From Jean Sullivan…
Jack and Jenny to the fore
Jack Cummings stole the show again this weekend, winning the 28th Baildon Boundary Way, Jack’s first time doing this race.
This multi-terrain and challenging half marathon, organised by Baildon Runners, starts and finishes at Baildon Rugby & Cricket Sports Club. It involves running through Esholt Woods, along the canal and then a challenging climb up Shipley Glen, across to ‘the Gallops’ before the return home.
Twenty Harriers took part in this race. Weather conditions were good, still and sunny but the main challenge was the very muddy conditions underfoot which had to be contended with. Jack stormed to the finish to win the race in a superb time of 1:21:03, over five minutes ahead of the second finisher.
Jenny Roberts was the second Harrier home and the second lady to finish with Jenny completing the race in a very impressive time of 1:46:07. Rob Cunningham was the third Harrier across the line, in a speedy time of 1:47:36.
Other notable performances included Tracey Watson, who took first prize in her age category, Emma Shepherd and Alison Bennett, who took second place, and Colin Williams and Liz Price, who took third place in their respective age categories.
On the fells, this weekend saw the staging of the Pendle Fell Race organised by Clayton- Le-Moors Harriers. This 4.5-mile race involves 1500ft of climbing up to the trig point on Pendle ‘the Hill of the Lancashire Witches’, which is the most prominent landmark in north east Lancashire. The current race, which sets off from the village of Barley, has been staged since 1974. This year’s race incorporated the 2023 Lancashire Fell Championships.
Nathan Edmondson finished in a superb second place in the race, with Nathan running the course in an impressive time of 31:49 and just over 20 seconds behind the first-place finisher. Alison Weston also ran this race in 48:07, taking second prize in her age category.
Also on the fells, Dave Robson took part in the interestingly named race ‘We Need to Talk About Chevin Fell Race. This nine mile event, with 650m of climbing over the course, is described as ‘the worst possible scenario when touring the Chevin’, the course consisting of many steep climbs and ascents. Dave had a great race, finishing in seventh place overall in a great time of 1:14:02 and taking second prize in his age category.
The weekly timed 5km parkrun series remained popular with Ilkley Harrier members this week, with 15 Harriers taking part in various parkruns around the country. Lots of top 10 finishes including for Steve Gott who was the second finisher at the Chevin parkrun, Michael Abrams-Cohen who finished in seventh place at the Heslington parkrun and Tony Pye who also finished in seventh place at the Robert’s Park parkrun.