Ten Halifax Harriers competed in Saturday's Wharfedale Trail Half Marathon. The 13.2 mile race is on a tough but very scenic course in the Yorkshire Dales. There are a number of challenging climbs with the ascent totalling over 2,000'. There were some excellent performances by Harriers ladies. Hazel Berrett was first Harrier home and was second in her category (F55) in a fine time of 2:12:31. Jane Hobson followed and was third in the F50 category in 2:17:30, continuing her excellent recent off-road performances. Fiona Murphy was first F60 in 2:30:58. Other Harriers to run were Nigel Jamieson, Margaret Deacon, Andrea Ackroyd, Sally Shacklock, Martin Ellis, Sharon Cousen and Jenny St Romaine.
Four Harriers ran in the Stocks Lane Stinger on Sunday. The route is approximately 6.5 miles long on mixed terrain and, as befits the race name, concludes with a gruelling 1.25 mile climb out of Luddenden up Stocks Lane to Mount Tabor, with an average gradient of 11% and a maximum of over 17%. A cooling light rain during the race was gratefully received by the competitors! Harriers ladies again excelled. Alice Vick was the second lady to finish in 11th position overall in 52:46. Rachel Beaumont picked up two prizes - 3rd lady and first female over 50 - with a time of 53:16. Completing the Harriers line-up, Margaret Deacon (64:47) and Martin Ellis (67:07) were both third in their age categories.
It was another fantastic night of great performances by the young stars of Halifax Harriers at Cleckheaton. Molly Firth continued her dominance of the U17 Girls division with another winning 800m and a 200m PB of 26.1, closely followed by Elise Horner with a new PB of 27.41. Jayde McGregor overcame tired legs from her effort in the English Fell Championships and scored a massive PB in the GU15 800m, winning her heat in 2.24.17. Maisie Brown is getting back to her best level with a 28.68 GU15 200m. Nia Harrison Sargent clocked a 200m PB of 27.3. Poppy Jowett won the GU11 75m and Kitty Harrison-Sargent narrowly missed out on a PB in the 80m, finishing 4th. Maisie Gilligan got herself a new PB in th GU17 200m of 29.17, Paige Hardcastle clocking 29.1. Louise Royston won the Senior Women's 200m in 26.81 and, as usual, Claire Ryan turned up and put in a good points winning performance (as a F vet 40).
Sam Keighley won the U13 800m with a (big) new PB of 2.29.24. He was ably supported by Ben Slow and Beau Clark who both worked hard to set benchmark times for themselves. Ben then won the high jump with a leap of 1.25m. In the U13 Boys Albert Jones scored well, finishing 4th in the 600m and 3rd in the Long jump. Euan Logue, Alfie Brook and Elliot Clark all worked hard for points in the U15 division, with Euan posting a huge 800m PB of 2.23.8. and Elliott leaping to second in the Long Jump with 4.5 m. Eesa Idrees represented well in the U17s, winning the discus and coming 3rd in the 200m. And in the U20 division, Ben Combes ran a decent 200m, finishing 2nd in 24.93. All in all, a superb effort from all our athletes. Thank you for your efforts and well done.
Max Wharton made a welcome return to competition in the UK after studying and competing abroad for a number of years. In his first race for Halifax Harriers since his return in the BMC Grand Prix 800m, he set a PB of 1:47.24 and a senior club record.
WEST YORKSHIRE TRACK AND FIELD
21 members of Halifax Harriers attended the first West Yorkshire Track and Field event since lockdown with a good number taking the first three places in their events.
In the U11 girls, Kitty Harrison-Sargent was 2nd in the 80m 11.86 and 3rd in the 150m 22.07.
In the U15 girls, Nia Harrison-Sargent was 1st in the 800m 2:19.99 and Jayde McGregor was 3rd in 2:30.35. In the long jump, Nia was 1st in a jump of 4.07m.
In the U17 women, in the 200m Molly Firth was 1st in 26.61 and Elise Horner 2nd in 27.91. Molly Firth was also 1st in the long jump in a jump of 4.46m.
In the senior women discuss, Claire Ryan was 2nd with a throw of 14.62m.
In the U11 boys long jump, Albert Jones was 2nd with a jump of 2.75m.
In the U13 boys 80m, Ben Slow was 3rd 12.07 and in the 150m he was 3rd in 22.92.
In the U15 boys discuss, Elam Hughes was 2nd 16.86 and Oliver Norris 3rd 11.26.
In the U17 men 1500m, Ned Hughes was 3rd 4:40.30.
In the U20 men high jump, Ben Combs was 3rd in 1.45m.
TRAFFORD OPEN TRACK MEET
At this popular event, Elise Horner competed in the 200m and finished 3rd in her heat with a time of 2:23.03.
Lucy Mills ran the 200m in heat 7 and was 1st in 27.97.