[Photo courtesy of Abbie Rothery – Ben Rothery storming to victory at Newlands Memorial Fell Race]
From Will Worboys & Nicola Budding…
Harriers’ Endurance Achievements and Rothery Wins Again
There have been some brilliant performances from Ilkley runners over the past week. Though none can be more impressive than the stunning feats of two Harriers completing the epic ‘Northern Traverse’ race. The multi-terrain 300km route, yes you heard correct, that’s over 186 miles, was completed by both Ritchie Williamson and Petra Bijsterveld. Starting from St Bees in Cumbria, on the west coast, the route takes in 6,500 metres of ascent while heading through the Lake District, the Yorkshire Dales and the North York Moors before finishing on the east coast at Robin Hood’s Bay. The race was won this year by legendary ultramarathoner Damian Hall, with Ilkley’s Ritchie Williamson finishing in 32nd place and 6th in the VM50 category in a stunning time of 66 hours and 43 minutes which was a full 7 hours ahead of his target time. Meanwhile Petra was also running to plan and put the ghosts of a difficult previous attempt to rest, after finishing in 92 hours and 33 minutes in 107th place and a superb 2nd FV60. While this was going on another Harrier, Andrew Merrick was taking part in ‘the Dales Traverse’. Taking in the Yorkshire Dales section of the above event only; from Kirkby Stephen to Richmond. Still a very tough 55KM to complete, Andrew finished in 7:53:12 and was 3rd in the MV60 category.
Meanwhile in Cumbria, the Newlands Memorial race took place at the weekend. The 2nd counter in this year’s English Fell Championships attracted some top fell contenders including 12 Harriers. The race formerly known as ‘the Anniversary Waltz’ is a tough 11.5 mile with 3,600 feet of climbing in the Lakes. It was won in fine style by Ilkley’s Ben Rothery to make it two out of two in this year’s English fell counters. The Harrier had been in behind rival Finlay Grant all the way round before taking the lead near the finish and winning by nine seconds in a time of 1:30:52. The next Harrier home was Sam Bentham who had a great run to finish in 6th place in 1:35:50. Following on in 10th was Oli Murphy in 1:36:36. Next came Kate Archer who had an excellent run to finish in 4th in the FV45 category. Other Harriers to finish the race were James Bentham, Duncan Cooper, Kelly Wilby, Jann Smith, Dick Waddington, Shaunna Burke and Alison Weston, who all had very good runs.
Elsewhere on the fells, the second Bunny Run of the series took place on Tuesday evening with dry and sunny weather for all those competing. Jack Cummings just two days after his epic battle at Baildon Boundary Way, won the race in a time of 15:22. Junior, Oscar Shinn had a great race finishing in 16:44 giving him 6th place overall with Ollie Holder following in 18:34 – 25th place overall and 2nd BU17.
On to much flatter surroundings and there was a remarkable run by Jaysson Sawyer to smash his PB and finish the Boston marathon (the one in Lincolnshire) in a time of 2:55:07. Jaysson was 49th of 863 total finishers as well as coming 8th in his age category of V45. The Harrier has been going from strength to strength of late and is now targeting even quicker times and a ‘good for age’ place at the London marathon.
For the juniors, the West Yorkshire Track and Field League began on Sunday at Thornes Park, Wakefield where a full range of disciplines was on offer. Rosa Crolla took part in the U13 Girls 70m Hurdles, High Jump and Discus (0.75 kg) where she achieved a fantastic distance of 15.46m earning her 2nd place. Meanwhile her sister Heather Crolla chose the U15 Girls 200m, 75m Hurdles and Discus (1 kg) where her throw of 20.85m rewarded her with 1st place. Ethan Pickwoad took part in the U13 Boys 200m, Long Jump and 75m Hurdles which he ran in 16:99 to give him 6th place.
In the weekly 5K parkruns on Saturday, there were some good efforts from Ilkley runners. At a competitive Skipton event, Samesh Chotai was 3rd in a fantastic PB of 17:11 in what was also his 100th parkrun! Fellow junior Megan Snow ran a parkrun PB at North Yorkshire Water Park on Saturday finishing as 25th female in 27:46. Meanwhile at Bramley parkrun in Leeds, Forest Hamilton was 4th finisher in a time of 18:51. While down in the West Country Oscar Stapleton had a cracking run to finish 2nd at Exeter Riverside in 16:47. Last but not least, Kate Williams proudly reached her landmark 100th parkrun event which she completed at Penrith.
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.