Stef Dickinson led home the 10-strong Harriers contingent at yesterday's Run Bolton Abbey 10 trail race, finishing in 21st place in 1:37:16.
This beautiful race takes place on the trails around the Bolton Abbey Estate and raises funds for the Sue Ryder Manorlands Hospice in Oxenhope. The ten mile event takes in very varied terrain and scenery with a total ascent of over 1,500', and contains a section in the middle that feels very much like a fell race. Conditions were ideal with cool temperatures, no rain and little wind. Views, however, were restricted by mist on a typical November day.
Rachel Standish (1:39:35) and Jenny Hopkinson (1:43:06) followed Stef in, with both taking first place in their respective age groups. Fiona Murphy (1:52:48) was also first in her age group.
Rob Hick unfortunately took a wrong turn and added three miles to his run. There was some talk that Rob was simply seeking full value for his money as he had initially entered, and paid for, the half marathon race!
Other Harriers to compete were; Andrea Ackroyd, Sharon Jamieson, Martin Ellis, Margaret Deacon and Jane Hobson. Full results can be found in the Recent Races section on the website.
This was the latest race in the club's Fell & Trail League. The situation is very tight in the women's section with Jane Hobson and Stef Dickinson tied at the top with Rachel Standish just one point behind. In the men's section, Ryan Barker leads Will Carver by one point with Tom Paget in third. There are three races left in the 2024/25 season with the next race being the Coley Canter on 28th December.
Harry Johnson on Saturday 9th obliterated his own 5K PB by an astonishing 31secs to finish 12th in the highly recognised Adidas Podium 5K at Barrowford.
Stacked full of internationals, Harry ran 14.03 ahead of Olympic gold medallist Jonny Brownlee and arch rival of fellow club mate of Max Burgin, Ben Pattison. The race was won in 13.36 by Belgian Ruben Hendrix with Leeds City's 2024 Marathon Olympian Phil Sesseman 3rd in 13.38.
Both Harry and coach Matthew Pierson are delighted with the fast progress, which has elevated Harry to elite status with 18 months of coaching.
Halifax Harriers had another good team turnout for the 3rd XC league race at Middleton Park in Leeds on Sunday. The new testing course consisted of relentless rolling hills although conditions underfoot were dry.
The Under 11 Girls team placed well in 5th with the U15 Boys doing one better and placing 4th team on the day. Sarah Cumber and Katrina Oddy both showed their strength and class in the Senior Ladies race, both finishing 1st in their respective age categories (Sarah had raced the previous evening at Barrowford). Will Cattermole had a strong finish, just outsprinting clubmate Liam Parkin on the line to finish 7th U20. James Franklin had another solid run finishing 1st M45.
With just one more league race to go, the Harriers are featuring in the overall West Yorkshire standings with Ben Crowther in 3rd M35, James Franklin 1st M45 and Nigel Rigg 3rd M60. The U15 Boys are joint 3rd team with the U11 Girls in 3rd team place.
The final race in the WYXC league is on Sunday 8 December at Oulton Sports Club, Rothwell. See the XC page for full results of the races to date, current club championship standings and details of the final race.
Please find below a link the Santa Hat Dash Charity Run which is being held on Sunday 8th December and is in aid of the My Mito Mission charity.
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Green is the new red! Join us on Sunday 8th December for our Santa Dash, raising funds and awareness for mitochondrial disease while having some Christmas family fun!
Tickets available now at just £15 for adults and £5 for kids, which includes your very own green Santa hat, a lapel pin & certificate to remember the day by.
Find out more & get your tickets now on our website: https://www.mymitomission.uk/santa-dash-2024/
As well as runners help is also required on the day. If you could give a little time to help then please contact Martin Haigh at martin@lattitude7.co.uk
Many thanks, Martin Haigh
Twenty young Halifax Harriers travelled to Berry Hill Park in Mansfield on Saturday 2nd November to compete at the iconic English Cross Country Relays. Although there were some incompete teams, the younger Harriers represented the club in the U13, U15 and U17 age groups, running against some of the best clubs in the country.
The U17 Men fielded two teams, with the A Team of Chester Gately, Eli Cattermole and Ben Slow (who was making a welcomed return to competiton) finishing 37th out of 92 teams. The B Team of Henry Hallam, Matthew Booth and Daniel Hord finished in 72nd place.
Two of the U17 Women, Nia Harrison-Sargent and Annie Thorp had strong performances and were placed well up the field in their incomplete team.
The U15 Girls Team of Kitty Harrison-Sargent, Alesha and Lily Atkinson finished 62nd team out of 89, with Kitty finishing a strong first leg in 24th place.
The U15 Boys A Team of William Pickering, Harry Booth and Beau Clark came home in 48th place out of the 91 teams, with Albert Jones running the first leg for an incomplete B Team.
The U13 Boys were 55th out of 70 teams with James Sutcliffe, Alexander Weatherby and Maximus Cooper. Fleur Parkinson ran leg 1 in the U13 Girls race.
Well done to all who made the journey. The next Cross Country race will be the 3rd race in the West Yorkshire League on Sunday 10th November at Middleton Park, Leeds. Entries are being taken up to 7th November (see calendar page for more details).