From Jean Sullivan…

Wins for the Harriers – and a new 10km club record

Tom Adams stormed ahead to win the Wadsworth Trog this weekend. A local classic, with navigational skills required, the Wadsworth Trog is a 19.3-mile fell race with 1100m of climbing, which starts and finishes in Hebden Bridge. The route takes in some of the Calder Valley’s harshest upland terrain. Tom completed the course in a fantastic time of 2:29:06, over seven minutes ahead of the second-place finisher.

Clubmate Dave Robson also had a great run at this race finishing in the top 20 in a time of 3:06:15.

On the road, this weekend saw the staging of the popular Dewsbury 10km, a flat, fast out-and-back course with PB potential. Harriers were out in force, with 18 taking part. Nathan Edmondson finished in a sensational 30:07 – a nail-biting finish seeing Nathan just 12 seconds behind the first-place finisher but with a big consolation prize as his time represented a new 10km club record for the Ilkley Harriers open category, beating the previous record by a whopping 46 seconds. Fellow Harrier Jack Cummings finished in a superb fourth place in 30:46, a personal best time for him for this distance, with Ed Hobbs the third Harrier home in another great time of 32:35 and another PB for him for a 10km race. 

Many other Harriers had great runs, with many achieving their best-ever time for a 10km race, including Dave Foyston, Kyle Bethell, Ruth Kitchen, Tony Pye, Marie Watson, Emma Sheppard and Petra Bijsterveld. A great run also by Matt Cox, who took third place in his age category. 

The popular Rombald’s Stride, a 23-mile run/walk organised by the 15th Airedale Scout Group, also took place this weekend. This event starts and finishes at the Airedale Scout Hut in Guiseley and takes in some of Yorkshire’s finest scenery, up the Airedale Valley, over Rombald’s Moor to Ilkley and across Otley Chevin.

Weather conditions were good; dry, calm and mild, but runners had lots of mud to contend with. This event was well supported by Ilkley Harriers, with 26 taking part. 

Jane McCarthy had a superb run and was the first lady to finish in a great time of 3:14:23 and 19th place overall. Kate Archer was the second Ilkley lady home and took second place in her age category. Kay Pearce came next, also managing a sub-four-hour finish. 

Michael Odell led the Ilkley men home, finishing in a superb sixth place overall in sub-three hours, just over ten minutes behind the winner. Hot on his heels in seventh was Jeff Green, with another sub-three-hour finish, with Jeff picking up another MV50 prize. Ben Sheppard was the third Harrier home, with Ben taking second place in his age category. 

Other notable performances included Peter Shelley, Alison Weston and Adela Reperecki, all taking first place in their age categories. Colin Williams and Andrew Merrick took second place in their respective ones, while Matthew Kennedy was third in his. 

Michael Abrams-Cohen flew the flag for the Harriers at the Muddy Boots 10km, an undulating multi-terrain race taking in trails, footpaths and roads held in Ripon, with all proceeds going to the local St. Wilfred’s Primary School. Michael completed the course in 39:05, finishing in eighth place overall and third in his age category.

Harrier Jack Cummings was the first runner home in the Runners vs Riders race held last weekend. This event sees both disciplines compete against each other to see who will be the first over the finish line. This 4.7-mile race with 890ft of climbing, organised by Wharfedale Harriers, was initially established to celebrate club member Ted Mason’s 40th birthday. It has now become an annual event. Jack completed the course in a superb time of 30:06, with two cyclists pipping him at the post.

The weekly 5km timed parkrun series remained popular this weekend, with 22 Harriers participating in various events around the UK. Notable female performances included Beth Massey, who was the second lady to finish at the Barnsley parkrun in a great time of 22:19 and Catherine Gibbons, who was fourth lady to finish at the Richmond parkrun in 22:12. Lots of top ten finishes also, including from Michael Abrams-Cohen at the Bradford parkrun, Oscar Stapleton at the Wormwood Scrubs parkrun and Rob Budding at the Chevin Forest parkrun.

A great week also for Ilkley Harrier, Sally Armitage, who earned her first England Masters vest for her excellent performance at the Brass Monkey half marathon. As a result, she will be donning her vest to run at the Chester Half marathon in May.