The annual trip to Mallorca just keeps getting better and better with more people attending each year. This time there were 36 of us and it was so much fun! Racing, bike rides, meals, yoga, boat trips, karaoke, bingo, table tennis, pool, lots of laughs…. the list is endless.
The centrepiece of the trip was, as usual, the races in the island's beautiful capital of Palma, starting early on the Sunday morning with runners enjoying the stunning sunrise ahead of the races.
Ryan Barker and Max Stytsun took on the full marathon distance, finishing in 3:18:59 and 4:13:25 respectively, with Max setting a Personal Best (PB).
Ten Harriers ran the Half Marathon with April Stewart (1:30:36) and Will Stewart (1:33:17) leading the way. Next was Steve Wilford in a new PB time of 1:43:53. Other Harriers were; Joanne Arundale, Paul Hopkinson, Marc Rocheteau, Jenny Hopkinson, Hazel Berrett, Andrea Ackroyd and Jenny St Romaine.
A total of 15 Harriers and their guests participated in the 9k event. Craig Empsall was first home in 40:35 followed by Mark Crabtree (3rd M65) in 42:11 and Phil Grimes, who won the M70 category in 43:03. Full results are in Recent Races on the website.
Rachel McCauley was an absolute trooper taking part in the 9k and keeping her spirits high after breaking her ankle a few days before the trip. Chris and Debbie Kirkbride heroically pushed Rachel around the course in her wheelchair (see photo).
Thanks to everyone who made it special and well done to everyone who raced and pushed wheelchairs. Thanks Chris and Debbie as always for all the organising.
Who’s coming next year?
Seven Harriers took part in Saturday's Race You to the Summit Fell Race; a race that is now 56 years old. It starts at the Summit Inn on the main road between Todmorden and Littleborough, with competitors running up to the White House pub near Blackstone Edge. Runners then touch the pub wall and run back down for a well earned drink.
In total the course is 4.3 miles long with over 800' of ascent. Halloween costumes are encouraged and a number of Harriers took up the challenge (see photo). As has become customary at this race, Will Carver ran dressed as Gandalf. Despite costume and matching broomstick, Will still managed to be the first Harrier back, finishing in 36th place in 41:06. Rob Hick was next (second M65) in 44:45.
Stef Dickinson was the first of our four ladies in 47:12 (second F50) followed by Rachel Standish, who was first in the F45 category in 47:43. The other Harriers were David Ingle (51:50), Jane Hobson (53:42) and Kirsty Carver (1:03:04).
Well done to all our runners!
This was the latest event in the club's Fell & Trail League. The next League race is the Run Bolton Abbey 10 Mile Trail Race on 10th November. It's pre-entry only. So far, seven Harriers have entered. It would be great to see a few more!
https://racebest.com/races/9fu4f
The second West Yorkshire XC league race was held on a sunny autumnal day at Thornes Park, Wakefield on Sunday afternoon. Halifax Harriers were represented across all the age groups over the challenging hilly course.
The U11 girls were out in force and took 4th team place, with the U15 Boys doing one better to secure 3rd team place. In the Senior Womens race, Sarah Cumber and Katrina Oddy both won their respective age categories, placing well up in a quality field. The senior men fielded a full team again and all ran well to finish in 7th team place.
The results are on the Recent Races page and the XC standings after 2 races are on the Cross Country page. The next West Yorkshire XC league race is on 10 November at Middleton Park, Leeds.
The U13, U15, U17s and the Senior Men will be in action next Saturday (2nd November) at the iconic English Cross Country Relays at Berry Hill Park, Mansfield. We wish them all the very best of luck!
Harry Johnson was ninth out of more than 18,000 runners at the Manchester Half Marathon on Sunday. Harry set a personal best and club record time of 1:06:21, continuing his recent sensational form. Erawan Wanithanont also represented the club, finishing in an impressive 1:24:15 in 551st place.
Ten Harriers participated in the ever-popular Leeds Abbey Dash 10k. Ben Crowther led the team home in 33:25. Watson Peel was next in 34:54. Tabitha Howe was the first of our ladies, clocking 43:23, with Joanne Arundale (44:08) and Alice Vick (44:18) close behind. Susan Hall was third FV75, setting a new age group club record of 1:13:42.
Husband and wife team, Will and April Stewart, raced in the Holmfirth 10k. April was third female finisher in 17th place in 42:12. Will completed the challenging undulating, but scenic, course in 43:29 in 23rd.
Further afield, John Moore finished the Chicago Marathon in 6:06:27.
Away from the roads, James Franklin ran in the Withins Skyline Fell Race. James finished the 6.2 mile course, with 820’ of total ascent, in 53:28 in 32nd place.
