From Peter Shelley & Nicola Budding…
A big week for Ilkley’s fell and mountain specialists with international success and podiums aplenty!
Ed Hobbs and Ellen Crombie made the most of their selection to race for England at the Trofeo Nasego World Cup which took place over the weekend in Casto, northern Italy.
They were among eight England athletes to compete in two events alongside the best mountain runners in the world.
Saturday saw the ‘Vertical’ race, an uphill only route of 4.2km with 1,000m of ascent, half of which occurs in the final km. Ed’s race time of 35:54 put him in an outstanding 7th place of 208, the leading U23 athlete and first of the England contingent.
Ellen finished 16th female in 45:27. The men’s race was won by Patrick Kipngeno of Kenya in 33:31, the women’s by world champion Nina Engelhard of Germany in 39:29.
Ed and Ellen recovered well overnight to tackle the longer up and down race, the Trofeo Nasego, on Sunday. Running in high temperatures, they paced themselves to great effect over 21km and 1,300m of ascent to reach the Nasego refuge on Corna di Savallo before undertaking a fast descent.
Ed finished 14th in 1:40:53 and Ellen 15th woman in 2:01:50, another brilliant set of results. Congratulations Ed and Ellen! The men’s race was won by Philemon Ombogo Kiriago of Kenya in 1:30:08, with his compatriot Ruth Mwihaki Gitonga pipping Engelhard for the women.
Ilkley Harriers raced every day last week in a busy schedule of fell and stage races including four BOFRA fixtures in the Yorkshire Dales and a multi-day stage race in Switzerland.
The British Open Fell Runners Association (BOFRA) is known for its short, steep and technical fell races. The first such fixture of the week was at the Reeth Show in Swaledale on Bank Holiday Monday. Gawain Moore tackled the 3.2km route which scales 232m of Fremington Edge to finish 9th of 76 in 18:51. Emma Moore finished 49th in 25:44.
Starting a busy week for the juniors and a highly successful one for the Moore family, Michael Moore took the U14 victory finishing in 13:31 whilst Isobel Moore triumphed in the U12 race in 09:51. Thomas Bailey finished U12 4th boy.
Tuesday saw racing at the ever-popular Kilnsey Show and Sports, set against the spectacular backdrop of Kilnsey Crag and attracting competitors from all over Yorkshire and Cumbria keen to take on the fell race, with equally challenging junior races on offer.
The senior race route took competitors over the steep terrain and scree of the crag ascending and descending 130m in just 1.6km. First Harrier home among 75 finishers was George Whittlestone in 16th followed by Michael Odell in 17th and 3rd MV40 (despite competing in the mile handicap the same day), Samesh Chotai 20th and Oscar Shinn 24th.
Michael Moore was back in action for the juniors and finished 3rd U14 Boy. In the U12 Boys, Thomas Bailey was first junior home in 5th followed by Harris Poulter in 12th place and Oscar Spooner in 19th place. Isobel Moore had another fantastic run, finishing 1st girl in the U12 Race, with Georgia Poulter finishing 10th.
Wednesday evening saw 117 runners compete in the Ilkley Incline, an infamous uphill only fixture long established in Ilkley Harriers’ club history and league. Starting at the base of Keighley Road, the route climbs 170m over one mile in a series of ramps and turns on mixed terrain that levels out as it approaches the finish on the moor top. Damp but calm conditions produced some strong performances with the wins going to Toby Antcliff of Leeds City AC in 7:26 and Olivia Mulligan of Thirsk & Sowerby Harriers in 8:58. First Harrier was James Horrex in 8th place in 8:31, George Whittlestone 9th in 8:38 and Finn Maxwell 11th in 8:44. Nick Kealey finished 15th and 1st M50, Owen Parker 20th, Matthew Kennedy 23rd, John Hayes 29th and 1st M55, Stephen Coy 30th, Ed Gamble 31st and 1st M60. Rebecca Brown finished 55th and 1st W40. Bob Hamilton was 78th and 1st M70. 32 Harriers finished helping Ilkley win the men’s and women’s team prizes.
Run alongside the Incline were the annual Ilkley junior sprint relays which drew strong attendance from local clubs and schools. 96 juniors competed setting five new course records! KCAC’s Absolute Champions took the win as the first young boys’ team, while Bingley Buzzards were the first mixed team. Ilkley’s own Team Awesome finished third overall as well as taking the honours as the first young girls’ team. Bingley Buzzards and Team Awesome both set new course records in their respective categories. In the older age category race Team Exterminators, a mix of runners from local clubs, took first place and the course record! Behind them came a tightly fought battle between Bingley Bunions and Bingley Chickens who took 2nd and 3rd respectively. The Chickens were also the first older girls’ team and set a new course record. The first older mixed team was Bingley Bears, who finished an impressive fifth overall — and added another course record to the evening’s haul.
Also on Weds evening Oscar Spooner represented Harrier Juniors at the Muker Show Fell Races finishing U12 7th boy.
It was business as usual for Sam Bentham in the final fell race of the week in Burnsall. Running the 2.4km and 242m of ascent on Burnsall Fell in 13:57 Sam took a decisive win in a competitive field. Gawain Moore was 8th whilst George Whittlestone enjoyed his third racing success of the week in 23rd. Katie Poulter was 28th and 2nd LV40 and Emma Moore 54th and 1st LV45.
Burnsall’s inclusion in the junior league ensured good attendance with podiums for Michael Moore 1st U14 boy, Isobel Moore – 1st U12 girl and Joseph Bentham – 2nd U17 boy. In the U9 race Georgia Poulter finished as 8th girl and Joshua Steward was 9th boy. In the U12 boys, Thomas Bailey was first Junior home in 9th, followed by Archie Hallworth in 11th, Harris Poulter in 19th and Oscar Spooner in 31st place.
Dan Paterson took on a challenge of an altogether different order at the Ultra Tour Monte Rosa in Switzerland. Dan opted for the stage race among the various races on offer during the week. This comprised 171km and a substantial 11,600m of ascent run in daylight over four days in the vicinity of the imposing Matterhorn. Conditions were bright and clear, but temperatures varied substantially between the valleys and the upper elevations including a glacier traverse and border crossing into Italy. Dan rose to the challenge and finished 97th in a highly creditable total running time of 38 hrs 24m.
Seven Harriers competed in the Wetherby 10k on Sunday including Sally Armitage who finished 20th and first FV45 in 39:11. Rob Cunningham was 31st in 41:21, Martin O’Halloran 221st, Liane Cheetham 366th, Olive Willis 408th, Rose Hall 441st and Becky Taylor 492nd.
Jayne Norman finished the Malham Trail Half in 2:40:04 to place 97th and 13th F40.
At East Holmes Field parkrun Dan McKeown was second and 1st MV45. Steve Coy was fourth and 1st MV50. John Hayes ran a course personal best and was 1st MV55. All three were beaten in the age grade ratings by Geoff Howard who was first MV80. Leo Freer was 1st JM11-14.
Max Hebbron ran a personal best at Roberts Park. The Moore family bragging rights contest continued at the Chevin parkrun where Michael and Isobel Moore finished 1st in their respective age categories just one second apart!
Cliffe Castle saw Lerryn O’Neill finish 3rd female and 1st JW10.
Ilkley Harriers is a friendly welcoming club, open to all. If you would like to try us out, please register first on the training page at www.ilkleyharriers.org.uk and then come along to our main club night at 6.45pm on Tuesdays, meet upstairs at Ilkley tennis and squash club.