Every year, we start this race with a lot of optimism as to what we can achieve, but we knew that we were up against a strong Calder Valley team and it would have been a big ask for a small club such as ours to realistically take on the might of Calder Valley who are stuffed with good runners. Having said that, on the day, anything can happen.
On the first leg, as expected, Calder Valley went out in front, followed by Rossendale and we were in third place, But Rossendale went wrong and initially Matt Watson followed them, but he then realised that they were going the wrong way and called them back, before turning himself to pick up the correct route. Tom had been trailing at this point and luckily the two met up just where Matt had gone astray. However, the error by Rossendale put us into second place which we held to the end of the leg. Jimmy Craig and Craig Shearer went off determined to catch the leading team and put in a good time and some say it was a club record for the second leg. It was Robert Cranham & Andy Berry who had to make the climb up to Black Shaw Edge and whilst Andy looked strong at the finish, Robert was obviously feeling effects of his recent marathon. Ben Whitehead and Andy Collins then took up the baton and worked well together pushing each other on before handing over to Luke Butler and Nathan Smedley. We were now settling into third place and this pair were running in the middle of nowhere, in that they could not see the team they were chasing nor the team who were following. They pushed on to keep the chasing team well behind them, so as to give the last leg runners a chance to keep third place and a podium finish. As it happened, they handed over to to Gary Shaw and David Mirfield with over a 7 minute lead over chasing club Wharfedale. By that stage, we, in turn, were over 7 minutes behind Rossendale, so they were impossible to catch, so it was just a case of maintaining a good pace and ensuring a podium position.
It was heartening to take a podium finish. It was a great reward for all the effort put in by everyone who took part today and to Ben Whitehead for his team and pairing selection.
3 Men 6:25:11
| Leg | Runners | Leg Pos | Leg Time | Overall Pos | Overall Time |
| 1 | Matt Watson / Tom Corrigan | 2 | 1:17:08 | 2 | 1:17:08 |
| 2 | Jimmy Craig / Craig Shearer | 2 | 0:57:05 | 3 | 2:14:13 |
| 3 | Robert Cranham / Andy Berry | 9 | 0:42:59 | 2 | 2:57:12 |
| 4 | Andrew Collins / Ben Whitehead | 7 | 1:14:36 | 3 | 4:11:48 |
| 5 | Luke Butler / Nathan Smedley | 5 | 1:01:29 | 3 | 5:13:17 |
| 6 | Gary Shaw / David Mirfield | 5 | 1:11:54 | 3 | 6:25:11 |
7 Ladies 9:16:19
| Leg | Runners | Leg Pos | Leg Time | Overall Pos | Overall Time |
| 1 | Paula Cullen / Laura Craig | 40 | 1:42:28 | 39 | 1:46:05 |
| 2 | Jacqueline Collins / Emma Taylor | 42 | 1:23:24 | 37 | 3:08:47 |
| 3 | Hannah Craig / Karen Lemon | 45 | 0:57:13 | 40 | 4:02:22 |
| 4 | Hayley Whitehead / Emma Craig | 48 | 1:44:51 | 42 | 5:47:47 |
| 5 | Nicola Muller / Lydia Hirst | 65 | 1:33:41 | 43 | 7:07:55 |
| 6 | Emma Pease / Lucy Brown | 64 | 1:54:42 | 51 | 8:39:17 |
Burnley Park Run - 16 May 2026
Written by Graham Wadsworth216 Richard Shilton 28:50
Wholan Nook - 14 May 2026
Written by Graham WadsworthSometimes, you go to a race and see an exceptionally good performance and sometimes you see a Barlicker coming home in first place. At this race, we saw both. Matt Watson ran a brilliant race. He set a sensible pace on the first ascent from the start and took the race lead on the level section before the next climb. At the top of that climb, he had already built up a good lead and was running easily and smoothly, but very quickly. The chasing runner looked laboured by comparison. Matt already looked to have the race sewn up. The only question remaining was how big would his winning lead be. When he came back into view, on the descent before the run around the reservoir, no chasing runners were within sight. He was still going well and the question then arose of whether he would set a new course record. He finished in a remarkable time of 29:56. John Roche was a little reticent about whether it was a course record, saying that over the years, there had been minor adjustments to the course, which is true. But since the Covid outbreak, the course has remained the same and during that time, no one has finished under 31 minutes. So it looks very much like a course record and it will be interesting to see how long it is before anyone beats that time. Craig Shearer had entered for this race, but sadly did not turn up on the night. It is a pity, because he is quick and if those two had been out in front, pushing each other along, what would the winning time have been?
Further down the field, but not that much further, Karl Nevison was giving another display of his amazing running prowess and he powered home in 7th place, comfortably taking the first M55 position.
In the ladies race, the Barlickers were led home by the every improving Lisa Gee.
