By Jake Kennedy2025-02-20T12:44:00
Customers left ‘open mouthed and wowed’ by transformation of Spar Barrowford after Wednesday’s reopening
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Jess Bailey continued to excel at junior level after running a British under-20 5km record of 15:25 at the Adidas Running 10 years of Podium meet in Barrowford (November 9)
who is a European under-18 3000m silver medallist
took seven seconds off the mark that Innes FitzGerald recorded back in Cardiff in May
This was Bailey's first individual competition since August – she also ran in the National Cross Country Relays earlier this month – and the teenager excelled in a quick race
Bailey went into the meet off the back of an incredible cross-country and track season
she finished 17th in the under-20 race at the World Cross Country Championships and was part of the Great Britain team that placed fifth overall
Her summer track season was as equally as impressive
with Bailey securing silver over 1500m at English Schools and placing eighth in the 3000m at the World U20 Championships in Lima
She also finished fourth over 3000m at the 2023 Commonwealth Youth Games
despite missing that entire winter due to injury
and won gold at the 2022 World Mountain and Trail Running Championships in Thailand
Bailey is focused on developing as an athlete over a range of distances
“No matter what sport or race you watch at the Olympics
everybody is crazy impressive and it’s great to know it is possible.”
Jess Bailey opens up about her athletics ambitions after continuing to impress in the sport 🏃♀️
The teenager ran a stunning British U20 5km record of… pic.twitter.com/04vld6H7t4
— AW (@AthleticsWeekly) November 10, 2024
"The atmosphere on all parts of the course was insane and to do it in front of my family was special
I wasn't thinking about the time and it was just about the competition
It's my first proper shoulder to shoulder race for a while and I had an adrenaline rush that got me through in the end
"I've been building throughout the year and have just been getting stronger and stronger
I'm going in the right trajectory and there's nothing better than going to races and just getting progressively better
It's about seeing how long it lasts but I'm enjoying the ride."
Bailey was the second quickest female athlete at the Podium 5k meet
That time was a remarkable 34 seconds quicker than Nuttall's personal best and subsequently put her joint-tenth on the UK 5km all-time list
Belgium's Robin Hendrix took an outstanding win in 13:35
who claimed bronze for his country at last year's European Cross Country Championships
dominated throughout and did enough to hold on to the victory
Closing in behind on the final stretch were Ossama Meslek and Phil Sesemann
who both secured personal 5km bests of 13:37
This was only Sesemann's fourth individual competition of the season
with the pinnacle being the Paris Olympics
who ran an incredible personal marathon best of 2:08:02 in Seville to qualify for the Games
placed 46th in tough and testy conditions in the French capital
caught up with AW and opened up about his ultimate goals over 26.2 miles
A post shared by AW (@athletics.weekly)
"I want to get down to 2:05/2:06 [in the marathon]," he said
"I think I can run those times pretty soon to be honest
Not in the next few months but maybe in the next few marathons
"Seeing what Emile [Cairess] does and going on camps with him
shows me that you have to train to run at those levels
even if they don't seem realistic right now
You have to train to be one of the best in the world."
Sesemann added: "It's the best thing that's ever happened to me to be honest
I absolutely love little Frankie and my partner Jess
I've actually had my best training since the Olympics in the past couple of weeks!"
In a star-studded men's field at the Podium 5k meet
Andrew Coscoran placed 17th in 14:06 and Ben Pattison finished 19th with 14:07
Another notable achievement was that of Kirsty Longley
who ran an extraordinary W45 British 5km record of 16:23
Not only did the the 48-year-old shatter her personal 5km best by 13 seconds but she was just eight seconds off the world record for her age group
The Podium 5k meet saw a lot of athletes – including the likes of Bailey and Sesemann – run in Adidas' Adizero Adios Pro 4 shoes
which will be available to buy on January 2
The Adidas Adizero Pro range has a fantastic legacy
one that includes five world records and 73 major road race victories
Full results from Podium 5k here
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Pendle has been named one of the happiest and most affordable areas to live in the UK(Image: Getty Images)A borough which lies just an hour from Manchester has been named one of the happiest and most affordable places to live
North Kesteven was awarded the happiest area in the UK property market for homebuyers wanting to avoid breaking the bank
and with a average house value of £257,199
it is 12 percent cheaper than the UK benchmark
But there is one 'hidden gem' area closer to Manchester that offers the best mix of a happy life and an affordable foot on the ladder
was awarded a happiness score of 8.06 and has an average house price that is half of the UK average of £292,059.
which includes several towns and villages such as Barley
the majority of properties sold in Pendle during the last year were terraced properties
Pendle Water in Barrowford(Image: James Maloney)Article continues belowEstate agents are raving about the borough
from its 'stunning' landscapes and attractive lifestyle to its diverse property market
Director of Hilton & Horsfall Estate Agents which covers Pendle
told the Manchester Evening News: "Pendle has long been a hidden gem in the property market
offering an incredible quality of life paired with affordability
such as the rolling hills of the Pendle countryside and picturesque villages like Barrowford and Fence
These areas not only offer idyllic living but also maintain strong community ties that contribute to Pendle's impressive happiness score
"With average house prices significantly below the national average - Pendle is particularly appealing to first-time buyers
and retirees seeking value without compromising on lifestyle
The area also boasts a diverse housing market
from charming period properties in villages to modern developments
making it accessible to a broad range of buyers."
Pendle(Image: James Maloney/LancsLive)Anthony Dawson
director of Anthony Dawson Real Estate agrees
noting it as a 'doorway to the lake district
He said: "Pendle is the Northern sibling of Manchester and people are starting to realise its beauty and affordable pricing
Some have even referred to it as being the doorway to the lake district with its own spellbinding historic and scenic country setting surrounding the beauty that is Pendle Hill
"Pendle is 30-40 mins away from the edge of Manchester and 30-40 mins away from the edge of the Lake District
Truly residing in the ‘Goldilocks Zone’ of close enough yet far enough away to both Manchester for work and the Lake District for play
And yet the average house price is less than the national average in a setting that is more beautiful than the national average and now rated as one of the happiest places in the UK."
A bargain home on the market in Colne, Pendle(Image: Entwistle Green)Taking a look at what you can buy for the average house price at the moment, this three-bed terrace in the market town of Colne is on the market for £150,000
Having already been beautifully updated by its previous owner
it has versatile living spaces and luxurious finishes and could be considered move-in ready
open-plan kitchen and dining area and a patio area complete with a decked section that currently houses a hot tub
the first floor has a brand-new family bathroom and three bedrooms
A standout feature of this property is the additional loft room
which can be tailored to suit your needs as a fourth bedroom
This cottage is on the market in Fence, Pendle(Image: Anthony Dawson)Also on the market for slightly more than the average house price is this two-bed cottage in the 'sought-after' village of Fence, with a guide price of £200,000.
The characterful property boasts a living room with a warming wood-burning stove, a modern kitchen combined with exposed stone walls and wooden beams, a modern bathroom, two bedrooms and a study area. Outside it also boasts breathtaking views of Pendle's countryside from its beautifully maintained garden.