Super Ruby on the right track
IT was a busy few days for the Harriers starting with the Whittle Pike race on Thursday, the Burnley Lions 10K on Friday evening and the Weets Fell Race on Sunday, the penultimate race in the Burnley & Pendle Grand Prix which will end with the Kelbrook Fell race next Wednesday evening.
The Junior Grand Prix has finished, however, and Rossendale’s juniors were at the presentation to pick up their prizes.
Harry Walker won the U9 Boys category with Joey Holt in second place and Alice Carr took first place in the U11 Girls section.
Francis Vidler came joint third in the U13 Boys and Ruby Cleaver was joint second for the U13 Girls.
In addition to competing in all the junior races in the Grand Prix Ruby has also completed her own challenge by running every day in June, a total of 54 miles, to raise funds for the Marl Pits track upgrade.
The track itself is 54 years old and badly in need of replacing so the £1,000 that Ruby has raised will be very welcome and is a brilliant effort by the youngster.
Thursday’s race saw U23 Ben Kirkman enjoy his best ever performance on the fells in the tough A category fixture that includes over 1600 feet of ascent in 5.1 miles.
Calder Valley’s Andrew Worster dominated a good quality field of 120 runners and Ben finished in fourth place.
Sean Greenwood also had a good run to finish less than a minute behind Ben for seventh spot and with Rick Solman ninth and veteran Mervyn Keys in 23rd the boys took second team honours.
In Friday’s race Barlick’s Jimmy Craig was once again the winner in 33mins 55secs for the two lapper and Stephen Corbishley was the best of the Harriers taking third place after 34mins 43secs.
Jon Cleaver ended his campaign with seventh spot in 35mins 29secs followed by a tenth place for Joe Hopley, 36mins 35secs, 13th for Alan Lundberg-Bury in 38mins 40secs and Thornton Taylor again won his MV60 category.
Sunday’s Weets Fell race from Barnoldswick Cricket Club saw Rossendale’s youngsters take centre stage with Joe Hopley finishing the 5.5mile race with 1,800 feet of ascent in an excellent fourth place.
The runners climbed over the moor from Barnoldswick, dropped down a track before ascending to the highest point and descended again before the final climb which was the sting in the tail.
England international Gary Priestley won with ease after 37mins 32secs but Joe’s 40mins 02secs was a great run.
Will Curry wasn’t too far behind when he crossed the finish line after 40mins 49secs in fifth place but it wasn’t Stephen Corbishley’s day as he was over a minute adrift of Will for seventh spot and will now probably end his campaign without running the remaining race in the series, although he should be assured of overall second position.
Veteran Alan LundbergBury has been ever-present in the series and his 17th place confirmed his overall winning position in his MV55 category and the Taylor brothers, Thornton and Ken, both took their MV60 and MV70 race wins.