Barlick Fell Runners hosted their first ever Owl event. This is not a race as it is run off road in the dark, but is effectively a timed training event. For a bit of fun, participants can guess their time for a bottle of wine.
Steve Chew was not going to run this event, but decided to enter on the nigh and finished a remarkable five and a half minutes in front of Steve Brock Craig who was second home.
Lloyd Davies might be a junior runner, but he is not frightened of mixing it with the seniors and he finished seventh overall.
First lady home was the FRA female V50 champion, Gill Myers.
Instead of the usual pub run, there will be instead an off road pre-Christmas social run from Higher Stone Gappe, the home of Graham & Pat Wadsworth. The run will be led out by Sam Wadsworth and afterwards, there will be meat & potato pie, chile, a few bowls of chips and draft ale courtesy of the Bridgehouse Brewery. To mitigate the cost, there will be a charge of £3 per head and £1 for juniors.
To get some idea of numbers, it would be helpful if you could email Graham Wadsworth (details on contacts page) or ring or text 07976 794749.
The start time for the run is 7:00 pm and will last about an hour.
Detailed directions are below.
There was a good turnout from the club for this challenging race. It was good to see Sarah Tipler sporting her new Barlick vest for the first time in a competitive race and to see that Andy Hirst, despite his advancing years and a restricted training regime, is still a force to be reckoned with. The times and places of the Barlickers were as follows:
57 Andy Berry 2:46:47
91 Rob Weir 2:52:25
148 Sarah Tipler 3:04:17
156 Andrew Hirst 3:06:46
161 Scott Baistow 3:07:52
185 John Boothman 3:11:48
209 Pete Jackson 3:16:57
216 Derek Walden 3:17:55
275 Tom Beebe 3:31:12
354 Dave Halliday 3:56:37
361 Rachel Lowther 3:56:37
406 Mark Browne 4:27:18
A report of the night be Stephen Chew
For the first annual Barlick fell runners presentation, the club decided to do a sit down meal at the Stone Trough in Kelbrook. 58 people came to the presentation and were treated to a meal and music by Tom Richardson.
The club has come a fair way since it started last December and now has 95 members. We, as a committee, never envisaged such a number after 12 months. The committee have worked very hard to get it all up and running. Training sessions, memberships, England athletics and of course the bread butter of racing. There has been a real improvement in people's times this year right across the board and that needs to complimented. Also when we have put races on everyone has contributed and really pulled together, especially at Buckden Pike, which was an English Championship race. There are obviously a lot of unsung heroes that contribute to the club and runners indirectly, for example the runner's partners, as ell as Graham and Pat Wadsworth. Graham does a fantastic job of putting the club out into the big wide world via the club website.
All the awards handed out on the night were as follows.
Young runner of the year- Lloyd Davies
Performance of the year- Steve Chew
Most improved male- Andy Berry
Most improved lady- Lucy Beresford
Clubman of the year- Steve Chew
1st Vet 40- Des Walkden
2nd vet 40- Dave Halliday
1st vet 50- Glenn Whittaker
2nd vet 50- Bob Jackson
Ladies club champ- Rachel Lowther
3rd male club champ- Sam Wadsworth
2nd male club champ- Andy Berry
Club champion- Shaun Chew
Harvey Grace was given honorary membership. Graham and Pat's contribution to the club was also rewarded on the night for their tireless effort organising races. A great night was had by all and we look forward to the next year with more expectation rather than hope.
62 Helen STEAD 30:56
4 John BOOTHMAN 22:08
28 Mark BROWNE 26:14
54 James STEAD 30:48 New PB
58 Helen STEAD 31:31
2155 Michael Alexander 45:59
9443 finishers.
The first of the winter night events was held at Lothersdale. For the uninitiated, these are not races, but are timed training events. Wharfedale's Jack Smith demonstrated that he is getting back to form by recording the fastest time of the night of 27:58 for the run up to Pin Haw and back.
The two Barlick contenders finished as follows:
10 Dave Halliday 32:54
15 Pete Jackson 33:16
Des Walkden completed this race which is a 6.5k trail run, an 18k mountain bike ride and 5.5k trail run.
31 Scott Baistow 1:31:47 (2nd U23)
10 John Boothman 22:55
42 Mark Browne 27:57
It was a wet night, but it still saw 28 individuals compete in teams or on their own in this popular event.
The first team back and overall winners were Shaun & Steve Chew and were just in front of the first individual back - John Raho.
Kirsty Hall was first solo lady.
In the absence of Mark Nutter, Ivan Whigam had a clear run to finish as the leading Clayton runner to take the Badger Trophy.
Shaun Chew ran the five miles of this night race of terrifying trails, hills of horror, menacing marshals and a final downhill sprint to the finish, to win this race in 37:14
141 Stuart Bryan 1:40:28
54 Michael ALEXANDER 22:02 New PB
281 Sara ALEXANDER 31:37
79 Michael Alexander 45:08
303 finishers.
108 Samantha DAY 31:16
118 Michelle HIRD 32:50 New PB
3 Lucas PAYNE 20:32
10 John BOOTHMAN 23:03
Only two Barlickers were at this race, which was easily won by the in form Tom Adams of Ilkley. Tom led the runners up the hill from the pub towards the top of the ridge and never looked like losing the lead. On the return, he cruised down the hill to take an easy victory, ahead of Chris Farrel of Horwich and Tim Ellis of Calder Valley.
Sam Wadsworth was 17th as they made their way up the hill and after the descent from the monument, he lost quite a few places as they climbed back up to the ridge again. However, once on the top and on the descent, he started pulling a few places back to finish 19th.
Rachel Lowther looked to be going well on the ascent, but looked to be exhausted as she made the last bit of descent towards the finish line. She was plagued in the race by her shoe laces coming undone, which in itself cost her a few places.
19 Sam Wadsworth 49:01
210 Rachel Lowther 71:24 (35th women out of 64 starters)
279 runners.
The race was very well organised by Todmorden Harriers who lived up to their reputation for getting the results out in double quick time.
93 Michael Alexander 46:38
234 finishers.
The main aims of the club are to increase the participation of running in Barnoldswick and to keep organised running as accessible as possible.