Eighteen runners and four supporters travelled to Dent in the north west corner of the Yorkshire Dales on Saturday to participate in the Dentdale Race in memory of good friend and club mate, Jim Kirkpatrick. This was one of Jim's favourite races and it was easy to see why. The route was on minor roads and was spectacular with beautiful scenery, although there may have been a hill or two too many for some runners' liking! It was very well organised and friendly with funds going to support the local primary school. There was a choice of route with ten Harriers opting for the longer 14.2 mile race and eight running the shorter 7.5 mile race. A number of Harriers were racing for the first time for a long while. The two routes were the same for the first seven miles with all 310 entrants setting off together. Weather conditions were good and it stayed dry.
Dan Mahoney - Jim's nephew, who was visiting from Chicago - was fittingly the first Harrier home in the long race, finishing in 12th place in 1:37:06. Ryan Barker, who picked up an injury early on, stoically continued and was 40th in 1:52:06. Erika Nightingale was the first of the five ladies, clocking 1:56:56 in 58th position. Hazel Berrett (1:59:45) was first in her age group (F60). Other Harriers were; Nigel Jamieson (2:07:01), David Broadley (2:08:11), Andrea Ackroyd (2:10:53), Margaret Deacon (2:12:17), Fiona Murphy (2:18:45) and Martin Ellis (2:24:38).
Harriers had great success in the shorter, but still challenging, race. Rob Hick was 16th overall and first in his age category (M65) in 1:01:33. Mark Crabtree was second in his age group (M60) in 20th position in 1:04:23 followed by Steph Dickinson in 25th, who was also second in her category (F45) in 1:06:08. Keith Midgley (M65) and Sharon Cousen (F50) were both third in their age groups, in 1:13:16 and 1:18:12 respectively. Other Harriers were; Dennis O'Keefe (1:15:08), Michelle Broadley (1:19:18) and Jenny St Romaine (1:19:18).
A contingent of 16 stopped at the Craven Arms near Settle on the way home for a meal.
Josh Hall-Brown, continued his excellent recent form, following up his victory in the Great North West half marathon a fortnight earlier, with a personal best and club record time of 31:47 at the Trafford 10k in Manchester on Sunday. Sarah Cumber was second in her age category (F50) in 39:01, lowering her own club record. Geoff Cumber clocked 48:29 to come home first in the M75 category.
Elsewhere on Sunday, Joanne Arundale was second lady and fifth overall in the Oulton Park 16 mile race in Cheshire. Joanne was also first in her age group (F40), finishing in 1:55:04. Marc Rocheteau competed in the Cambridge half marathon, recording a time of 1:45:13. Also, John Moore finished 17th in the Rother Valley 5k in 25:43.
Nigel Jamieson took on the 42 mile Welcome Way ultra-marathon on Saturday, completing it in 10:17:10. This trail race starts in Otley and largely follows the Welcome Way, taking in Otley Chevin and Baildon Moors, with a total climb of 6,000'.
The club was also represented at the Ilkley Moor Fell Race on Sunday. Ned Hughes raced in the senior race over the 5 mile course with a cumulative 1,300' of ascent, finishing in 53rd place in 48:38. Five juniors also competed with James Neil taking third place in the Under 11s. Casey George was also in the Under 11s race. Will Cattermole and Jayde McGregor ran in the Under 17s and Eli Cattermole was sixth in the Under 15s.
Four seniors and five juniors represented Harriers at the English Cross Country National Championships on Saturday. The event took place at Parliament Hill Fields in London; a testing course at a venue that many regard as the home of cross country.
The event consisted of ten races with a total of almost 8,000 runners taking part. Three Harriers ran in the senior men’s race over a 12k course. Ryan Barker was first home in 1:01:41 followed by Michael Gaughan (1:03:19) and Steve Fitz-Costa (1:14:33). Bethan Davies represented the club in the senior women’s 8k event, finishing in a time of 47:03.
Five juniors participated across the various age group races. Nia Harrison-Sargent completed the Under 15 Girls' race in 19:49 whilst Kitty Harrison-Sargent ran the Under 13 Girls' event in 14:03. Sam Keighley (13:43), Ben Slow (14:42) and Thomas Wright (17:03) all ran in the Under 13 Boys' race.