From Nigel Illingworth…
High Climbs and Fast Times: Ilkley Harriers Triumph at Guy Fawkes 10 and Beyond
On Sunday, runners headed to Pateley Bridge for the scenic yet demanding Guy Fawkes 10, a tough course featuring a long, relentless climb followed by a plunge down a very steep descent. It marks only the second year of the event’s updated route, which relocated to Pateley Bridge after previously starting at Ripley Castle, with the team bringing home an impressive collection of top category placings and strong times.
Jane McCarthy led the performance, finishing as the eighth female overall and securing first place in the F50 category with a time of 1:16:06. Hot on her heels, Rachel Carter crossed the line as the tenth female overall and second F50, clocking 1:16:18.
Lucy Kay delivered a fine performance to take third F45 in 1:16:44. In the veteran men’s field, Steve Murray put in a strong run to place fourth M55 in 1:13:08. Mike Williams also bagged a high age-group spot, finishing fourth M65 in 1:22:48. Alison Weston earned a hard-fought fifth F60 position, stopping the clock at 1:28:13. Jean Sullivan ran well to claim fifth F55, finishing in 1:30:37.
Earlier in the week, on Wednesday, runners took to the track at the Brownlee Centre for the latest Even Splits Leeds 5K. Matthew Thackwray delivered the standout performance of the night, claiming overall victory and setting a new MV40 club record with a blisteringly fast time of 15:10. In the junior ranks, James Lee put in a fantastic run to finish first in the MU18 category, stopping the clock at 17:33. Georgina Hamill also secured a category win, crossing the line as first FV40 with a strong time of 21:33. In the MV55 category, Jonathan Turner earned an impressive fourth-place finish in 19:31. He was closely followed in the age-group standings by Tony Pye, who took fifth place in the competitive MV50 field with a solid 19:22. Rounding out the results, Kyle Bethell turned in a well-paced effort to take sixth place in the MV35 category, finishing in 18:39.
Kirsty Hambleton led the way for Ilkley Harriers with a stellar performance at the Stone Circle Marathon on Saturday, taking the overall victory in the ladies’ race with an impressive time of 3:46:06. Set against the beautiful backdrop of the Yorkshire Dales, it was a fantastic day out on an enjoyably challenging multi-terrain course. The scenic looped route took runners across fields, footpaths, canal towpaths, and quiet country lanes, circling past the historic Broughton Stone Circle.
There was another strong showing of Ilkley Harriers out in force across the weekend’s parkruns, leading to impressive finishes and personal bests at venues nationwide.
Highlighting the top spot performances, Samesh Chotai stormed to victory at Hastings High School, crossing the line first in (16:57). Meanwhile, Forrest Hamilton took first place at Chevin Forest in (19:52), and Milena Morgan was the first female finisher at Roberts Park, clocking a new personal best time of (19:56).
On the road, Michael Odell produced a fine run at Northampton to claim second place in (16:36), while Jaysson Sawyer took third spot at Fountains Abbey with a time of (18:18). At Myrtle, Louise Nash was third female in (24:49), followed by Lily Singleton who set a PB as eighth female in (28:35), and David Singleton who also recorded a PB finishing in (28:36). Over at East Holmes Field, Helen Thurston placed as fourth female in (24:13), Leo Freer finished seventh overall with a PB in (20:14), Maddie Morris came in as eighth female in (25:20), and Lucy Lowe secured a personal best in (26:40). Kingsway Park saw Stephen Coy finish in fourth position in (19:42), with Gaenor Coy coming home as tenth female in (28:13). Rounding off the action at Lister Park, Lerryn O’Neill was fifth female in (23:05), accompanied by Sally Malir who was tenth female in (25:20).