The 10 mile race at Burnsall was won by Halifax Harriers member Will Smith in 54:49 which broke the club record for a M40 by four minutes. Smith had come second in the race on a number of occasions, but this was his first outright win.
Halifax Harriers Sarah Cumber was the 1st lady yet again at her favourite race in a time of 64:31.
The race is part of the Burnsall Feast Sports held on August Bank Holiday Saturday. The race starts from the village green in Burnsall with the first of the climbs after about half a mile. The race then undulates on its way to Grassington, Threshfield and Linton finishing with a long downhill stretch back into Burnsall. Mark Crabtree was the M60 winner in 70:48 and Sharon Cousen finished in 1:26:54.
Three members of Halifax Harriers ran in the Burnsall Junior fell races. In the under 10 years, Sam Keighley ran well to finish in 4th place in 4:49. The Johnson brothers competed in the combined under 16-18 years race. Harry Johnson was 1st in the under 18 years in 7:40, whilst James was 6th in the under 16 years in 8:44.
Simon Johnson took on the famous ‘Classic fell race’, a short, but steep, race up to the top of the fell overlooking the village with a tricky descent through rocks, bracken and over walls back to the village green. Johnson finished in 28th place in 19:35. Sharon Cousen ran on tired legs after running the 10 mile race earlier in the afternoon and finished in 37:31.
63 runners braved the wind, rain and quite cool conditions to run over Norland Moor and after all the lovely days we have had recently!
The winning time was 35.54 from Rob James of Royton Harriers, followed by Chris Miller from Harrogate Harriers in a time of 36.32 and 3rd man home was Ged Callan from Bingley Harriers in a time of 39.50.
The first lady back was April Caufield from Halifax Harriers in a time of 45.53, followed by Stacey Cleal from Queensbury Running Club 48.13 and 3rd lady Sophie Baxter again from Halifax Harriers in a time of 54.13.
LV40 was Alison Smith of Holmfirth, LV50 was Helen Hudson of Stainland Lions, LV55 Kath Hoyer of FRA, LV65 Sue Exon from Trafford.
MV40 was Breton Holdsworth U/A, MV45 Adam Storer again U/A, MV50 Robin Tuddenham from Todmorden Harriers, MV55 Paul Jeggo from Springfield Harriers, MV60 Steven Melline from Rossendale, MV65 Jan King from Stainland Lions and MV70 Jeff Norman from Altrincham.
Halifax won both the mens (Rob Macdonald, Will Stewart and Tim Baxter) and ladies (April Caufield, Sophie Baxter, and Hazel Berrett) team prizes.
RIVERSIDE HALF MARATHON
Halifax Harriers ladies were the top team at the Riverside Half Marathon which starts and finishes at the newly designed and revamped Lancaster Quay. The race is mainly run on the Lune Estuary footpaths which follow the River Lune, and is relatively flat.
April Caufield (1:34:55) third lady finisher, Rachael Beaumont (1:39:44) and Sophie Baxter (1:48:31 -PB) were the winning ladies team.
The first three men to finish for Halifax Harriers were Michael King (1:24:49 - PB), Will Stewart (1:31:13) and Marc Rocheteau (1:39:19).
PB’s were also set by David Parrington (1:53:26) and Samantha Layfield (1:53:42).
Other runners for the club were:- Jonny Lister 1:46:13, Nigel Rigg 1:48:05, John Moore 1:58:40, Debbie Kirkbride 2:06:46 and Susan Hall 2:12:42 (1st F65).
Halifax Harriers hosted the 7th race in the Yorkshire Vets Grand Prix from Spring Hall Athletics Track.
The 6 mile race starts from the top of the Hebble Trail just below the Athletics Track and takes runners down the trail to Salterhebble canal basin. It then follows the canal almost to Sowerby Bridge before returning by riverside paths.
The race attracted 236 runners and was won by Will Kerr of Saltaire Striders in 32:56. Halifax Harriers had the ladies winner in Sarah Cumber 37:23, just over a minute in front of Stainland Lions runner Margaret Beever.
Halifax Harriers men were led home by Michael King 36:33 (11th). Paul Berry showed good form to finish in 38:25 a few seconds in front of James O’Rourke 38:38.
Other runners for the club were:- David Ingle 39:18, Mark Crabtree 40:46 (1st M60), Geoff Cumber 43:33 (2nd M70).
Cleckheaton was the venue for the final match of the West Yorkshire Track and Field League for 2018.
Halifax Harriers senior woman Lorna Gill became champion after another successful day with 1st places in the 100m, 400m and high jump. She also recorded PB’s in the javelin and hammer. Claire Ryan, despite illness, came 2nd in the javelin, 3rd in the high jump and 4th in the 100m and achieved 5th place in the league.
Harry Mallinson, U/23 man, a winner of the league for the previous two years, missed out on the overall winning of the league by only one point. This was despite winning the 100m, 400m and 800m on the day. Unlucky with an injury mid-season put paid to him winning the league. Mallinson has been consistently successful over many years and would like to dedicate much of his success to his grandma.
The league is made up of 6 fixtures with many events taking place. Halifax Harriers had many competitors well placed in most age groups.
U/17 Boys - George Gillgrass 1st, Joe MacDonald 6th.
U/17 Girls – Lily MacDonald 4th.
U/15 Boys – Ethan Clarke 4th.
U/15 Girls – Isabelle Bloem 7th.
U/13 Boys – Kai Daley 2nd.
U/13 Girls - Elise Horner 1st.
U/11 Boys – Harrison Goldthorpe 1st, Owen Helliwell 3rd, Leo Riches 5th.
U/11 Girls – Nia Harrison-Sargent 1st.
The Ian Stansfield 5k race on 6th August was ran around Cowm Reservoir at Whitworth on Monday, celebrating Ian’s long outstanding contribution to the sport, with over 50 years of competitive running behind him.
Seventy-five eager runners lined up at the start, where a steep but thankfully short uphill section led up to the reservoir, which presented a pancake flat, but slightly loose surface to stretch out on in the hot evening sun.
Barring a tight zig zagging turn at the far end of the reservoir, this was a fast course of long sweeping curves, returning along the front wall of the reservoir through the Water Ski Centre and on to a repeat lap. After completing a second circuit of the reservoir, runners dropped back down the now speedy descent to the finish line, before retiring to the nearby Cock & Magpie for prize giving.
Halifax Harrier’s junior Harry Johnson won the race in an impressive 17m25s. Simon Johnson led the MV50 category and finished 3rd overall, closely followed by James Johnson, finishing as 2nd MJ and 8th overall. April Caufield continued her great year of racing as first senior female in a time of 20m17s, chasing James to the finish line, whilst the Harriers were also well represented by Will Stewart, Nigel Taylor (MV45 3rd) and Andrew Clancey.
Proceeds from the race went to Overgate Hospice in Elland.