From Jill Ezard…
Photo credit Mick Hall photos
Northern Athletics Cross Country Championships and the build up to the Fell Race
After last week’s full race calendar there was limited racing this weekend but some great performances. Despite Storm Éowyn making course set up extremely challenging, the Northern Athletics Cross Country Championships took place on Saturday at Tatton Park in Cheshire. With exceptional athletes in all age categories this is a fantastic opportunity for the Harriers to pit themselves against the best of the north and every Harrier put in a great performance. In the under 17 category, Junior Harriers Alexander Wolfenden and Oscar Shinn had excellent runs over the 5.8km course. Alexander came over the line in 18:54 taking 20th position with Oscar just behind in 20:37. In the under 20s races, Helena Coy was the sole female Harrier taking part but had a strong race taking 17th place in 22:48 over the 5.8km course. Meanwhile, Ed Hobbs and Christos Tzelis battled it out in the men’s under 20 race with Ed having a superb run to finish fifth in the 7.9km race in 25:05 and Christos, also in the top 20 in 26:03. In the senior races it was Rachel Carter in the 7.9km women’s race and Steve Coy in the men’s 11.75k event representing the Harriers. Rachel came over the line in 33:21 taking sixth place in her age category, with Steve completing the race in 46:16. Well done to all for representing the club!
Back closer to home, Geoffrey White was the sole Harrier to brave the aptly named St Aiden’s Winter Beast. A hilly 6.66mile race around RSPB St Aiden’s Country Park, the run takes participants on paths and trails throughout the park with some great views at the top of the climbs if you dare to look up! Geoffrey had a good run completing the run in 58:28.
And if reports of Harriers’ race experiences pique your interest why not think about entering the next race in the Harriers’ own race calendar – the Ilkley Moor Fell Race taking place on second March 2025. You can enter by following the link on the Ilkley Harriers’ website. Not sure whether it’s quite your thing? We’re hosting a recce of the course on Sunday 9th February at 10:30am. It will start from Darwin Gardens in Ilkley and everyone is welcome. If you’re interested, check out the details on Facebook and X.
If shorter events are more your thing, then you could follow the lead of the 22 Harriers and Juniors who took part in the parkrun events at home and abroad this weekend. There were a poetic ten top-ten finishes this weekend: Junior Harrier James Lee was fifth at the Chevin; James Horrex was sixth at Fountain’s Abbey; Mark Hall was fourth at Lister Park bagging an eye-watering 87.02% age grade along the way; Gawain Moore was the first finisher at Roberts Park with Isobel Moore in fifth place and Emma Moore in tenth, making it a real family affair; Jann Smith was eighth at the same event; Samesh Chotai was the third finisher at Skipton; and two Harriers, Sam Angus and Maddie Morris, travelled overseas to finish in the top ten in the Donaupark event in Vienna! There were also Personal Bests for Gawain and Emma Moore and Geoffrey Howard continued his age grading form with a fantastic 85.15%. Congratulations to all who took part in an event.