[Photo courtesy of Dave Woodhead – Martin Hartley and Peter Shelley at the Gathering Fools Winter Relay]
From Jill Ezard & Nicola Budding…
Fell race podium finishes and age category successes
After a couple of quiet racing weeks the Harriers were back in action on the track, fells, trails and road this week with some impressive results. Two Harriers enjoyed a Valentines night with a difference running a 5k round the University of York race track. It was the first of the 2025 5k race series with the opportunity to set some personal best times on the flat and fast course.
Charlie Kay was the first Harrier over the line in a great time of 19:20 followed by Harry Sime in 20:13 securing second place in his age category.
It was a huge win on Saturday for Sam Bentham in the fifth race in the Kong Winter Series – the BB Kong. The five mile and 2500ft ascent race is billed as “not for the faint-hearted” with a tough climb up the stunning Doddick fell to reach Blencathra summit, super-fast ridgeline running to Blease Fell then a steep technical descent back. Sam led from the front reaching the summit of Doddick fell first, and came over the line nearly a minute ahead of the second place finisher in 45:50. James Bentham, wearing the Ilkley vest for the first time, was the next over the line in 1:12:53 with Alison Weston, taking sixth place in her age category, finishing in 1:19:28.
Closer to home on Saturday, eight Harriers took part in the delayed Gathering Winter Fools Relay. Normally held in December, but cancelled due to the weather, this informal social race sees four pairs tackle legs of varying lengths on paths and lanes around Keighley. The attraction for the “Ilkley Inclined to madness” team may have been the changeover points outside pubs but they seemed to manage to stay focused taking sixth position overall! Well done to Kate Archer, Colm McCann, Peter Shelley, Martin Hartley, Alison Bennett, Paul Stephens, Nicky Liptrot and Wendy Lockwood.
Staying on trails, on Sunday two Harriers ventured to the outskirts of Leeds to take part in the Temple Newsam Ten, a race over ten (and a bit) miles of beautiful on and off road running on the Temple Newsam Estate. Kay Pearce was first over the line in 1:20:41 taking fifth place in her age category followed by Charlotte Smithson in 1:46:37. In contrast on the roads around Salford on Sunday, two Harriers were taking part in the Media City Half Marathon. The route features two scenic laps, around Salford and Eccles and on footpaths around Salford Quays and is a closed road race. Steve Newell was first over the line in a great time of 1:31:20 taking fourth place in his age category. Rachel Streets was only a few minutes behind finishing in 1:37:21 in the top ten of her age category. Well done to all.
If you’re not sure about taking part in more competitive events but fancy soaking up the atmosphere why not try one of the weekly parkrun events held across the country. This week saw 28 Harriers and Junior Harriers join the events with some great results. There were several Harriers and Juniors finishing in the top ten: Jayne Norman at Cliffe Castle; Sally Armitage at Lister Park; Steve Gott and Junior Isobel Moore at Roberts Park; Alex Foyn at Roundhay; and at Skipton, Samesh Chotai was the first finisher with Robert, Julian and Rachel Carter also all finishing in the top ten! There were also a clutch of Personal Best times: Junior Harrier Ethan Nicholson and Emma Moore at Roberts Park; Maddie Moore at Woodhouse Moor; and Samesh Chotai and Robert Carter at Skipton. Some fantastic personal results all round! Congratulations to all who took part in an event.
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.