SELXC Prize Giving and LABC 5K, 2025

The Cross Country season may have finished, but there is one very important event left – the presentation night. In this case, it was the South East Lancs Cross Country League presentation evening, held at the North Chadderton Bowling & Social Club.

The Harriers were well represented with several members picking up trophies. First we had Lily Hirst 6^th in the under 13’s girls category, then our up-and-coming star Ben Hadfield, 3^rd in the Under 15’s boys. Juliet Smith was 2^nd Vet 45, whilst Anna Blomfield was 3^rd female Vet 60, with Steve Leak achieving the same position in the male vet 60 category. Then a big congratulations to Ian Aitchison, taking 1^st Vet 65 and finally pride of place and a big round of applause, to the Harrier’s Men’s Vet 60 team, winning their category. The counters in the MV60 team were Ray Dalby, Ian Aitchison, Ian Dale, Neil Eaton, Steve Leak, John Mayall and Matt Cox. Let’s hope that next season we see more Harriers taking part in cross country, especially in the younger age categories.

Onto the racing front, it was a case of two counties, as various Harriers stayed in Lancashire and others went over to Yorkshire.

The most important race of the weekend was the Littleborough Amateur Boxing Club’s (“LABC”) 5K race, held on Sunday 16th March 2025 in Littleborough. This was the 2^nd fixture in the Rochdale Harriers Road Racing Championship for 2025 and attracted 26 runners from our Club. The superb turnout by Rochdale Harrier’s members shows how the club is going from strength to strength. It’s nice to see all the hard work by members in improving the club, paying off and being reflected in superb turnouts at races.

The LABC 5K starts and finishes in the centre of Littleborough, heads down Stubbylee Lane at the side of the river Roch, turns left, relentlessly climbs up Smithy Bridge Road to Hollingworth Lake. The runners then get their breath back going along the lake bank, before heading back down to the centre of Littleborough.

First Harrier back was Abdul Shahid (MSEN), finishing 7^th in 18m 53s. It was Abdul’s 1^st time running in a Rochdale vest, so very well done to him.

Second Harrier home was Andrew Whitehouse (MV40), 8^th, in 19m, 7s. Followed by Phil Lockett (MV40), 10^th, in 19m, 30s. This reversed their finishing positions at the Hale 10K, meaning the MV40 category in our Road Championships is going to be hotly contested.

Rochdale’s first lady runner was Isabel Brandon (FSEN), who was 2nd lady overall and was delighted to beat her 2024 time on this hilly course. She posted 20m, 09s. Chasing down Izzy was Jonathan Lupton (MV40), in 20m, 16s. Juliet Smith (FV50) was 3rd lady overall (and 1st FV50 plus our Club’s 2nd lady finisher) in 23^rd, in 20m, 58s. Rochdale Harriers’ 3^rd lady home was Louise Mayall (FSEN), 5^th lady overall, in 22m, 52s. Together Izzie, Juliet and Louise won the ladies team prize. In-form Corina Haynes was delighted to win the FV60 category in 24m, 55s, just pipping Anna Blomfield to the post by 3 seconds.

Abdul Wadud and Tahir Ali ventured over to Wigan, to run in the Wigan 5K road race. Honours go to Abdul, who had problems with his car and had to run to the race start. He finished in 104^th place in a time of 22m, 50s. Not only that, it was Ramadan, so Abdul was fasting, therefore without fuel. This wasn’t fast enough to catch his fellow Harrier, Tahir Ali (V45), who came 95^th, in 22m, 30s. So a big well done to both guys for running tough races whilst fasting.

On Sunday two Harriers decided to venture over to Thirsk in Yorkshire. Danny Bennett and Richard Stirzaker, running the Thirsk 10 mile race. With some 100 runners and wheelchair athletes taking part, in what is described as a flat and fast course. It’s a circular route starting and finishing at Thirsk race course. First Harrier home was Danny Bennett (M50), 46^th, in 59m, 24s, finishing 2^nd out of 149 in his age category. Richard Stirzaker (M35), 117^th, in 1hr, 4m, 10s.

Monday 24^th March, sees the Harriers Annual General Meeting being held at the Norden Bowling Club, commencing at 7.30pm. So to all members, come along, see how your club is doing and ask questions.