[Photo shows just a few of the Harriers who took part in the Great North Run]
From Caroline Howe & Nicola Budding…
Harriers enjoy the world’s biggest half marathon… and plenty more!
No less than 16 Harriers took part in the world’s largest half marathon on Sunday. The Great North Run remains an iconic spectacle and this year’s event was no exception… even the Prime Minister joined the 63,000 runners on the start line.
As always, the participants took part for a vast range of reasons… charitable causes, in memory of loved ones, to don fancy dress, to nab that elusive PB, or simply for the unique experience. John Hayes was first Harrier across the line in South Shields in 1:29:46, closely followed by Steve Murray in 1:30:54. Luke Watkeys finished in 1:48:48 and Josh Harris dipped under two hours in 1:59:40. Sarah Hayes, 2:08:29, Vicky Rutherford, 2:10:21, and Keira Burnsall, 2:10:24 were the first female Harriers home. Well done to everyone who took part.
Another fast flat half marathon took place at the Vale of York on the same day. Lucy Kay completed the race in a fantastic 1:34:43, 28th female out of 395, and third F40. Martin O’Halloran snuck under two hours in 1:59:19.
Away from the tarmac, Kate Prior took part in the Yorkshireman Half(ish) Marathon – actually a gruelling 14.8 miles of off-road terrain covering around 2000 feet of climb. Kate completed the race in 2:25:31, 37th overall out of field of over 250. She was eighth female and third F40 – a great result.
Petra Bijsterveld, Jane McCarthy and Hilda Coulsey travelled to Northern Ireland to take part in the Giant’s Causeway Coast Marathon and Half Marathon. Both distances took in the stunning coastline, with the marathon runners setting off first, taking in 4,000 feet of elevation. The half marathon runners joined in at the marathon turnaround point. The route, although muddy, was runnable in the main, but two substantial sections of boulders added an extra challenge!
In the half marathon, Jane McCarthy had a fantastic race finishing first female and tenth overall, in 1:54:30. Hilda meanwhile crossed the line in just under three hours, in 2:58:58. Petra took on the marathon, achieving a negative split and finishing in 5:57:49.
Two hardy Harriers took on the Lake District Mountain Trial, a serious test of fell runners’ mountaineering abilities, stamina, and the safe and fast traverse of difficult and often dangerous terrain where navigational skills and route choice are just as important as speed. Harry Brook Dobson took on the classic 18 mile / 7,500 feet event, finishing in 6:40:44. Martin Hartley completed the medium distance, covering 13 miles and 5,000 ft in 4:20:53 and finishing in ninth position overall, third V40.
On the other end of the distance spectrum, several Harriers took on the short sharp 3.5 mile / 800 feet Bradley Fell Race, one of the BOFRA series. In the senior race, Gawain Moore was the first Harrier to finish, in seventh place, 24:19, followed by George Whittlestone, 26:34, and Edward Poulter, 28:26 and first M40. Rachel Carter was fourth female finisher and first F50 in 30:20.
In the under 17 race, Joseph Bentham continued his excellent recent form, finishing second, while Michael Moore was second in the under 14 race. Thomas Bailey was second boy and Isobel Moore was second girl in the under 12 race. A fantastic showing by our juniors!
It was another busy parkrunning weekend for the Harriers. Samesh Chotai was first at Temple Newsam in 16:47. There were top ten finishes for Tom Worboys, fifth at Bowling Park, Lerryn O’Neill, second at Cliffe Castle, Sam Angus, third, and Maddie Morris, second, at Market Rasen. Geoff Howard meanwhile scored an amazing 85.58% age graded result at Horton Park, finishing in 25:53.
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.