Halifax Harrier, Josh Hall-Brown, put in a superb run in appalling weather to win the popular Great North West Half Marathon on Sunday. Josh posted a great time of 1:17:34 to take victory on the Blackpool coast. Fellow club member, Tom Needham, finished seventh in 1:22:59.
Five intrepid Harriers braved atrocious weather conditions on Saturday to take part in the Flower Scar Fell Race. The nearly 8 mile race begins and ends in Centre Vale Park in Todmorden, taking in a total of almost 2,000’ of ascent. The course features a number of steep climbs, rough moors and paths, which were all covered in several inches of fresh, and falling, snow. There were reports of numerous falls on the slippery and frequently boggy terrain. Ryan Barker led the Harriers’ contingent home in a time of 1:23:13 in 67th place followed by Michael King in 1:28:27 in 99th position. Jane Hobson was the first placed lady in 1:51:19 and was third in her age group (F50). Martin Ellis (1:59:11) and Margaret Deacon (2:01:19) completed the quintet.
This was the last race in the club’s Fell Race League for the 2021/22 season. The results did not affect the final placings with both Will Carver and Jane Hobson confirmed as the season’s champions. Many congratulations to both. (Details of the final standings can be found on the Fell Running section under the Disciplines tab on the website.)
The first race in the 2022/23 season will be the Ian Roberts Memorial race from Marsden Cricket Club on Sunday 20th March.
Eight Halifax Harriers participated in Sunday’s Liversedge half marathon; a popular local road race held on hilly terrain. The race has a reputation for taking place in appalling weather conditions and this year was no exception. One runner reported it as, “hilly, hard, cold and wet!” The ladies fared especially well with Joanne Arundale finishing first in her age group (F40) in 51st place overall in a time of 1:35:26. Hazel Berrett was also first in her age category (F60) in a new club record time of 1:49:11. Tom Paget was the first Harrier home in 21st place in 1:29:58. Other Harriers were: James O’Rourke (1:33:37), David Ingle (1:38:42), Wayne Stevens (1:53:25), Paul Hopkinson (1:55:34) and Margaret Deacon (2:05:15).
Two Harriers took part in the Settle road half marathon in the Yorkshire Dales in very wet and windy conditions. Andrea Ackroyd and Jenny St Romaine completed the hilly course, totalling over 1,000’ of ascent, in 2:05:38 and 2:27:44 respectively.