Well the weather was wet and wild yet again but no problem for our hardy members. You have been out competing in the muddy parks, boggy moors, and up the killer climbs of the Hot Toddy and Winter Warmer. Some great results from juniors to vets.
Saturday 6 February
Lancashire Schools Cross Country & BUCS Cross Country Championships
A huge well done to our junior runners who took part in the Lancashire Schools Cross Country Championships representing schools in the Blackburn, Pendle and Burnley areas.
They all put in great performances on a rather grim and miserable day at Witton Park in Blackburn with county vests going to Briony Holt.
Well done also to Jacob Boyle who competed for his university in the British Universities and Colleges Sports Cross Country Championships. He had a great time and was pleased with his result.
PFO Marsden Park
A small group of our club members took part in this orienteering event organised by Pendle Forest Orienteers in pretty dismal weather conditions.
Junior member Christopher Brown took part in the 1.2km Orange course finishing in second place with a time of 28:19
Senior members Mark Nutter, Jean Brown and Colin Woolford took part in the OLGGr course over 4.2km.
Wadsworth Trog
Report from Alan Dorrington
The Calder Valley Fell Runners website describes the Trog as a ‘local classic’, enough of an indication that there is probably something fairly memorable about this race without someone helpfully telling me on race morning that it’s nickname is ‘The Beast’. As a first timer, not only to the race but to any fell race over about 10 miles, this did little to add to my mounting sense of trepidation. A forecast in mid to low single figure temps and heavy rain built on that further. A recce of the back section of the route the weekend before, with Andy Armstrong and Nick Olszewski kindly dispensing wisdom and tips, had confirmed that there were a few bogs and some very smelly mud to be enjoyed along the way.
Around 10 CLEM runners joined the waterproof clad field for the start at the Cricket Club, most avoiding going outside till the last minute as there would be plenty of time later to get soaked en-route. Climbing up onto the moor at the start, visibility was better than expected but was set to worsen on the northerly route over to Cock Hill, as were the bogs which increased in depth and intensity as we went on. I realised my long legs were an advantage here as I jumped a particularly deep trench, only to hear the much smaller runner behind go in, submerging to what looked like his waist. Help was on hand to pull him out from others behind him and we sploshed on toward Stairs Hill and Haworth Moor before the slabbed climb and descent up and past Withins Ruins.
Andy and Nick O had advised a steady start and I started to pull away from those around me on the climbs, picking up other runners who had started a little quicker. By the penultimate climb of High Brown Knoll I had caught more and more and was feeling surprisingly good but with the worst of the bogs and muddy trods to come before THAT climb to the finish. I caught Nick O coming off High Brown Knoll, a welcome boost of a friendly face in the worsening conditions and we plodded along in a small group through the wettest terrain I’ve ever run on. Nick found the pool, disguised as vegetation, that I had almost gone in the previous week and repeated the near-ducking I had escaped then. Dropping off the moors for the finish run-in, the Slurry Field of Doom ™ had been removed from the route at the last minute but there was still plenty of ‘questionable’ mud to run through as we headed for that infamous last climb back to the Cricket Club. It was predictably hard and introduced cramp into both upper legs and one calf but eventually after the longest lap of any cricket pitch, the finish was finally there. I had completed my first Long fell race, and I was happy that it had passed without a physical meltdown, and can definitely recommend it as one to do if you like that ‘local classic’ feel to your races…”
Pos | Name | Cat | Time |
15 | Andrew Orr | V40 | 3:15:14 |
24 | Paul Hesketh | V50 | 3:18:56 |
35 | Martin Terry | V50 | 3:26:24 |
41 | Andrew Armstrong | V40 | 3:31:33 |
51 | Alan Dorrington | V40 | 3:37:47 |
53 | Nicholas Olszewska | V50 | 3:38:15 |
62 | Sean Clare | V50 | 3:50:53 |
74 | Ivan Wigham | V50 | 3:57:15 |
104 | Nigel Hodson | V40 | 4:17:36 |
122 | Andrew Foster | V40 | 4:38:17 |
Sunday 7 February
Blackburn Winter Warmer 10K
17 Clayton runners took part in this popular local 10K race. The race starts and finishes in Witton Park in Blackburn via a steep climb up Buncer Lane and then over the tops to Pleasington before heading back from the Cememtery side.
