BLACKBURN Harriers enjoyed a day to remember at the Winter Warmer 10k at Witton Park taking a one-two in the main race as well as clinching victory in the ladies event.
The annual event, organised by Blackburn Road Runners, attracted nearly 400 runners in the main race and a record entry for the 2k fun run which preceded it.
The 392-strong field for the 10k braved testing weather conditions with Harriers ace Thomas Blaney leading the way in 35 minutes and 47 seconds.
Blaney’s clubmate Brian Fogerty was second in 36mins 8secs and he was followed in third by M40 winner Christopher Merchant, of Rochdale Harriers, in 36mins 46secs.
There were also top-10 finishes for Clayton-le-Moors Harriers duo Tom Brewster (fifth in 37mins 15secs) and Nick Gaskell (sixth in 37mins 28secs), Darwen Dashers’ Derek Reilly (eighth in 37mins 53secs) and Blackburn Harriers’ Christopher Davies (ninth in 38mins 12secs).
Blackburn Harriers starlet Elizabeth Greenwood was the fastest woman – both junior and senior – in 22nd overall in 39mins 54secs.
Greenwood’s clubmate Helen Leigh was the second fastest woman in 27th overall (40mins 20secs).
Blackburn Harriers won both the men’s and women’s team prizes.
Accrington Road runner Paul Gallagher claimed victory in the V50 category while Russ Corsini (Darwen Dashers) was the winner in the V55 section. Blackburn Harrier Evan Cook was the leading V60.
Harriers’ Jamie Teare (7mins 50secs) and Clayton-le-Moors Harriers’ Beth Quinn (8mins 25secs) were the first boy and girl respectively in the 2k fun run.
Hyndburn AC ace Saul Sharp was the 5-7 years winner while team-mate Scarlett Atkins claimed the girls category.
In the 8-10 years category Ella Dorrington (Clayton-le-Moors) took the honours while her club-mate Alice Pier won the 11-13 years age group.
The club had a double victory in the 14-17 age-group with George Senior and Beth Quinn claiming the honours.
A total of 107 children ran the 2k fun run and all received a medal. That number was up on the 70 who competed last year and was swelled by a large contingent from Cedars Primary School.
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