Personal bests galore for Harriers youngsters in Blackpool
The five-mile out-and-back route was a fast and furious affair, with a paltry (by fell racing standards) 820 feet of elevation and the usually boggy moorland dry and bouncy after a record-breaking dry spring.
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The start line was a sea of red vests with 16 Horwich RMI Harriers amassed - and they delivered quality as well as quantity. Sam Fairhurst (second, 30mins 1sec), Nick Leigh (fourth overall and first MV45, 31:34) and Matt Fawthrop (fifth, 32:02) ensured a dominant men's team victory. Alistair Murray had a great run to finish 10th and first MV50, while he, Rob Seddon (33:47) and Nick Kelly (second MV55, 35:36) also took third place in the men's team prize.
Gary Chadderton was first MV60 (39:05) and Doug Fleming first V65 (39:54), while the women also posted some fantastic results and times. Charlotte Wilkinson was third Junior (37:42), Alison Mort was second FV45 (43:13) and Katherine Newall second FV50 (45:25). They combined to take third in the female team prize.
On the same night, it was the first of the Harrock Hill Race series where Adrian Bramham got his hands on a unique box of veg prize for a commanding victory in the MV60 category. His time of 39:11 on the tough 5.2-mile course was a minute faster than the next V60.
The latest Youth Development League Lower athletics meet was held on Sunday at Blackpool. There were many first places, with under-13 Theo Bolton winning the 75m in 10.8 (a personal best) and Jack Fletcher winning the 80m Hurdles in 13.2. The girls performed well with debutant Isla Smith (75m, 10.9 and 150m, 22.5), Florence Simm (75m, 11.8 and long jump, 3.29m) and Lily Mort (100m, 13.8 and 200m, 28.4) each achieving a brace of PBs. Grace Freary ran a superb 5:25.8, demolishing the field in her 1500m before going on to help the 4x300m girls win the relay.
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Erinn Walker recorded a huge PB in the high jump, upping her highest jump from 1.05m to 1.25m, only narrowly missing a clearance at 1.30m. Walker recorded another PB in her 150m race (24.2) and won her 70m hurdles race in 14.5.
Collectively, the RMI amassed a spectacular 28 PBs. Among those not already mentioned were Toby MacDonald (75m, 12.6 and 800m, 3:11.7), Ben Essex-Crosby (75m, 12.1, 800m, 3:11.7 and long jump 3.53m), Alfie Fletcher (75m, 13.0 and 800m, 3:19.1), Bobby Charnock (javelin 12.13m), Toby MacDonald (javelin, 8.15m), Emily Hellewell (100m, 14.8), Grace Hoyte (100m, 14.7), Kitty Crossland (800m, 2:29.9 and shot, 4.35), Emily Hellewell (800m, 2:46.9), Abi Ajet (shot, 7.97), Flynn Harris (shot, 6.80), Ben Higgins (1500m, 5:20.5), Matthew MacDonald (100m, 14.5 and 1500m, 5:49.4).
This ensured Horwich finished the day as second-place squad, just 21 points behind the winners after a superb team effort.
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