What a perfect day for a fell race. There was a shower of rain in the morning but by the start of the race, it was a bright cloudy day, with a slight breeze – ideal running conditions. The race starts with a long climb. Coming up the hill out of Worsthorne, there was nothing to chose between Jimmy Craig, Gary Shaw and Stephen Hall. After the first initial climb, there is a slight downhill section before anther climb to the race summit. As the runners disappeared from view, the race opened up and it rapidly became a two horse race between Jimmy Craig and Gary Shaw. The race has a sting in its tail in that after passing the second reservoir, there is another climb before the final descent back to Worsthorne. As the two leading runners approached this last ascent, Gary Shaw made a challenge on Jimmy. To those watching, it was fascinating. There was a vet runner was taking the lead from a “young Turk”. The fact that he was able to do so says a lot about the fitness of Gary Shaw. One assumes that at this point, he was trying to break Jimmy and build up an unassailable lead. But Jimmy did not allow this to happen and settled in behind him and kept up with him. As they approached the top of this climb Gary was leading, but Jimmy Craig was on his tail and it left everyone wondering who would come out tops on the run in. As it turned out, Jimmy just had the edge and he passed Gary on the downhill run and with a bit of a sprint at the finish, he made it home with an eleven second gap. However this was a race and a half and it says much that Gary could push Jimmy so close. This was racing at its best.

Further down the field, Barlick had two runners in the top ten, with Ian Beresford finishing 5^th and Andy Berry finishing 9^th. Afterwards Ian admitted that he owed his position very much to being pushed by Andy during race.

In the ladies’ race, Jackie Collins led the Barlickers home in 5^th place with Molly Ralphson close on her tail. Laura Craig has an excellent run to finish 8^th overall and third Barlick lady.

24 Hannah Newbold 25:15 

12 Emma Pease 25:22
41 Helen Harrison 30:21 

8 Lucas Payne 20:11

2 Jimmy Craig 32:22
9 Ian Beresford 33:38 (1st M40)
19 Ben Whitehead 35:43
21 Barrie Charnley 36:03
29 David Pease 37:35
37 Lee Edwards 38:23
45 Andy Smith 39:20
47 Jacqueline Collins 39:50
49 Zac Kaye 40:06
53 Molly Ralphson 40:29 (1st F45)
87 Hayley Whitehead 44:19
99 Emma Pease 45:36
119 Hannah Newbold 47:23
138 Gemma Carson 49:31
140 Katie Towers 49:52
142 Nicola Muller 50:08

6 Barlickers hit the lakes on Saturday to take on Buttermere Horseshoe with a choice of 2 races. The first is the short course, although to many, this would be a challenge in itself at 13 miles and 4980ft of climb.  Good performances all round  saw the lads take the team prize on what turned out to be a very warm day. The longer course which also set off at the same time covered 22 miles and 8250ft. 

Short Course 

9 Ben Whitehead 02:54:43
10 Ian Cocks 02:55:43
21 Andrew Smith 03:24:50
44 Anthony Brown 04:10:08

Full Course 

29 John Boothman 06:30:56
31 Gary Bradley 06:32:57 

After such a long break, it is good to see Park Runs starting again in this Country.  Just one Barlicker out this weekend in the Skipton.

11 Lucas Payne 20:31

It was a very warm week and it looked like it could be a hard slog on the none stop ascent from Earby to the summit of Pin Haw.  As things turned out, the hot spell started to change and on the night, there was a very welcoming cool breeze on the summit to greet the runners.  As they came into view in the new plantation the top ten was made of names you would expect to be there.  But the question on everyone's lips was, "Who is that runner at the front"?  Given the current form of Jimmy Craig, there was a great expectation that he would be leading out the pack.  But it was not to be.  Jimmy had been forced into second place by this unknown runner.   It has been so long since there had last been some proper racing that the crowd were battling to recall the names of many of the runners. But is was nonetheless good to see those old familiar faces back out on the fells doing what they are so good at.  In the top echelon were all the names names you would expect to see there, amongst which were Stephen Corbishley Jonathan Cleaver, Jack Vlliiers, Julian Hood and Christian Homes. 

No sooner had the top ten gone past then the first lady came into view.  Looking very fit and as always running with such effortless elegance was Helen Smith, still probably known to everyone as Helen Glover.  Not too far behind her was Hannah Jarvis of Accrington Road Runners.  The field had become very strung out, but as the tail end came up the hill, into view came those faces which seem to have graced the fell running scene forever.  Karin Goss and Christine Leathley, both of Clayton.  Bringing up the rear was one of the nicest men around in the running scene - Jack McGuire of Clayton.  He was battling with the ascent but he was tackling it with his usual grit and determination.  No matter how long it took, he was not going to be beaten by the course and so it proved, he ended up as a finisher and not as a DNF.

When the runners had reached the summit and were returning, it was still nip and tuck with Jimmy Craig and the talented unknown runner.  He turned out to be Thomas Hodgson, formerly a member of Esk Valley, but now running unattached.  Jimmy Craig is very much on form at the moment, so Thomas was certainly a worthy winner.

It was a good atmosphere out on the course, possibly because everyone, both runners and spectators were relieved to back out on the fells enjoying this quite remarkable sport.

