From Peter Shelley and Nicola Budding…
Ed Hobbs and Sam Bentham lead Ilkley Harriers to mountain and fell success!
Following his success in Trofeo Nasego in Italy last month, Ed Hobbs once again stepped onto the international stage for the World Mountain Running Championship Finals in Beaupré Quebec. The event comprised an uphill only race on Saturday of 5km with 740m of ascent and an up and down Classic race on Sunday of 15km and 1,233m. Pitched against the best mountain runners from around the world, many with more experience, 21-year old Ed played to his strengths to claim an outstanding 6th place of 174 athletes running 29:40 in the uphill race and a superb 9th in 1:16:00 in the Classic. Male race winners were Meikael Beaudoin Rousseau (USA) in 28:54 and Philemon Kiriago (Kenya) in 1:11:24 while Germany’s Nina Engelhard completed a weekend female double in 31:42 and 1:20:34 respectively.
Five Ilkley Harriers braved the Cumbrian fells in tough conditions at the Langdale Horseshoe on Saturday. One of the Lakeland Classics and categorised ‘AL’ by the Fell Running Association for long and steep, the race visits the summits of Thunacarr Knott, Bowfell and Pike of Blisco within 1,450 m of climb spread over a 21km route. Wet slippery conditions with some hail on the tops added to the challenge but failed to deter Sam Bentham as he posted another victory in 2:05:08 to add to his highly successful fell running season. Sam is now so established on the fell running circuit it is easy to forget he is still in the under-23 category. Sam’s father James Bentham was next Harrier finishing 107th in 3:27:47. Alison Weston was 150th in 3:49:7, Richard Joel 164th in 03:55:33 and Charles Wain 167th in 03:58:54.
Natalie Curtis was in Cumbria but on a different trajectory running from Caldwell in the North via Helvellyn and Ambleside to Cartmel in the south in the Lakes in a Day ultra. Natalie did a great job to manage the 80km, 4,000m of ascent and challenging conditions in 19:19:30 to place 197th overall and 3rd FV50.
There was more fell action on Sunday in Withins Skyline, a counter in the Harriers race league. Runners encountered sunshine but some mud underfoot on the hilly moorland course west of Haworth. Robert Green finished 11th, Nick Kealey 17th, George Whittlestone 34th, John Marsham 42nd, Emma Moore 75th and Darryl Stead 101st.
The juniors were in action on Haworth Moor too in the Quarry runs. Ilkley Harriers’ sole representative Isobel Moore made her mark with victory in GU12 race.
Sunday saw the West Yorkshire Cross Country season-opener at Cliffe Castle in Keighley. Dan McKeown finished 40th and 2nd VM45 in the senior men’s race whilst Ellen Crombie took an excellent 2nd in the senior ladies. Kate Archer was 36th and 2nd VW45 with Rachel Carter 38th and 5th VW50.
The junior WYXC races featured some strong performances with Alicia Brett in an excellent 2nd place in the U12 Girls followed by Lerryn O’Neill in 12th. In the U14 Girls Cara Millar finished in 5th place with Millie Houlbrook in 23rd. In the U14 Boys Leo Freer finished 3th closely followed by teammates Ethan Pickwoad in 15th and Thomas Bailey in 17th. Their combined efforts secured 5th place for the U14 Boys team. Milena Morgan finished in 17th place in the U16 Girls and Joseph Bentham took on the highly competitive U18 Men’s race finishing in an excellent 12th place. Four more fixtures follow in the WYXC 2026-27 calendar.
Two Harriers travelled to Chester to compete in the marathon which takes in the city’s historic sites and surrounding scenery including a section over the border in Wales. Both runners acquitted themselves extremely well in a field over 5,000 strong. Jaysson Sawyer ran a time of 02:57:39 to 202nd place and 19th of 414 in the MV45 category. Sally Armitage ran 03:09:24 to 423rd place and 5/201 in the FV45 category.
Further south Jane Bryant enjoyed running through central London’s green spaces in the Royal Parks Half Marathon which takes in Kensington Gardens, Hyde Park, Green Park and St. James’s Park. Jane finished in 2:02:46 placing 65th in the F55-59 category.
The York 5k took place on Friday at the University of York’s Sport Village on the cycle circuit. Ilkley Harriers’ sole representative Christos Tzelis made it count with a blistering 15:04 to finish 3/101.
At East Holmes Field parkrun Geoff Howard (VM80-84) was first by age grade. Rafe Garner was 1st in the JM11–14 category. At Roberts Park parkrun Max Hebbron took 1st place in the JM10 category. At Lister Park Mariam Allen was 1st in the JW11–14 category and in Skipton Archie Hallworth crossed the line 1st in the JM10 category.