From Alison Bennett…
The ‘Harrogate District Summer Race League’ series culminated in the exciting handicap race and presentation evening. Otley AC hosted the event and provided a well organised and great evening. There were stacks of marshalls provided to guide the runners from the ample car parking area, to the cricket club then onwards through the cemetery, across the river to emerge at the start of the race on Prince Henry’s playing fields. The nature of the handicap is that each runner is given a start time based on their performance in the previous races with the slower runners setting off first and the increasingly faster runners following at timed intervals. The aim is to catch the runner ahead, whilst not being overtaken by those behind. This results in a mass of runners all thundering towards the finish within a short space of time. It was a fairly flat and varied course around playing fields, through a park, a nature reserve, along tracks and the roadside before retracing the first mile in reverse towards the finish. Again, the marshalls were plentiful and encouraging. The race was won by Sarah Bostock of Ripon Runners and the first three Ilkley Harriers across the finish were Rachel Barnicoat (pictured) in 14th place, Lucy Elliott 71st and Matthew Snow 77th.
Afterwards, hot food was served at the Cricket Club and the presentations for the Race Series and the individual prizes for the handicap were awarded.
For the race series events, the outstanding Ilkley Harrier performance was by Emily Gibbins who was the overall female winner and also 1st female U18. A number of other Ilkley Harriers received age category awards:
Kate Archer 1st FV40
Alison Bennett 1st FV60
Ken Souyave 1st FV70
The evening also marked the retirement, at over 80 years of age, of Roy Hollingworth, the President of the League who was thanked and warmly applauded for his many years of dedication.