Harriers at Heaton Park – SELCC, 21st January 2023

21st January 2023

Susie, Zara, Danny and Juliet in the ladies; race

We are now well into January following the Christmas holiday, though it doesn’t mean that The Harriers were having a rest. It’s a time of planning for the New Year races that Harriers organise every year, plus the various championships they take part in. Notably the Fell Race Grand Prix and the Road Race Championships, involving 8 local clubs (see Rochdale Harriers website for details, https://rochdaleharriers.org.uk). Last week’s Observer also reported on the Couch to 5K initiative, which required planning over the Christmas period.

January also marks the return of the Cross Country season and last Saturday it was the South East Lancs Cross Country League Fixture at Heaton Park. 18 Harriers turned out in freezing conditions, to take part in a fixture which had been postponed from last year, due to the frozen ground. Lily Hirst ran exceptionally well in the Under 11’s Girls category, finishing 8^th from 38 girls, in a time of 8m 44secs (distance 2Km). Isabelle Bostock finished in a time of 10m 47 secs. In the Under 13’s Boys, Joseph Campbell came 19^th in 19m 35 secs (distance 3Km). Thomas Bostock in the Under 15’s Boys, finished 13^th in a time of 21m 47 secs (distance 4.5Km).

Four Harriers Ladies ran in the Senior Ladies category, with Juliet Smith leading the way, finishing in 8^th place, in a time of 34m 28 secs (distance 8Km), also winning the Ladies 45 category. Danielle Dignan was 18^th , 36m 43 secs and Susie Hirst 27^th, 39m 56 secs, a performance which secured a 4^th position overall for the Ladies Team, (3 runners to count). Zara Hirst was the fourth Harriers Senior Lady, finishing in 40^th position in a time of 43m 28secs.

Finally it was the turn of the Harriers Senior Men to run, their 10Km course took them over 600ft of climb, (leg draining according to one of the senior men, obviously not a fell runner, as that is warm up height !). First across the line for the Harriers was Danny Bennett in 13^th position, with a time of 36m 58 secs, achieving 1^st Male in the M50 category. Followed closely by Richard Stirzaker, 24^th in 39m 7 secs, Andrew Martin 67^th, 44m 46 secs, Ian Aitchison 80^th, 47m 32 secs, also 2^nd Vet65. Overall the Men’s Team finished 8^th (4 runners to count). Neil Hirst was 86^th, 48m 57 secs, John Mayall 87^th, 48m 58 secs, Ian Stainthorpe, 49m 27 secs, Chris Gee 94^th, 50m 03 secs, Matthew Cox, 55m 26 secs and Ian Holloway, 107^th, 56m 32 secs also 2^nd V70.

Next up, is the first of the “Big Ones”, The Northern Cross Country Championships at Witton Park, Blackburn, this Saturday (28^th Jan). The is considered the warm up for “The Big One” the National Cross Country Championships being held on the 25^th Feb at Bolesworth Castle, Chester.

Race report thanks to Eric Taylor, RHAC.