What a perfect day for a fell race. There was a shower of rain in the morning but by the start of the race, it was a bright cloudy day, with a slight breeze – ideal running conditions. The race starts with a long climb. Coming up the hill out of Worsthorne, there was nothing to chose between Jimmy Craig, Gary Shaw and Stephen Hall. After the first initial climb, there is a slight downhill section before anther climb to the race summit. As the runners disappeared from view, the race opened up and it rapidly became a two horse race between Jimmy Craig and Gary Shaw. The race has a sting in its tail in that after passing the second reservoir, there is another climb before the final descent back to Worsthorne. As the two leading runners approached this last ascent, Gary Shaw made a challenge on Jimmy. To those watching, it was fascinating. There was a vet runner was taking the lead from a “young Turk”. The fact that he was able to do so says a lot about the fitness of Gary Shaw. One assumes that at this point, he was trying to break Jimmy and build up an unassailable lead. But Jimmy did not allow this to happen and settled in behind him and kept up with him. As they approached the top of this climb Gary was leading, but Jimmy Craig was on his tail and it left everyone wondering who would come out tops on the run in. As it turned out, Jimmy just had the edge and he passed Gary on the downhill run and with a bit of a sprint at the finish, he made it home with an eleven second gap. However this was a race and a half and it says much that Gary could push Jimmy so close. This was racing at its best.
Further down the field, Barlick had two runners in the top ten, with Ian Beresford finishing 5th and Andy Berry finishing 9th. Afterwards Ian admitted that he owed his position very much to being pushed by Andy during race.
In the ladies’ race, Jackie Collins led the Barlickers home in 5th place with Molly Ralphson close on her tail. Laura Craig has an excellent run to finish 8th overall and third Barlick lady.
24 Hannah Newbold 25:15
12 Emma Pease 25:22
41 Helen Harrison 30:21
8 Lucas Payne 20:11
4 George Fitzpatrick 08:47
26 Summer Fitzpatrick 10:57
41 Lewis Milligan 13:13 New PB
2 Jimmy Craig 32:22
9 Ian Beresford 33:38 (1st M40)
19 Ben Whitehead 35:43
21 Barrie Charnley 36:03
29 David Pease 37:35
37 Lee Edwards 38:23
45 Andy Smith 39:20
47 Jacqueline Collins 39:50
49 Zac Kaye 40:06
53 Molly Ralphson 40:29 (1st F45)
87 Hayley Whitehead 44:19
99 Emma Pease 45:36
119 Hannah Newbold 47:23
138 Gemma Carson 49:31
140 Katie Towers 49:52
142 Nicola Muller 50:08
6 Barlickers hit the lakes on Saturday to take on Buttermere Horseshoe with a choice of 2 races. The first is the short course, although to many, this would be a challenge in itself at 13 miles and 4980ft of climb. Good performances all round saw the lads take the team prize on what turned out to be a very warm day. The longer course which also set off at the same time covered 22 miles and 8250ft.
Short Course
9 Ben Whitehead 02:54:43
10 Ian Cocks 02:55:43
21 Andrew Smith 03:24:50
44 Anthony Brown 04:10:08
Full Course
29 John Boothman 06:30:56
31 Gary Bradley 06:32:57
After such a long break, it is good to see Park Runs starting again in this Country. Just one Barlicker out this weekend in the Skipton.
11 Lucas Payne 20:31
It was a very warm week and it looked like it could be a hard slog on the none stop ascent from Earby to the summit of Pin Haw. As things turned out, the hot spell started to change and on the night, there was a very welcoming cool breeze on the summit to greet the runners. As they came into view in the new plantation the top ten was made of names you would expect to be there. But the question on everyone's lips was, "Who is that runner at the front"? Given the current form of Jimmy Craig, there was a great expectation that he would be leading out the pack. But it was not to be. Jimmy had been forced into second place by this unknown runner. It has been so long since there had last been some proper racing that the crowd were battling to recall the names of many of the runners. But is was nonetheless good to see those old familiar faces back out on the fells doing what they are so good at. In the top echelon were all the names names you would expect to see there, amongst which were Stephen Corbishley Jonathan Cleaver, Jack Vlliiers, Julian Hood and Christian Homes.
No sooner had the top ten gone past then the first lady came into view. Looking very fit and as always running with such effortless elegance was Helen Smith, still probably known to everyone as Helen Glover. Not too far behind her was Hannah Jarvis of Accrington Road Runners. The field had become very strung out, but as the tail end came up the hill, into view came those faces which seem to have graced the fell running scene forever. Karin Goss and Christine Leathley, both of Clayton. Bringing up the rear was one of the nicest men around in the running scene - Jack McGuire of Clayton. He was battling with the ascent but he was tackling it with his usual grit and determination. No matter how long it took, he was not going to be beaten by the course and so it proved, he ended up as a finisher and not as a DNF.
When the runners had reached the summit and were returning, it was still nip and tuck with Jimmy Craig and the talented unknown runner. He turned out to be Thomas Hodgson, formerly a member of Esk Valley, but now running unattached. Jimmy Craig is very much on form at the moment, so Thomas was certainly a worthy winner.
It was a good atmosphere out on the course, possibly because everyone, both runners and spectators were relieved to back out on the fells enjoying this quite remarkable sport.
Under 7 / Under 9
4 Savanna Beresford 03:02 (2nd girl)
Under 11 / Under 13
3 Harry Roberts 11:07
6 Bella McCredie 11:40 (2nd girl)
7 Toby Nixon 11:46
13 Ella Beresford 12:36
23 Zac Beresford 14:14
24 Summer Fitzpatrick 14:15
26 Elliot Shackleton 14:44
Under 15 / Under 17
7 Logan McCredie 14:49
12 George Fitzpatrick 17:00
19 Garth Duffy 19:21
1 Jimmy Craig 40:43
5 Ian Beresford 42:00
13 Barrie Charnley 45:37 (1st M45)
26 Andy Smith 49:30
29 Molly Ralphson 50:03 (1st F45)
35 John Mason 51:35
47 Zac Kaye 55:48
49 Laura Craig 55:51
64 Lucy Brown 58:59
73 Hannah Newbold 01:01:26
Under 12
36 Alfie Muller 10:57
Under 9
10 Henry Pickles
12 Ben Whitehead 25:02
18 Stuart Heaviside 26:14
19 David Pease 26:18
41 Shane Muller 30:35
71 Nicola Muller 38:41
15 Ben Whitehead 59:08
17 Andy Berry 59:33
35 John Boothman 01:06:26
The main aims of the club are to increase the participation of running in Barnoldswick and to keep organised running as accessible as possible.