[Photo courtesy of Ultra Trails – Lynn Donohue excelling at her latest ultra]

From Jill Ezard & Nicola Budding…  

Easter spring in the step brings age category successes galore!

Easter started early with the third race in the Bunny Run series on Tuesday evening. Starting at the Old Sun Inn in Haworth, the race sees participants take on a three-mile course split into a small loop – the Egg Stage – and a longer loop. Oscar Shinn was the winner of the Egg Stage and came tenth overall in 17:18 behind Samesh Chotai in fourth place in 16:45. Junior Harrier Ollie Holder was first in his age category in 18:45 with Rachel Carter the first female Harrier over the line in 20:43. Oscar Shinn and Harry Brook-Dobson are currently sitting in the top ten of the results overall for the men’s series with Rachel Holder in the top five for her age category.  

It was a busy Easter weekend with races across the country attracting Harriers looking to burn off the chocolate! Taking advantage of the Bank Holiday racing started on Friday. Alison Bennett decided that sitting and relaxing on holiday was not for her and signed up for the Good Friday Caldervale 10-mile race in the Forest of Bowland, 19 years after her first attempt.  It turns out the hills in this beautiful countryside undulating but tough race had not flattened out in that time but this did not deter Alison who had a great race finishing in 1:23:19, taking second place in her age category.  

Whilst Alison was tackling the hills, four Harriers ventured to Salford for the fast and flat two lap 10k race starting and finishing at the Salford Sports Village.  Mark Hall had a superb run taking first place in his age category in an impressive 36:45. He was followed by Harry Sime, taking third place in his age category in 41:50. Helen and Dick Waddington were next to finish with Helen crossing the line a second ahead of Dick in 47:12.

Choosing to play on the trails, on Saturday Lynn Donohue headed to the Yorkshire Wolds to take part in the 50km Wold Rangers Ultra trail largely following the Wold Rangers Way.  An undulating route with 894m of elevation, and stunning views from start to finish, participants worked their way through the picturesque villages of Huggate, Fridaythorpe, Thixendale, Fimber and Wetwang. It was a great event for Lynn, fast becoming a long distance regular, who completed the race in 6:25:51, taking second place in her age category and 19th female overall.

Sunday was busy! Martin Stubbs was the only Harrier to head to Brighouse for the 10k race, a counter in this year’s Club Race League. Earning valuable points on this undulating road race, Martin flew the flag for the club with a great finish in 45:60, taking second place in his age category. Of course the lure of a free bottle of beer and chocolate bar for every finisher, with a short travel time to the start, may explain why eight Harriers chose to do the Guiseley Gallop instead. This fantastic local race sees participants follow a two-lap undulating route on the trails through Esholt Woods. There were a hat-trick of age category placings: first over the line for the club was Tony Pye in 43:24, securing third place in his age category; Robert Budding was next in 47:21 taking second place in his category; and Adela Reperecki was the first female Harrier home in 1:02:55 taking third place in her age category. David Singleton, Matthew Snow and Will Worboys all finished within the hour with John Marshall and Sue Williamson also having great races.

Over in North Yorkshire, Jaysson Sawyer, continuing his run of form, headed to Helmsley for the 10k multi-terrain challenge.  Starting on the sports ground in the town, this stunning hilly race takes competitors on roads, forest tracks, trails and footpaths through fields affording great views throughout.  Jaysson had a great run out completing the race in 39:00 and taking third place in his age category.  

In the final race of the weekend, Monday saw Harrier Kirsty Hicks travel to the US to take part in the iconic Boston Marathon, one of the World Marathon Majors.  A point to point race, participants start in Hopkinton, Massachusetts and take a scenic journey through the outskirts of the city to the famous finish line at Boylston Street in the centre.  Kirsty ran a fantastic race coming over the line in 3:20:24, a personal best time for a marathon!

And it was a busy parkrun week with over 50 Harriers taking part leading to some top ten finishers, a fantastic PB and seven Harriers hitting the 80+% age grading! Finishing in the top ten: Robert Budding seventh at Bedgebury Pinetum; Junior Harrier James Lee at Chevin Forest; Samesh Chotai first at the Cliff Castle event; Tom Adams first, Harry Brook-Dobson eighth and Jaysson Sawyer ninth at Fountains Abbey; James Horrex ninth at Gunnersby; Nathan, Dominic and Stephen Coy third, fourth and sixth respectively at Heslington; and Andrew Overend ninth at Lister Park. Age grading results were driven in part by the Saturday morning efforts group testing their progress at the Fountains Abbey event. Hitting the heady heights were: Tom Adams 87.57%; Jaysson Sawyer 80.65%; Jonathan Turner 81.09%; Hilda Coulsey 82.25%; Steve Coy 80.99%; Geoff Howard 85.74%; and Alison Bennett 85.21%. And completing the great results, Hattie O’Looney had a great run at Sewerby posting a Personal Best time and first finisher in her age category.  Well done everyone that 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