Rochdale's Girls Impress at Saddleworth Fell Race

ROCHDALE'S JUNIOR HARRIERS made the Club proud with fantastic performances at the Saddleworth fell races on Sunday.

The Hirst sisters and Lauryn Gregg scored almost maximum points for the club, moving Rochdale's Juniors up the Pennine junior fell league to 2nd place with just three rounds remaining in the seven-race series.

On a beautiful sunny day, high above Uppermill, Chloe Hirst won the under 16 girls' category and set a new course record for her age (15 min 51 sec). This gained maximum points for Rochdale.

Zara Hirst had a terrific run in the highly competitive under 12's race, finishing 5th in 7 min 50 sec, following her sister's lead by scoring maximum points for Rochdale.

Although the youngest Rochdale Harrier at the race, Lauryn Gregg has run the most fell races of all of our juniors. At the top of the final climb she was a comfortable third overall and used her fearless descending skills to overtake the two leading boys to achieve a remarkable overall win, beating all the boys and girls, in 3 min 54 sec.

Lauryn's win at Saddleworth means that she now has an unassailable lead in her age category in the Pennine Inter Club Junior fell championship. Having taken maximum points for four consecutive races, she has already won the under 10's age category for the season with three races still to go.

The girls' performances at Saddleworth mean that Rochdale are now 2nd place overall in the league, and may maintain or improve on this provided there is a good turn out from the Club for the remaining fixtures. The next fixture, Reservoir of Bogs  fell race, is on 22nd June, near Hebden Bridge.


More information on the Pennine Inter-Clubs Junior Fell Racing Championship  

JUNIORS COMPETE AT COWPE

ROCHDALE’S JUNIOR FELL RUNNERS represented the Club last Saturday at the Cowpe fell race.  This race counted towards both the Pennine Inter-Club Junior Championship and the English Junior Championships.

 

 

Lauryn Gregg maintained her perfect attendance record by competing in the Under 10’s race.  This week she was joined by Rochdale’s ace cross country runners, Chloe and Zara Hirst.  The Hirst sisters made their debuts at fell racing under what turned out to be atrocious weather conditions.

Battling the wind and rain, and without the opportunity to recce
the course beforehand, Chloe set off in the 7km U16 race, while Lauryn ran the 2km course for the under 10’s.  

Lauryn finished in 13 min 19 sec, placing her 3^rd in her age category.  This excellent result gave her pole position in the Inter-Clubs championship and 3^rd so far in the English championships. 

 

Chloe completed the longer 7km course, soaked to the skin, in a commendable 63 min 47sec (16^th) just as her sister Zara was about to set off in the 4km under 12’s race.  Zara ran extremely well, posting 21 min 46 sec to take 17^th place.

The Juniors' next race in the setries is at Saddleworth and coincides with the Seniors' race in the Run The Moors inter-clubs fell Grand Prix  more information  

 

Pennine Junior Championships

Congratulations to Lauryn Gregg for finishing as 3rd girl in the Stretton Fell Race - English Championships Under 10's.

The next race in the Pennine Junior Championships is at Cowpe (above Bacup) on 11th May (u8, u10, u12, u14, u16 & u18). Rochdale is currently 6th and a good turn out could propel us into the medals!