Sat. 4th January 2025, Witton Park, Blackburn
On the very muddy fields at Witton Park 70 Preston Harriers lined up with some of the best athletes across Lancashire to run in the county Cross Country Championships.
First up where the U11 boys who finished 3rd team with Harrison Kingwells, Harry Griffin and Patrick Piron. Next where the U11 Girls, finishing a strong 2nd with Emily Holden, Eva Karran and Harriet Johns. U13 Boys lined up next and achieved a clean sweep with Preston Harriers finishing first 3 individuals across the finish to take the 1st team prize with Albert Yates, Freddy Cheyne and Harry Hopkinson. U13 Girls where not going to be outshone and they also ran well as a team to finish 1st helped by Ellie Blackhurst who finished 1st overall and supported by Isabel Owers and Iona Bell.
Just when you thought it couldn’t get any better for the Harriers the U15 boys took another 1st team prize with Jack Mawdsley, Samual Ridgway and Samuel Bates. Then the U15 Girls took the 2nd team prize and a 2nd individual position for Sophie Mitchell supported by Elsie McKeever and Lilli-Mai McCarthy. And there was still more to come with the U17s boys taking individual 1st and 2nd by Matthew Clark and Fraser Myles respectively and 1st team supported by Gordon Ballantyne. Followed by U17 Women taking 1st team with Sarah Yates finishing 1st overall and supported by Molly Taylor and Holly Moffatt.
In the U20s Ladies race Preston Harriers took the individual title with a 1st by Alicia Tomlinson and Zara Darkin claiming 3rd spot. Senior Women lined up next in the penultimate race of the day and did not disappoint with an individual 2nd overall for Emma McColm and 1st team, supported by Alicia Tomlinson, Zara Darkin and Jamie Robinson. In addition, Jamie Robinson won 1st F35, Catherine Mitchell 3rd F45 and Lindsey Berends 3rd F50.Finally, it was the turn of the Senior Men with the biggest field of the day with a total of 97 athletes from across Lancashire lining up. Preston Harriers Senior Men took 3rd team prize in a hotly contested competition. First across the line for Preston was Patrick Brown (4th) supported by Joe Monk, Billy Reid, Ibraheem Kantharia, Simon Collins and Jenson Warren. In addition, Alan Appleby finished 2nd V70 and Michael Brown V65 finishing 3rd in his age category. U20s Men also finished on a high taking 2nd team prize with Billy Reid, Ibraheem Kantharia and Jenson Warren.
Overall, an amazing day of racing for Preston Harriers reflecting the strength within the club across all age groups. It was also great to see the depth we have in the club, evident by the number in each race wearing a Preston Harriers vest. Whilst it hasn’t been possible to list everyone individually, everyone played their part to make these results possible.
Cathy Flitcroft