There were three Harriers amongst the 84 runners at this morning's Midgley Moor Fell Race; the last event in the club's 2024/25 Fell & Trail League.
Going into the race, defending champion, Jane Hobson, and Stef Dickinson were tied at the top of the Women's Section. With the title up for grabs, their head to head race proved decisive. In very cold conditions, Stef completed the challenging 5 mile course, with 1,250' of climbing, in 1:04:06, ahead of Jane who finished in 1:16:41. As a result, Stef pipped Jane to the title by one point. Rachel Standish, who did not race today, finished the season just one point behind Jane in yet another tight title battle between our ladies.
Tom Paget led the Harriers trio home and was the only men's representative for the Harriers today, finishing in 38th place in 1:00:12. This result moved Tom up from third place in the Men's Section to joint second place with Will Carver. Ryan Barker had previously sealed victory in the League.
Many congratulations to Stef and Ryan as our 2024/25 champions and well done to all our podium finishers.
Also, a special mention for Jane, who competed in more Fell & Trail League races than anyone else, participating in 11 of the season's 15 races.
The first race in the 2025/26 season is the Heptonstall Fell Race on 23rd March. Entries are open.
Congratulations to Kitty Harrison-Sargent who became the U17 Women's 800m National Champion yesterday. Kitty was competing alongside the very best athletes at the England Athletics Age Group Championships on the indoor track at the EIS in Sheffield. She safely made her way through the heats to qualify for the final of the 800m where she ran a perfectly executed race with a blistering last lap to overtake the leader in the final straight and seal the win. Her time of 2:10.19 secured her the gold medal and a new club record.
Kitty was delighted with her run as was her coach Steve Mann, who said she held back in the early stages and then showed her strength and speed over the last 150m.
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.
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).