Over the past week, Harriers' ladies have triumphed in two races. Last Sunday, April Stewart was the first female finisher at the Meltham Tough 10k with Byrony Baron repeating the feat at Wednesday evening's Winter Solstice 10k. Huge congratulations to both!
April led home the 15-strong contingent of Harriers in the Meltham race; a road 10k with gruelling climbs and long, fast descents. April finished in 41:14 in 23rd place overall. Close behind, Will Carver was next in, clocking 41:34. Jenny Hopkinson was second F55 in 52:36.
Half a dozen Harriers braved the cold to don head torches for the twice postponed Winter Solstice 10k. This hilly trail race consists of two laps within the Bingley St Ives estate. Byrony finished 36th overall in 56:14. Other Harriers were Nigel Jamieson (1:00:06), Sharon Cousen (2nd F55 in 1:05:06), Martin Ellis (1:10:15), Jenny St Romaine (1:19:48) and Andrea Ackroyd (1:19:49).
Harriers were well represented at this morning's ever-popular Dewsbury 10k with 26 runners amongst the 2,649 finishers. Conditions were near perfect on a lovely sunny, but cold, morning with little wind. The fast out-and-back course through the town centre involves a slight uphill in the first half, making it perfect to achieve the runner's Holy Grail of a 'negative split'.
Will Carver was the first home, taking full advantage of the course and the conditions, to record a personal best of 37:12, underlining his versatility as a runner. (He wasn't holding back at Halifax Parkrun yesterday either!) Harris Faulkner (37:42) and James O'Rourke (37:45) were close behind.
Joanne Arundale was the first of our ten ladies to finish, crossing the line in 42:11. Tabitha Howe (42:19), Rachael Beaumont (42:51) and Alice Vick (43:16) were all in hot pursuit.
Harris, Tabitha, Jack Denton, Byrony Baron and Tim Slow also all set personal bests.
This was the last race in the club's 2024/25 Road Challenge. The next Challenge race, and the first in the 2025/26 season, is the Keighley 5k on 30th March.