Full Race Results 

1 Jimmy Craig 40:43
5 Ian Beresford 42:00
13 Barrie Charnley 45:37 (1st M45) 
26 Andy Smith 49:30
29 Molly Ralphson 50:03 (1st F45) 
35 John Mason 51:35
47 Zac Kaye 55:48
49 Laura Craig 55:51
64 Lucy Brown 58:59
73 Hannah Newbold 01:01:26 

12 Ben Whitehead 25:02
18 Stuart Heaviside 26:14
19 David Pease 26:18 
41 Shane Muller 30:35
71 Nicola Muller 38:41

15 Ben Whitehead 59:08
17 Andy Berry 59:33
35 John Boothman 01:06:26

40 Emma Taylor 02:40:02 

1.5K Swim - 28:25
T1 - 02:19 
43.8km Bike - 01:25:12 
T2 - 01:10 
10K Run - 42:56 

14 Stuart Heaviside 39:23
27 Leanne Dinsdale 42:40 (3rd Lady) 
31 Andy Smith 43:35
62 Nicolas Kendall 51:07
80 Hannah Newbold 55:03

8 Ben Whitehead 00:58:39
10 Carl Pawson 00:58:57
15 Andy Collins 01:01:49
17 David Pease 01:02:29
21 Andy Smith 01:05:03
50 Jacqueline Collins 01:13:46
51 Anthony Brown 01:14:12

11 Ian Beresford 17:03
15 Barrie Charnley 17:52
31 Molly Ralphson 19:10
51 Laura Craig 20:32
104 Gemma Carson 24:13

After Hendon Brook last weekend runners were gearing up for a 10K however due to road works and closures the race distance was reduced to 5K and confined to the park. For some this came as good news to others not so good. Due to the change in distance and race, the ladies and mens races were run separately which made for good viewing and extra support for both races from either gender. It was a day of 2nd's for Barlick with Molly and Jimmy taking the honours in their respective races. 

Ladies 
2 Molly Ralphson 19:36
9 Laura Craig 21:18
16 Emma Pease 23:30
20 Hannah Newbold 24:07
24 Gemma Carson 24:25

Mens 
2 Jimmy Craig 16:16
13 Ian Beresford 17:23
21 Barries Charnley 18:18
28 Carl Pawson 19:01
31 David Pease 19:29
38 Andy Smith 20:11

It was back to the lakes this weekend for another cracker of a race. 3 runners from the club were out and all finished in great times. A huge well done to Stephen who managed a PB by about 30 minutes, cracking stuff. 

26 Stephen Shorrock 05:07:09 
78 Gary Bradley 06:02:20
80 Craig Storozuk 06:03:52 

Saturday saw Ben, Lucy and Lorraine take part in the Lakeland Trails event competing over three different distances. They all put in fantastic performances in what was very hot and humid conditions. 

14K Race 
5 Ben Hoyle 01:09:10

23K Race 
76 Lucy Brown 03:02:26

55K Race 
17th Lorraine Slater 06:58:27 (3rd Lady) 

Run of the evening went to Harry Driver who had a belter of a run to finish just behind Andy. 

16 Stuart Heaviside 08:36
31 Andy Smith 09:31
37 Harry Driver 09:45
65 Bella McCredie 10:58
103 Heather Driver 12:18

Sunday saw the 3rd race in the Pendle and Burnley Grand Prix and Jon Cleaver was on a mission. Word was flying round at the start that he was going to push hard for the first few miles and see who could keep the pace! Little need he know that famous was out racing and wouldn’t give in without a fight! The pair battled it out and were neck and neck for the majority of the race. Cleaver was defiantly stronger on the flat, but Jimmy was showing his dominance on the climbs, with roughly 2 and a half climbs to go Jimmy dug deep took the lead and the rest was history managing to increase the gap to a minute and 4 seconds. Not too far behind Livers and Bez put in a strong performance to finish within the top 10. Andy Smith had a battle on his hands to keep Jacqueline off and managed to hold off. Jacqueline led the Barlick ladies home also taking 1st F40. All in all another cracking day out for the Barlick Clan. I have to say though I’ve never heard anyone complain about winning a race as much as Jimmy, what should have been a joyous drive home was full of moans about his blisters, how he should have run faster and how much his arms were still aching from a CrossFit class on Thursday! I’m sure most of us would have been over the moon to win a race but not FAMOUS!! 

1 Jimmy Craig 01:23:37
6 Ian Livesey 01:29:55
8 Ian Beresford 01:31:31
14 Andy Berry 01:35:25
19 Barrie Charnley 01:38:12
22 Ben Hoyle 01:40:31
24 Carl Pawson 01:40:55
30 David Pease 01:43:50
38 Andy Smith 01:45:46
39 Jacqueline Collins 01:45:51 (1st F40)
40 Lee Edwards 01:45:56
42 Emma Taylor 01:46:24
44 Shane Muller 01:47:23
45 Molly Ralphson 01:47:23
62 Zac Kaye 01:56:49
74 Anthony Brown 02:00:51
81 Lucy Brown 02:03:40
98 Katie Towers 02:07:07
111 Nicola 01:12:24

628 Richard Treitl 01:08:20 

Saturday saw Gary Bradley out for even more Pennine Way fun. 

The race ran from Bowlees to Alston taking you pas Low Force and High Force then Cauldron Snouts and Cow Green reservoir before High Cup Nick and down to Dufton. From there a long climb to Old Man Knock, Great Dunn Fell, Little Dunn Fell and Cross Fell before the long descent to Garrigll and the finish at Alston YHA. 

Gary managed to finish an respectful 10th place n 7hours and 36minutes. 

126 Stuart Heaviside 01:16:12
313 Helen Harrison 02:35:50

Shaun Chew was back out racing on Friday night and managed a 6th place finish in 18:25