From Luke Watkeys and Nicola Budding…
Photo credit: Nick Kealey
Harriers sweep podiums and honour Pete Shields in bumper week
With summer finally here (despite what the grey skies and downpours might suggest), the racing season is in full swing. This past week has been nothing short of spectacular for the Harriers, marked by podium sweeps, gritty fell victories, and a poignant, record-breaking turnout at our own Pete Shields Ilkley 10K.
The racing week kicked off on Wednesday evening with Rush around the Rhubarb, a 6 km (3.7 mile) multi-terrain race on tracks and trails around the rhubarb fields in Pudsey. This race served as a last-minute entry to the Harriers race league, stepping in to replace the cancelled Ilkley Trail Race. Three Harriers joined a field of 97 finishers to take on the off-road tracks and trails, delivering highly competitive performances; Nick Kealey continued his strong form in the league with a superb sixth-place finish overall, crossing the line in 22:44 and claiming first in his age category. Iain Young finished 15th in 25:06, and Daniel Paterson finished 29th in 27:15.
Also on Wednesday, the short but steep Otley Chevin Fell Race took place, a 4.8 km (3-mile) course packed with 210 metres (689 ft) of climbing. Five Harriers were among the 118 finishers. It was a Bennet/Hamilton family affair; Forest Hamilton led the family charge as the first Harrier across the line in ninth (20:30), while Bob Hamilton took 74th and claimed first in his category (29:15), Not to be outdone, the Bennett duo also ran strongly, with Adam Bennett finishing 32nd (24:11) and Alison Bennett crossing the line in 81st, securing first in her category (30:19). Edwyn Oliver-Evans completed the Harriers line-up, finishing 67th in 27:38.
On Thursday, a pre-race downpour didn’t deter the 44 Ilkley Harriers who turned up for the first Harrogate District Summer Race League fixture, hosted by Skipton AC. The 8.3 km (5.2 mile) race started with a dash across the long, wet grass in Aireville Park before transitioning to an undulating loop of residential streets and country lanes, finishing with a final downhill sprint. Ilkley dominated the front of the field with Matthew Thackwray leading Nick Hooker and Matt Newell home for a spectacular clean sweep of the podium in a competitive field of 402 finishers. Nick Kealey (clearly undeterred by Wednesday’s efforts) was a highly placed tenth, with Jane McCarthy (87th), Lucy Kay (130th), and Sally Malir (218th) the first three female Harriers home. Mike Williams won his age category, and Phil Chappell made a triumphant return to road racing after a 17-year break.
Also on Thursday, over in Haworth, Jacqui Foster represented the club at the Bronte 5-mile road race, finishing 92nd out of 130 runners in 45:03. Rounding off Thursday’s busy schedule, George Whittlestone finished a fantastic fourth overall at the Kettlewell Anniversary Fell Race, an 8 km (5.1 mile) route with 554m (1,800 ft) of climb, finishing in 43:53.
On Saturday, Jack Cummings claimed a stellar outright victory at the Wharfedale Trail Half Marathon, tackling over 600 metres (2,000 ft) of climb to finish in 1:33:34. Rachel Carter also excelled, finishing 32nd overall and first in her age category in 1:59:11. Over at the Pen-y-Ghent Fell Race – the opening fixture of the Yorkshire Dales Classics Series, featuring 500 metres (1,640 ft) of climb over 12.2 km (7.6 miles) – Ellen Crombie had a fantastic race, finishing first lady (16th overall) in 59:35. Gawain Moore was 12th (second in his age category) in 57:35, Colm Mccann finished in 1:20:31 and Kelly Wilby took third in her age category in 1:22:50. Last but by no means least, over in the Lake District, Charles Wain completed the brutal and technical Ennerdale Horseshoe. He covered the gruelling 36.8 km (22.8 miles) and 2,290 metres (7,513 ft) of ascent to finish 86th in a hard-fought 6:13:56.
Sunday was headlined by the third annual Pete Shields Ilkley 10K. This flat, fast, two-lap closed-road race is a special tribute to our late friend and legendary coach, Pete Shields. Among 466 finishers, Matthew Thackwray secured his second outright victory of the week, winning in 32:03. Junior Joseph Bentham was an impressive tenth overall and first in his age category in 36:28. Kate Archer led the Harrier ladies home in 40:24 (first in her age category), followed by Kathryn Hamilton in 43:05 (second in her category). Category victories also went to Harry Sime (41:45), Mike Williams (44:28), Bob Hamilton (47:50), Geoffrey Howard (51:22), and Alison Weston (52:26). Meanwhile, at the Kettlewell BOFRA fell race, Gawain Moore finished sixth in 14:14, and George Whittlestone took eighth overall and first in his category in 14:45.
Moving to parkrun, 17 Harriers took to the start line at our home event, East Holmes, with fellow correspondent Peter Shelley the first Harrier home in 21:40. James Horrex took first place at the FeldyRoo Fitness Trail parkrun in 19:07, and Samesh Chotai came second in Perry Hall.