 5K and 10K races.

5K Report from Michelle Abbot

Michelle Abbot and her sons Lennon and Matthew Jackson ran in the Blackpool Illuminations. Lennon had a steady run after injuring himself earlier in the week, and Matthew had a great run finishing in 12^th place overall. Michelle was 24^th overall and 1^st LV35.

10K Report from Mick Hughes

I ran pacing my Mrs to a PB at Blackpool on the (10k) so not at my usual race pace. We came in at 55mins…The weather was ideal, bright and a cool breeze. There was a mix up with times as some people decided to unofficially take the 5K turn instead of completing the 1K! Despite that, the atmosphere was good. Only myself and Michelle and Lennon and Math from Clayton. All in all a good flat-ish fast course and a good night and party atmosphere

PENDLETON FELL RACE  

As expected, plenty of Clayton vests on show in this club organised race. Peter Coates was our first finisher in 5^th place overall.

Clayton men at the Pendleton Fell Race. Photo by David Belshaw

Tim Edward was 1^st V50 and Mike Wallis was 1^st V60 and both of them were in the top 15. Claire Vincent was our first lady runner.

Full Results

PILLING 10K SERIES – RACE 4

Another great result for Laura Hesketh who was first lady and second overall in this 10 race with a fantastic time of 35:04

Full Results

SUNDAY 27 AUGUST

ENGLAND MOUNTAIN RUNNING JUNIOR HOME INTERNATIONAL TRIAL – SEDBURGH

This race was specifically designed as a trial race to help select the team to represent England at the Junior Home Country International Race in Peebles, Scotland on 16th September 2017.  The trials took place on the Southern Howgill Fells above Sedbergh, with the starts on the south flank of Winder, approximately 1km from registration. Briony Holt had an excellent run finishing 3^rd and awaiting a decision from the selection team soon.

Report From Andrew Holt

We travelled with Briony to Sedbergh on Sunday for Brionys’ much anticipated England junior fell running trial. (Briony has been unable to attempt this race up until now despite being both capable and easily quick enough due to her being two months too young to run, and has resisted the urge to ask for special treatment allowing her to run.)

Having raced around Sedbergh several times now, and following a recce last week we knew the course was a runnable 2k up and 1.5 k down. The incline was approx 10% which is medium for fell running and the grassy paths are both grippy and cushioned making for a fast course.

Only a handful of runners (8) attended this age group, with the fastest U17 not running as she has already been selected for the team due to her amazing form and results through the season. The girls were informed on the start line and told that a further 7 places were up for grabs.

The start was very very fast, and quickly forced a lead group of two, with Briony and last years English schools fell champion 10seconds behind in 3rd and 4th. 5th and 6th were probably 10seconds behind again.

Both sets of girls battled hard up the hill changing places many times.

The lead swapped at the top of the hill with one of the leaders (a powerful cyclist) falling back into 5th place, and the now leader putting daylight between herself and the girls in 2nd and 3rd.

Briony Holt running strongly in the mountain running trials.

As usual Briony was strong descending but left herself too much of a gap to reel the girls in front of her in. There are no results up yet but we estimate only 20 or so seconds between the first three places.

A highly competitive race, (in Briony’s words “so so hard”) which demonstrates the quality in Briony’s age group this year and 3rd place is just reward for Briony’s hard work ,patience and commitment to hopefully achieving her goal of  obtaining an England vest.

Briony will be informed by the selectors this week whether she has made the team so a long week no doubt expecting this phone call, but as we emphasised at the start of the race to her the result today wasn’t important as she has already won in our eyes in the way she has trained and generally conducted herself this last couple of years.

She is a credit to herself, the coaching staff at Clayton, the junior team members and both Briony, Tina and myself are very thankful for the support she has always received.

Full Results

TOUR OF NORLAND MOOR RACE

Two Clayton Harriers ran in this 7.4 mile race with around 800ft of climbing organised by Halifax Harriers. Richard Stevenson was first to finish in 16th place overall and Martin Brad was 75th.

Full Results

PARKRUN ROUNDUP

Burnley parkrun – A total of 379 runners took part.

Burnley junior parkrun – A total of 63 runners took part.

Cuerden Valley parkrun – A total of 143 runners took part.

Fell Foot parkrun, Newby Bridge – A total of 333 runners took part.

Lytham Hall parkrun – A total of 185 runners took part.

Pendle parkrun – A total of 72 runners took part.

Skipton parkrun – A total of 180 runners took part.

Witton parkrun – A total of 171 runners took part.