Northowram 5
Seventeen Harriers competed in Friday's Northowram 5 mile race, organised by Northowram Pumas and the latest event in the club's road race championship. Ben Crowther finished third in 29:06, setting a new club record for the M35 age group. Sarah Cumber won the women's race in 32:19, finishing in eighth overall. David Ingle, Rob Hick and Geoff Cumber all finished first in their respective age categories.
Otley Chevin Fell Race
Last Wednesday, seven Harriers travelled to take part in the annual Otley Chevin Fell Race on a beautiful evening. Kieran Manchester completed the tough three mile course with 700' of climbing in 18:30, coming home in third place. Hazel Berrett won the FV60 category in 27:34 and Jane Hobson was second in the FV50s in 27:59. Other Harriers were: Andrea Ackroyd, Martin Ellis, Jenny St Romaine and Jude Baines.
Other Fell & Trail Races
Nigel Jamieson ran the very scenic Ilkley Trail Race on Friday, completing the seven mile course in 1:07:05.
Jane Hobson and Fiona Murphy both took on the challenging Wharfedale Trail Half Marathon on Saturday, finishing in 2:12:04 and 2:43:22 respectively. Jane was third in the FV50 category, capping an excellent week's racing.
Elsewhere in the Yorkshire Dales on Saturday, Simon Gelsthorpe competed in the classic Pen-y-Ghent Fell Race, finishing the very hilly six mile course in 1:11:10.
Full Harriers' results are on the website at the Recent Races tab.
Yorkshire Championships
Eleven athletes recently represented Halifax Harriers at the Yorkshire Championships in Cudworth near Barnsley with seven runners coming away with county medals. Five were won in the 800 metres. Nia Harrison-Sargent took gold in the under 15 girls in a time of 2.16, whilst sister Kitty won silver in the under 13 girls in 2.28. Sam Keighley was second in the under 13 boys in a personal best (PB) time of 2.21, Jacob Ewart won silver in the under 17 men in a PB time of 2.01 and there was a bronze medal for Isabel Castelow in 2.20 in the senior women category. Molly Firth won a bronze in the Under 17 women's 300 metres and Louise Royston took bronze in the senior women's 400 metres. Freya Burgin, Chester Gately, Ben Slow and Maisie Brown all represented the Harriers and achieved PBs in their respective events.
Great Manchester Run
Two Halifax Harriers competed in Sunday's Great Manchester half marathon. Liam Parkin was first home, finishing in 71st place overall in 1:21:44. Wayne Stevens completed the race in 1:49:02. There were also two Harriers in the 10k with Tom Hodgson and Tabitha Howe setting times of 32:20 and 48:59 respectively.
Blackstone Edge Fell Race
Last Wednesday evening, four Harriers were amongst the competitors at the short, but gruelling, Blackstone Edge Fell Race. Andrea Ackroyd was first back, clocking 48:32 on the 3.5 mile course with 1,200' of climbing. Paul Hopkinson (53:23), Margaret Deacon (59:08) and Jenny St Romaine (69:00) also ran. This was the latest race in the club's fell league.
Duathlon/Triathlon
The club was also represented at multi-sport events on Sunday. Simon Gelsthorpe finished first in his age group in the Dalby Forest Standard Distance Duathlon with Andrea Ackroyd taking first place in her category in the Sprint event. Martin Ellis completed the Southport Triathlon.
Bluebell Trail
There was an excellent turnout at Sunday's Bluebell Trail race with 13 Harriers competing. This popular multi-terrain race, organised by Stainland Lions, was taking place for the first time since May 2019. The route took runners through woodlands with stunning displays of bluebells, along canal towpaths and trails, and up cobbled streets including the very steep Trooper Lane. Finally, there was a very refreshing river crossing before a sprint across the grass to the finish line. Conditions were good and there were many comments about the excellent and friendly organisation of the race.
Will Carver was the first Harrier to finish the challenging 10.3 mile course with around 1,500' of ascent, coming home in 25th place in 1:23:22.
Tim Baxter was next in 1:29:22. Jane Hobson was the first of the five ladies, clocking 1:40:11 and picking up the prize for the FV50 category. Rob Hick was also first in his category (MV65) in 1:43:52.
Other Harriers results: David Ingle (1:30:01 - 2nd MV50), James O'Rourke (1:32:26), Marc Rocheteau (1:40:51), Stephen Fitz-Costa (1:46:12), Sophie Baxter (1:50:01), Sally Shacklock (1:53:53), Margaret Deacon (1:54:51), Martin Ellis (1:58:27), Jenny St Romaine (2:17:37).
Leeds Half Marathon
Seven Harriers were amongst the nearly 4,000 runners that took to the streets of Leeds on Sunday for the city's annual half marathon. Ian Whitehouse was first Harrier in 68th position in a time of 1:23:41. Joanne Arundale was the first female Harrier home in 277th place in 1:34:14. Alice Vick and Erika Nightingale were close behind in 1:35:17 and 1:39:50 respectively, just ahead of Angela Clarke who was third in the FV50 category in 1:40:00. Other Harriers to run were Adam Lewis (2:04:03) and David Parrington (2:17:16)
Other Races
Elsewhere over the weekend, Hazel Berrett tackled the brutal Moel Eilio Fell Race in north Wales on Saturday. This tough 8 mile course in the heart of Snowdonia starts in Llanberis and takes in a number of summits, climbing a total of 3,000'. Hazel was first F60 in 1:47:53.
On Sunday, Will Stewart and April Caufield ran in the Blacksticks Blue 10k in Lancashire, finishing in 41:17 and 43:41 respectively. April was third FSen.