This weekend saw the Northern Road Relays take place in Blackpool.  Weather conditions were pleasant apart from a gusty wind. First race up was the Boys U13 three man relay with each leg over a 3.2km loop.  This was a very competitive race with 48 teams setting off. Trafford's A team were always just behind the lead runners finishing a creditable 10th place (Mathew Aron 11.39, Ethan O'Brien 11.44 and Thomas Daly 11.57).  Trafford’s B Team (Joe Bowden 12.40, Thomas Fotheringham 13.01, Paddy Widdop 12.50) finished 26^th overall and 5^th B Team.

The U15 boys and girls relays were held over the same course. Thomas Aron leading the Trafford boys team off with a good 11.09 time, he was backed up by Ralphie Rome running 11.21.  In the girls race Zoe Placzkiewcz (14.21) and Ianthe Jones (14.13) ran very well against fast opposition.

The U17 Men’s race was a close competition.  Fin Dobson Emmas (9.51) set the team up, coming in 6th on first leg, close behind in 12th was Tim Ye (10.02) running for the B team.  The second leg saw Pio Aron (9.31) move through into the lead but following him all the way was Salford's Evan Grime.  Both recorded the same time for their leg, which was one of the fastest times of the day.  Evan Horwell (10.32) finished 14th keeping Trafford in the hunt for the medals for first B team. Tio Austin (9.47) ran a great last leg but was caught in the last mile by Salford's new signing Jack Marwood and to finish it off Jay Hutchinson (10.23) brought Trafford's B team home to win the 1st B Team prize.

In the U17 Women's race Trafford again had two full teams.  Rachel Bowden (11.41) had a storming run and with Isobel Thomas (13.04) and Gracie Hunt (13.58) the team finished 17th.  Trafford's B team were not far behind in 26th finishing 6th B team on the day (Sophie Bowman 14.30, Laura Singh 13.57, Ana Coronado 14.59).

In the Senior men's race over the longer 5.6km course, it was a packed field with 109 teams finishing.  Xavier O'Hare (18.32) lead the Trafford team and there was good consistent packing after him by Jeff Prest (18.10), Seb Patrick (18.43), Tom Rogers (19.04) and Jacob Fletcher (22.01).  In the Senior Women's race the Trafford youngsters had a great race finishing 16th overall, Sara Clough (20.46) lead the team out then Ava Clough (19.47) had a storming leg, Eleanor Nicholson (23.09) and the ever young Zoe Storr (22.48) held the team high up the field.

Results can be found at results.racetimingsolutions.co.uk