Men's Race
1 Matt Watson 29:56 (1st M45)
7 Carl Nevison 35:41 (1st M55)
57 James Austin 43:55
85 Raymond Banks 48:36 (3rd M70)
Women's Race
14 Lisa Gee 48:53
30 Lucy Mirifield 53:28
35 Lydia Hirst 54:17
This was the third of three gruelling weekends for John Boothman and this week, it was the Leeds Marathon. The weather was perfect and was nice and cool for most of the race with a few hills to slow everyone down. The support in Otley and back into Leeds was really good. John did tire in the last 4/5 miles, but after those two previous weekends, it was to be expected. In John's own words, his time was not brilliant, but taking into account what he had done recently, he was happy with it.
John is having a week off next week and than going to Edinburgh in a fortnight.
949 John Boothman 3:47:30
Clitheroe Castle Junior Park Run - 10 May 2026
Written by Graham Wadsworth22 Beulah Cranham 10:20 PB
Burnley Park Run - 9 May 2026
Written by Graham Wadsworth216 Richard Shilton 28:50
Pin Haw Moor - 8 May 2026
Written by Graham Wadsworth
It was almost perfect conditions for this race which saw Matthew Heppenstall of Settle Harriers, for the second time this week, race up to the summit of Pin Haw. As on Wednesday in the Lothersdale Race, he led the way to the top and back down to the finish, except that this time, he was chased by fellow team mate, Matthew Cardus. What a pair of runners to have in your club. They were followed home by our own Tom Corrigan who is always somewhere in the mix.
In the ladies race, the leaders were more space out, with April Thorpe, the winner, making the ascent to the summit look easy. She won the race comfortably, with Josephine Wells and Victoria Mousley following her home. The first Barlicker home was Paula Cullen.
The Barlickers finished as follows:
Men
3 Tom Corrigan 32:05 (1st M40)
5 Ben Whitehead 32:44 (2nd M40)
14 Carl Nevison 34:58 (1st M55)
15 Luke Butler 35:14
18 Robert Cranham 36:28 (3rd M45)
32 Stan Dreiling 38:19
47 Shane Muller 40:20
69 James Austin 43:16
92 David Pease 48:14
Women
52 Paula Cullen 40:47 (2nd F45)
58 Jacqueline Collins 41:35 (3rd F45)
72 Hayley Whitehead 43:53
79 Karen Lemon 45:49
91 Emma Pease 48:12
98 Lisa Gee 48:44
103 Hannah Craig 49:23
108 Nicola Muller 50:40 (2nd F50)
129 Lucy Mirfield 54:01
Youngster Matthew Heppenstall of Settle Harriers won this race by over a minute, despite going wrong on two occasions. He looked quick and the result confirmed it. It was good to see Andy Collins out in another race and he finished in a respectable 5th place and although Robert Cranham is still recovering from the London Marathon, he cannot keep away from the fells and he managed a top ten finish.
Our only woman out, Hayley Whitehead, had a good run to come home in second place. All in all, a good night out for the Barlickers.
5 Andy Collins 25:44
10 Robert Cranham 27:15
24 Hayley Whitehead 33:57 (2nd woman, first WS)
Under 8
6 Woody Corrigan2:59
Under 10
3 Jude Mirfield 2:06
Under 12
5 Theo Mirfield 11:17
20 Oliver Throup 13:20
What a race. Not only did Matt Watson win this race, but he won it by a massive three minutes. That is quite some victory in a race which saw the Barlickers dominate the top ten.
Men's Race
1 Matt Watson 37:32 (1st M45)
2 Tom Corrigan 40:31 (1st M40)
5 Dave Mirfield 40:50 (2nd M40)
6 Gary Shaw 41:25 (1st M50)
23 Robert Cranham 47:56
Women's Race
6 Laura Craig 52:44 (1st F40)
7 Jacqueline Collins 53:56 (2nd F45)
27 Lisa Gee 1:06:20
34 Lydia Hirst 1:10:41
More...
John Boothman took part in this race in 2023 and he did it again this year in a slightly faster time, but for some reason, they did not go all the way to Ingleborough trig, so times were probably very similar. John was very happy with his time considering what he describes as his not so great race last week at the Three Peaks. In retrospect he puts that down to being already tired before the start and to the hot conditions.
This race is twice as far and takes in all of the three peaks, plus an extra run up the shoulder of Pen Y Ghent in addition to going twice over Fountains Fell. A total of 52 miles with some serious climbing and not a race to be taken lightly. After last week, in the Three Peaks race, John was a little hesitant, but the race went well, although he was rather tired on the last section.
122 John Boothman 11:13:19
615 starters
Skipton Park Run - 2 May 2026
Written by Graham Wadsworth52 Sean Fitzpatrick 25:05
Burnley Park Run - 2 May 2026
Written by Graham Wadsworth34 Lucas Payne 20:38
94 Ian Livesey23:33
193 Richard Shilton 27:23
288 Stephen Jackson 30:23
Clowbridge 5K - 30 April 2026
Written by Graham Wadsworth1 Craig Shearer 17:02
2 Sam Horrocks 18:56
19 Stan Dreiling 21:20
33 Hayley Whitehead 22:51
34 Emma Taylor 22:53
65 Lydia Hirst 27:45
67 Mark Horrocks 28:02
About us
The main aims of the club are to increase the participation of running in Barnoldswick and to keep organised running as accessible as possible.