Harriers Battle Through the Heat

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The English Fell Championship series was hotting up as the fourth round was held at Tebay Fell Race on Saturday, July 12th. Temperatures nudged 30c when the senior Women set off at 13:30 and the men shortly after at 14:15. What is already a punishing course (9 miles with 3,000ft of ascent) was made all the more challenging by the scorching midday sun as competitors made use of the mercifully cool flowing becks which criss-crossed the route to refill bottles and dunk caps. The Horwich numbers were made up mostly of MV50s. James Titmuss (1:43:51), Dan Gilbert (1:47:24), David Milliken (1:47:54) and Marcus Taylor (2:03:58) combined to finish 5th team in their category. Meanwhile, it was Adam MacDonald’s first English Championship race and it was certainly a baptism of fire. Nevertheless, he acquitted himself admirably, ducking under two hours to stop the clock at 1:58:34. Alison Mort was the sole female Harrier in attendance, completing the course in a great time of 2:30:09.

Earlier in the day, in only slightly less scorching conditions, Louis Yates finished 18th in the U13s race on a time of 12:27. Meanwhile, Mark Titmuss (16th) and Harry Yates (17th) finished in tandem with the same time of 31:31 in the U17 race.

Richard O’Reilly surprised himself with 1st MV55 and 7th overall at the Blackpool 5k music run in a time of 19:25. Not realising his stellar result, O’Reilly left after the race and missed the prize giving.

Honorary Yorkshireman and multi-discipline phenom James Scott-Farrington donned his Horwich vest for the Ilkley Half Marathon. His sprightly time of 01:10:37 netted him 2nd place overall.

There was proof that it doesn’t always rain in East Lancashire as it was cracking the flags at the Towneley Park 10k in Burnley on Sunday, July 13th. V60 Adrian Bramham was fastest in his age category with a sprightly 38:59. Chris Charnley was pleased to be back on the start line after a bad back sidelined him for a few weeks. He clocked 49:04 as he builds towards another Great North Run in Autumn.

Chris Charnley and Adrian Bramham soaking up the rays in the famously sunny Burnley after Towneley Park 10k. Photo courtesy of Claire Rostron.

Rob Seddon was first finisher at Bolton parkrun. His time of 19:10 was his fastest at the venue for a couple of years and three minutes quicker than his previous attendance in March. His father Mark ran 25:23 in his 49th parkrun as he closes in on the big 5-0. Rob Jackson returned to Peel parkrun for the first time in 6 weeks. With temperatures pushing 25c at 9am, he was satisfied with his time of 18:43, 1st in age category and overall age grading, before dashing off to Wimbledon for an afternoon at the tennis. His uncle Steve Jackson suffered in the heat, as many did, coming home in 36:14. Richard Pollitt was 8th finisher at Worsley Woods, stopping the clock at 19:19, whilst Tony Hesketh and Gordon Stone did battle at Worden Park, finishing in 30:32 and 31:02 respectively.