Danny Collinge was our first finisher and was third overall in the race. Another good result for Danny. Ryan Clarke was next in and was also 2nd Junior Male runner in the race. Our third finisher was Stephen Ainsworth who was also 1st M55.
Our first lady was Elizabeth Mullen. Amanda Duffy and Donna Airey were 1st and 2nd F35. Beth Quinn was 3rd Junior female.
Pos | Name | Cat | Time |
3 | Danny Collinge | M S | 00:34:41 |
39 | Ryan Clarke | M J | 00:42:08 |
60 | Stephen Ainsworth | M55 | 00:44:21 |
88 | Andy Quinn | M40 | 00:46:04 |
95 | Elizabeth Mullan | F S | 00:46:32 |
113 | Robert Morrison | M40 | 00:47:32 |
118 | Amanda Duffy | F35 | 00:47:46 |
158 | Julie Dawes | F45 | 00:50:02 |
159 | Nerina Gill | F45 | 00:50:06 |
164 | Donna Airey | F35 | 00:50:33 |
191 | Julia Rushton | F50 | 00:52:09 |
192 | Ian Hargreaves | M50 | 00:52:05 |
194 | Helen Burnett | F40 | 00:52:18 |
213 | Beth Quinn | F J | 00:53:41 |
230 | Leanne Cottam | F35 | 00:54:43 |
280 | Stuart Barker | M45 | 00:57:41 |
281 | Michelle Butschok | F40 | 00:57:52 |
Blackburn Winter Warmer 2K
There was a good turnout of juniors at the Winter Warmer as it is the first of this year’s junior race series. Some great performances were to be seen with 4 of our juniors finishing in the top 10.
Lennon Jackson finished in 3rd place overall and 1st in his age group. Ella Dorrington was our first girl finisher, first girl in her age group and second girl overall in the race. Liberty Thompson was first in her age category ( F13).
Pos | Name | Cat | CatPos | Time |
3 | Lennon Jackson | M12 | (001/006) | 00:08:19 |
5 | Robbie Smedley | M10 | (002/014) | 00:08:25 |
7 | Ella Dorrington | F11 | (001/016) | 00:08:28 |
8 | Finlay Testa | M11 | (002/015) | 00:08:29 |
13 | Matthew Jackson | M12 | (003/006) | 00:08:47 |
14 | Liberty Thompson | F13 | (001/002) | 00:08:48 |
17 | Jenson Bentham | M9 | (002/024) | 00:08:54 |
19 | Summer Hargreaves | F16 | (001/001) | 00:09:06 |
29 | Etienne Ward | M10 | (004/014) | 00:09:35 |
34 | Jake Anforth | M9 | (005/024) | 00:09:51 |
37 | Kady Thompson | F9 | (003/031) | 00:10:00 |
42 | Brayden Clarkson | M7 | (003/013) | 00:10:16 |
43 | Felix Thompson | M6 | (002/012) | 00:10:16 |
52 | Nicholas Ward | M8 | (003/018) | 00:10:33 |
112 | Tillie Ferguson | F8 | (004/014) | 00:11:57 |
Dewsbury 10K
Well done John Hartley who was our sole representative at the Dewsbury 10K. He finished in 158th place with a time of 39:32 in a field of 1081 runners. He was the 4th Vet55.
Red Hot Toddy
This year’s Red Hot Toddy 10k was run with all profit going to the Community Foundation Flood Appeal to help local homes and businesses. Todmorden has been badly affected by the recent flooding.
The 10km course consists of two laps of tarmac park road on Centre Vale Park, followed by a single hilly lap of rural and town centre roads finishing back on the park road. The high point of the course is just before half way on Todmorden Edge, before the long descent down to Bacup Road and back into town along Rochdale Road. Total climbing is 219m.
194 runners took part in this charity event with Tom Cornthwaite taking the win. Breton Holdsworth was the first Clayton finisher in 6th place overall and 1st Male 40. Matthew Duckworth and Kevin Davies earned themselves top twenty finishes. Tracy Mitchell was our first lady finisher and was also 1st W40.