Ryan Barker travelled to South Yorkshire for the Sheffield TenTenTen. This 10k trail race takes place in the city’s Endcliffe Park, incorporating grass, roads, paved paths and woodland trails with a fair number of lumps, bumps, twists and turns. Ryan was second MV50 in 35th place overall in 45:08.
Well done to all our athletes competing at the weekend. Full results are on our website under Recent Races.
Photo of Harry at the Manchester Half Marathon
Last Sunday, Mark Crabtree took first place in his age category in the tenth, and last, race in this year's Grand Prix Series run by the Yorkshire Veterans' Athletics Association (YVAA). Mark completed the course at Ackworth in 48:08.
The YVAA promotes athletics events for over 35s in most running disciplines and runs both a Grand Prix (GP) Series and a programme of Championship races. Each year, the GP series consists of up to 10 multi-terrain races of approximately 10k. The races frequently have over 200 runners and are a great social as well as competitive event. I'm sure they would appeal to all our Vets who like to venture off-road.
Mark competed in eight races in this year's series (best 5 races count) and took second place overall in the M65 category. An excellent achievement. Well done, Mark!
Three other Harriers also participated in the series; Martin Ellis (3 races), James Franklin and Ryan Barker (1 race each).
On the YVAA Championship side, Martin Haigh found out this week, much to his surprise, that he won the prize for second M70 in the Half Marathon race, which was part of September's Vale of York Half Marathon (see photo).
Joanne Arundale (3rd F40) and Rachael Beaumont (3rd F55) were also among the podium places in the Half Marathon. Many congratulations to all three.
Our own race, the Halifax Harriers 10k, featured as the YVAA Championship 10k race this year. Mytholmroyd Fell Race on 1st December will be the Championship Fell Race. Vets, get your entries in for the chance of a prize!
Another very busy weekend of racing.
Morley 10k
Eleven Harriers made the short journey to participate in the latest counter in the Road Race Challenge; the Morley 10k. The undulating course took runners around the historic streets of Morley on closed roads and raised funds for local charities and good causes. James O'Rourke was the first home, clocking 40:36 in 25th place amongst 850 finishers and was second M50. Next was Keith Lemon (45:43) followed by Byrony Baron, who was second F35 in 46:00. Keith commented, "That was a very hard course. But season's best, I'll take that all day long."
Hopton Trail 10k
Eight Harriers competed in the Hopton 10k; the latest race in the club’s Fell & Trail League. Following a flat road section from Hopton Primary School near Mirfield, the route goes uphill into woods. There then follows a few miles of steep climbs, woodland glades and bridleways and some great views. A glorious long descent through woods takes runners back to the road and the return to the start. Over 750’ of ascent in total. Ryan Barker led the team home, finishing in 18th place in 49:05. David Ingle was first MV60 in 55:51 in 50th overall. Rachel Standish was the first of the club’s three women, clocking 57:26. Ryan and Nigel Rigg used the race as a warm-up before competing in the first West Yorkshire XC League race of the season in Guiseley in the afternoon. (See below)
Chester Marathons
A number of club members ventured to Chester. Will Carver completed the city's popular full Marathon in an excellent 3:08:28. Five runners took part in the Metric Marathon (26.2k or 16.4 miles). Paul Hopkinson was second M65 in 2:17:58 with wife, Jenny, third F55 in 2:28:46. Andrea Ackroyd (2:37:25), Jenny St Romaine (3:07:16) and Kirsty Carver (3:35:42) also completed the attractive course around the city streets and surrounding countryside.
West Yorkshire XC
Half a dozen senior Harriers took part in the first race in this season's West Yorkshire Cross Country League. Ben Crowther competed the 9.5k course at Nunroyd Park in Guiseley in 33:18 with Will Cattermole (33:38) and Watson Peel (34:05) hot on his heels. James Franklin (35:40), Ryan Barker (40:44) and Nigel Rigg (49:20) completed the team, which finished sixth in the men's race. Had Ryan and Nigel expended too much energy at Hopton in the morning?!
Photo of Halifax Harriers at Hopton 10k
My latest adventure saw me taking on a race that’s been under my skin for several years now - I’ve always wanted to sign up, but I’ve always talked myself out of it. However, as I’m well and truly in my Mountain Running Era, it had to be done before I turn 40.
As the main event in the annual Tour de Tirol, the Kaiser Marathon is billed as the toughest mountain marathon in Austria and when you run it, you soon learn why. About 80% of the course is steep mountain ascent and the short runnable sections are fast, energy sapping and cramp inducing. 42.6km, 2500m of vertical climbing and the most brutal 7km finish you’re likely to find anywhere, but what a race!
One I’ll certainly never forget, but one I’m not sure I’m mad enough to be repeating