From Peter Shelley and Nicola Budding…

Photo credit Peter Shelley.

Harrier victories, course records and category trophies in another busy week on the fells, trails and roads.

Events throughout the week and over the weekend kept the Harriers busy on the fells, trails and roads. They were duly rewarded for their efforts with great results and positive (or at least memorable!) experiences all round.

The highlight for many was the second running of the club’s Pete Shields Ilkley 10k race on Sunday. Celebrating the life of Ilkley Harrier coach and stalwart Peter Shields, the race looks set to become a favourite. Slightly modified from last year, the route uses fast flat closed roads along the northern banks of the River Wharfe, with two laps of an out and back format allowing great spectating and support both for and among the participants. Nathan Edmondson ran perfect splits to take his second victory of the week (first one being the Chevin Fell Race) and ten seconds off his 2024 winning time. Christos Zelis was his closest competitor, taking nearly a minute off his 2024 time. Alexander Wolfenden, increasingly one of our best contenders, was third Harrier home in 6^th. Matt Newell followed him home in 7^th with Samesh Chotai an excellent 12^th. Gawain Moore was top MV45 in 14^th. Jonny McKenna was 21^st, Harry Brook-Dobson 22^nd, Stephen Coy 29^th and first MV50. Jaysson Sawyer was 30^th, Ritchie Williamson 31^st (achieving a personal goal and showing that ultra running need not diminish speed), Justin Phillips 33^rd, Rob Cunningham 37^th, Louis Sturman 39^th, James Lee 41^st, Sally Armitage 48^th, all recording times under the magic 40-minute mark. Sally finished first in the FV45 category. Jane McCarthy took the FV50 category in 76^th place and Jann Smith the FV55 in 139th. Further excellent age group performances among the 49 Harriers who competed came from Geoff Howard first MV75 in 163rd and Diane Kitchen first FV65. Well done to all those who participated, organised and supported the race making this such a good day for the club and the town! 

Ilkley Harrier Juniors activities started on Monday evening at the British Milers Club Regional Meeting, this time hosted by Leeds Beckett University. Helena Coy, competing in her first 3000 m track event finished her race in 10:33.

Wednesday evening saw the third meeting of the West Yorkshire Track and Field League take place in Wakefield where sisters Heather and Rosa Crolla were out in action again. On this occasion, Rosa took on her first 100 m track event finishing the U13G race in 16:94 and also competed in the field events.

Nathan Edmondson posted another victory at the Otley Chevin Fell Race. The course distance is just 4.5 km but packs in 210m of climb and technical challenge.  Nathan’s time of 17:09 took him within five seconds of Ian Holmes’ 2001 course record. Gawain Moore was 9^th, Edwyn Oliver-Evans 11^th, Steve Gott 22^nd, Adam Gerrish 45^th, Alison Weston 85^th and Darryl Stead 107^th. 125 ran.

 

Thurs saw race two of the Harrogate District Summer Race League. Organised by Dragons Running Club, the race took participants on 8.7km of trails and 130m of ascent through the woodland and fields of Yeadon and Esholt. Matthew Thackwray, a specialist at this type of event and distance, won in 30:06. Tom Adams made it an Ilkley 1-2 finishing in 30:55 to take the M40 honours. Harry Brook-Dobson was 15^th, Edwyn Oliver-Evans racing again just 24 hours after the Otley Chevin was 26^th, Ritchie Williamson 27^th and 2^nd M50, Jaysson Sawyer 31^st, Forrest Hamilton 35^th, Robert Green 59^th, Luke Watkeys 56^th, Tony Pye 68^th, Ash Winter 82^nd, David Singleton 97^th, Robert Budding 123^rd, Mike Williams 134^th and Mark Iley 136^th. Other notable results among the 36 Harriers who competed include Diane Kitchen who took 2^nd in the F65 category. Ilkley’s active participation puts them in a strong position in the team standings with three more races to go.

Thursday also saw the Bronte 5 take place on two laps of the quiet undulating roads of Penistone Country Park outside Haworth. The race incorporated the Yorkshire Vets 5-mile men’s and women’s road championships. Mark Hall finished an immensely strong 13^th of 96 taking the MV65 category by some margin. 

Saturday’s Wharfedale Trail Half Marathon has long been a favourite among Ilkley Harriers. Covering 600m of climb and a variety of terrains on its route over the hills north of Grassington, through Conistone and up Mastiles Lane to the fells on the western side of the Wharfe, this is not an event for those targeting a half marathon personal best but rewards those who can pace themselves over the long climbs and descents on mixed terrain.

