Created by : Thomas Shaw On : Tue, 07/28/2026 - 15:14
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It was another varied weekend for the Harriers as we got underway on Friday with the Notts 5k Champs at the Newstead Abbey Dash. A beautiful setting for the race as runners starts with a downhill blast down towards the abbey before two undulating km's each way make for a challenging second half to the race. Over 20 Harriers wore the green and black to get plenty of us out on the course with James Lonsdale flying the club colours right at the front providing some fantastic racing and a very tight finish as James took 3rd overall stopping the clock at 15:00 on the nose to go with a county bronze medal! Henry Brady followed next along with Chris Bliss and Madi Spencer all setting 5k PB's for a superb night for of racing and cheering each other on!
Some of our Harriers barely got chance for a nap as the next morning Bryan Cherry, Dave and Sally Bulmer then headed over to Heckington for the Heckington Country Show which along side all the entertainment includes one of the longest running 10 miles around. A flat two lap course but always space for some lincolnshire winds saw a morning of great running before chilling out for the rest of the day (and evening!) taking in the rest of the country show, partially hosted by another famous Harrier as Roy Turner was busy welcoming the runners back in to the finish, handing out prizes before resuming county judging duties!
Finally, and spanning the weekend was one of the UK's most famous fell races as Sam Robinson and Kirsty Fairburn-Wint took on the Lakeland 50. Starting just North of Pooley Bridge late on Saturday morning headed South past Wood Howe towards Gatescarth before along the top of Windermere, Ambleside before looping round to finish Coniston Water. The 50 miles provided nearly 10,000 ft of climbing along with the lakes famously changable weather to make for an epic challenge, requiring navigation skills, grit and a few words of encouragement as the ladies finished early Sunday morning to squeeze under the 16 hour mark following a late rally, securing the sub-16 qualifying time required to return next year for the full 100!
