From Paul Stephens…
14 Harriers enjoyed a warm spring evening (no midges yet) for the Jack Bloor races. I have been helping for the last few years, but was able to run this year and really enjoyed it. Only my second fell race since before Covid, but also my second this month. I do like the course and particularly the long uphill to start! Ilkley Harriers were the second men’s team with Sam Bentham (junior) the first Harrier home in 5th place. Alison Weston was the first V50 F home, and surprisingly the only women Harrier running. I was last Harrier and a tad slow.
I first ran the Jack Bloor in 1994 before I moved to Ilkley when the Ilkley College team was the first team home. In a similar sized field I could then manage 53 minutes. A year later I managed just under 49 minutes. So, 28 years on and 20 minutes slower. I guess I can cope with that! A great race, excellent organisation, including the weather.
(1 39:52 Nathan Lawson, Dark Peak Fell Runners)
Sam Bentham (junior) 5th 43.07
Simon Bell 9th 44.27
Steven Gott 19th 47.15
Danny Thompson 31st 50.51
Adam Gerrish 49th 54.44
Nick Helliwell 52nd 56.12
Dylan Shinn (junior) 60th 57.17
Steve Ladhams 63rd 57.24
Jeremy Greenwood 75th 59.48
Duncan Cooper 78th 60.10
Alison Weston 79th 60.16
Geoffrey White 100th 63.15
Paul Stephens 115th 67.07