Pos | Name | Cat | Time |
6 | Breton Holdsworth | M40 | 38:11 |
16 | Matthew Duckworth | M | 41:55 |
17 | Kevin Davies | M50 | 42:09 |
29 | Kieron Mitchell | M40 | 44:19 |
40 | Tracy Mitchell | W40 | 46:09 |
90 | Bianca Bennet | W | 52:14 |
113 | Rachel Todd | W40 | 54:38 |
146 | Julie Toman | W45 | 61:24 |
161 | Robert Hirst | M65 | 63:30 |
162 | Phil Naylor | M | 63:48 |
Parkrun roundup
Some PBs, some volunteering and some antipodean parkruns this weekend.
Bolton parkrun – A total of 314 runners took part.
Pos | parkrunner | Time | Age Cat | Note |
314 | Julia RUSHTON | 48:17 | VW50-54 |
Burnley parkrun – A total of 267 runners took part.
Pos | parkrunner | Time | Age Cat | Note |
4 | Jonathan PYE | 18:30 | SM25-29 | |
5 | Richard STEVENSON | 18:45 | VM40-44 | |
8 | Gareth BERRY | 20:04 | VM35-39 | |
12 | Simon WILSHAW | 20:59 | JM15-17 | |
18 | Susan BURNS | 21:23 | VW55-59 | |
19 | Matthew DUCKWORTH | 21:41 | SM25-29 | |
22 | Robbie SMEDLEY | 22:09 | JM10 | |
26 | Michael CLARKE | 22:22 | VM40-44 | |
27 | Reece Adam LAWRENCE | 22:50 | JM15-17 | |
31 | Donna RILEY | 23:06 | VW50-54 | |
32 | James BOULT | 23:14 | SM20-24 | |
37 | Matthew JACKSON | 23:44 | JM10 | |
38 | Charlie BIRTWISTLE | 23:45 | JM10 | New PB! |
41 | Julie DAWES | 24:00 | VW45-49 | |
46 | Ian HARGREAVES | 24:12 | VM50-54 | |
64 | Andy QUINN | 25:10 | VM40-44 | |
73 | Andrew WEBSTER | 25:19 | VM45-49 | |
75 | Andrew TAYLOR | 25:29 | VM55-59 | |
89 | Aaron LUNDIE | 26:12 | JM11-14 | New PB! |
90 | Toby BIRTWISTLE | 26:17 | JM10 | New PB! |
91 | Justin BIRTWISTLE | 26:17 | VM40-44 | New PB! |
104 | Stuart HARTLEY | 27:23 | VM55-59 | |
113 | Robert MORRISON | 28:08 | VM40-44 | |
114 | Heidi KEWIN | 28:10 | JW11-14 | |
119 | Yvonne WICKHAM | 28:22 | VW50-54 | |
120 | Ron CHAPPELL | 28:22 | VM65-69 | |
159 | Carl CAREY | 29:51 | VM45-49 | |
163 | Robert HIRST | 30:01 | VM65-69 | |
205 | Diane ORRELL | 32:22 | SW30-34 |
Dewsbury parkrun – A total of 86 runners took part.
Pos | parkrunner | Time | Age Cat | Note |
83 | Robin PRICE | 38:36 | VM70-74 |
Fell Foot parkrun, Newby Bridge – A total of 89 runners took part.
Pos | parkrunner | Time | Age Cat | Note |
17 | Martin BRADY | 23:50 | VM50-54 |
Heaton parkrun – A total of 533 runners took part.
Pos | parkrunner | Time | Age Cat | Note |
275 | Julie TOMAN | 28:13 | VW45-49 | |
337 | Eileen JONES | 30:07 | VW60-64 |
Lloyd parkrun, Croydon – A total of 202 runners took part.
Pos | parkrunner | Time | Age Cat | Note |
79 | Katy THOMPSON | 27:26 | VW60-64 | First Timer! |
Pendle parkrun – A total of 70 runners took part
Pos | parkrunner | Time | Age Cat | Note |
4 | Paul BRANNON | 21:32 | VM55-59 | |
7 | John HARTLEY | 22:37 | VM55-59 | |
19 | Barry MITCHELL | 24:59 | VM70-74 |
Rockingham (Perth, Australia) parkrun – A total of 246 runners took part.
Pos | parkrunner | Time | Age Cat | Note |
30 | Kieran CARR | 22:38 | VM70-74 | First Timer! |