19-07-2025
Harriers battle the heat and other runners on busy weekend
Horwich Harriers braved the heat to take part in the fourth round of the English Fell Championship series at Tebay Fell Race last weekend.
Temperatures nudged 30 degrees celsius when the senior women set off at 1.30pm and the men shortly after at 2.15pm. What is already a punishing course - nine miles with 3,000 feet of ascent - was made all the more challenging by the scorching 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 (1hr 43mins 51secs), Dan Gilbert (1:47:24), David Milliken (1:47:54) and Marcus Taylor (2:03:58) combined to finish fifth 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, Louis Yates finished 18th in the Under-13s race in 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 first MV55 and seventh 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 prizegiving!
Honorary Yorkshireman and multi-discipline phenomenon, James Scott-Farrington, donned his Horwich vest for the Ilkley Half Marathon where his sprightly time of 1:10:37 netted him second place overall.
There was proof it does not always rain in East Lancashire as it was cracking the flags at the Towneley Park 10k in Burnley on Sunday.
V60 Adrian Bramham was fastest in his age category with a sprightly 38:59, while 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 the Autumn.
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 'five-0'.
Rob Jackosn returned to Peel Parkrun for the first time in six weeks. With temperatures pushing 25 degrees celsius at 9am, he was satisfied with his time of 18:43 - first 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 eighth finisher at Worsley Woods, stopping the clock at 19:19, while Tony Hesketh and Gordon Stone did battle at Worden Park, finishing in 30:32 and 31:02, respectively.