Jack Cummings was first home among the 17 Harriers in the event. In most previous years his time of 1:22:49 would have been enough for the win. This year however Jack had to reckon with the presence of Andy Heyes from Dark Peak Fell Runners who ran 1.20.39 to take the win. Both men were within Chris Holdworth’s previous course record, an impressive achievement.  

Nick Helliwell ran a strong race to finish 14^th and 2^nd MV45. Rachel Carter was 36^th and 1^st FV45 while Ash Winter finished 38^th. Other notables included Jonathan Sinclair 43^rd and 2^nd MV60 and Derek Oliver 56^th and 4^th MV60. Well done to all the Harriers who took on this challenging half marathon!

The Ennerdale Horseshoe, one of Lakeland’s classic fell races, took place on Saturday. Classified as a ‘Super Long A’ category, with 37km/2290m on rough terrain over the peaks of Red Pike, Kirk Fell, Pillar and Crag Fell, the race is not for the faint-hearted. Martin Hartley, Katie Poulter and Nea Weston took on the challenge in wet conditions which were difficult but thankfully not as severe as forecast, finishing in 45th, 82^nd and 88^th respectively. The race was won by Finlay Wild of Lochaber. 97 ran.      

The Stanza Stones Ultra set off from Marsden on Saturday morning for its third summer iteration. The race winds its way through 80km and 2,100m of ascent via Pennine moorland and towns to Ilkley. A variation on an established long distance walking path, the route connects all six Stanza Stones which bear the poetry of Poet Laureate Simon Armitage. Carved into the rock in remote locations, the poems explore the theme of water and its impact on the flora and fauna of remote rural England. Runners must visit all the stones in addition to checkpoints and food stations in Mytholmroyd, Haworth and Bingley. Ben Sheppard put himself through the wringer to take 24 minutes off his 2023 time, finishing in 9:44:11 to take a strong 8^th place. One position behind was Ann-Kristin Marsham finishing in an excellent 9:48:41 taking the FV40 category and vastly surpassing her own expectations on a first attempt at the ultra. Peter Shelley was 18^th and 2^nd MV55. Further competitive showings came from Louisa McCallion in 30^th, Robin Moffatt 44^th and Kirsty Wicks 52^nd. 91 runners completed.

Settle Saunter is an annual walking/running event along footpaths and bridleways in the lower fells of the Yorkshire Dales. Adela Reperecki and Penny Coulthard opted for the longest of the three distances on offer, covering 37km in 5:18:09 and 5:45:40 to finish 35^th and 40^th of 84 respectively.

Nicole Liptrot took part in the Coniston Marathon Challenge, one of several Lakeland Trails events on offer over the weekend. Also opting for the longest of three distances, Nicole covered the 42km and 1,000m of ascent on a complete offroad circuit of Coniston Water and Tarn Hows in 5:06:32 finishing 40/170 and 7^th lady. Not bad for a marathon debut!

As distinct from Coniston Marathon Challenge, the Coniston Marathon uses the same route but is subject to stricter cut-off times. Helen Thurston paced it well to complete the marathon in an impressive 4:10:59 securing 37^th place and 2^nd FV40.

Another fantastic solo performance took place in the Swansea Half Marathon. Having qualified last year to run for England in a home international, Hilda Coulsey saw off strong Welsh competition to finish 2293/5731in an impressive 2:02:49 taking silver F70.  

Further creditable Harrier performances took place at the BOFRA Championship League Ulverston fell race where Ben Hallworth finished 13th in the seniors race and Archie Hallworth 2^nd in the juniors race.

Round Three of the FRA Junior Championships took place in the Peak District with Dark Peak Fell Runners hosting the Edale Fell Race. Ranging in distance from 1 km for the U9 race up to 7 km for the U17 and U19 races, the courses included rocky terrain, steep descents and stream crossings. Three juniors competed with Robert Brooks finishing 6th in the 4.2 km BU15 race and in the 7 km MU19 race Oscar Shinn finished 5th in 39:35 followed by George Whittlestone finishing 14th in 45:25.

Matthew Thackwray’s fast twitch muscles were working again at Fountains Abbey parkrun setting the fastest time of 15:33, a new personal best for him on this course. Likewise Samesh Chotai ran 17:47 to set his now customary fastest time at Skipton parkrun. James Lee ran at Chevin Forest finishing in 2nd place in 20:54 followed by Isobel Moore finishing as 4th female in 25:02.