Four Harriers ran the scenic and flat 20 mile race at Trimpell. This race is traditionally a warm up race for the Spring Marathon season. The conditions for the race were near perfect except for the occasional gust of wind, which always seemed to be into the 303 runners faces. Debbie Kirkbride set a new F60 Club Record in a time of 3:27:19. James O'Rourke was the first Harriers finisher in 2:20:53, Tom Paget was next in 2:22:23 (PB) and Paul Hopkinson finished in 2:54:31. It was also good to see eight runners from our neighbours, the Sowerby Snails, at the race.
Tom Hodgson ran a 5K personal best and club record of 14:41 at the Podium Races in Barrowford in Lancashire on Saturday evening. Will Smith set a new club record for the M45 category of 15:53. Ben Crowther (16:15) and Harry Johnson (18:09) also ran for the Harriers.
Will Carver continued his impressive ultra trail running exploits, completing Saturday's Haworth Hobble in 5:46:09, finishing in 70th place. This long-standing and popular 31.7 mile race takes in 4,400' of total ascent over a remote route in wonderful countryside across the moors around Haworth, Todmorden and Hebden Bridge. Elsewhere on Saturday, John Moore recorded 53:04 in the scenic Tatton 10k in Cheshire.
Richard and Sue Corney both competed in Sunday's hilly Red Hot Toddy 10k in Todmorden. Sue was first in her age category (F65) in 58:58 whilst Richard was second in his category (M55) in 51:16. Also on Sunday, Angela Clarke completed the tough Spen 20, a traditional spring marathon warm-up race, in 2:58:28, coming home in second place in the F45 category.
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.