Nominations were:
Shirley Wood for Junior commitments and Clubmark development;
Andrew Bennett for commitment to training and racing;
the Ladies Horwich 5K team for winning a silver medal at the British Masters;
Hector Haines for race performances;
Alison Eagle for Junior coaching and good performances at Tebay, Yorks vets and numerous other races;
Jack Wood for race results.
The HoM awards went to Shirley Wood, and to the members of the Ladies Horwich 5K team (Jane Bryant, Sally Morley, Jann Smith). Congratulations to them, they will receive technical running shirts from HoM sponsor UP & RUNNING.
Adrian Hall (Mk I) reports ... an undulating and dusty 10 km trail race through Swinley Forest on a very hot evening. Well organised by 209 Events; part of the 2009 Trail Series.
1. Alan Murchison 38m 44 sec Winchester & District 8. Adrian Hall 41m 34 sec 301 ran
Andy Wiggans reports ...
Seemed to be a few Ilkley types at this traditionally sunny, and worryingly bumpy sportive. Me and Andrew "The Herb" Herbert were doing the medium route of 130km (or 81 miles for anyone watching in black and white). With my new svelte figure and Ultegra equipped bike (thanks to my "chain in wheel" mishap the other week I managed to sneak a few cheeky upgrades in at repair time) I had my eye on a silver standard of 6:15, with an unspoken distant possibility of gold at 5:25. Gold lasted about 8 miles when my back tyre went pop just after Fewston, but I managed to get it changed in under 10 minutes and set off after silver (and The Herb, who I'd told to crack on in my best Scott of the Antarctic voice).
Following an eyeballs out chase to Greenhow, during which I saw proud dad Neil Chapman waiting for his lad who looked to be going really well when I saw him, I caught The Herb, and we pressed on to Grassington for energy juice and flapjack. Our time to Grassington was the same as last year - despite the puncture. Heading up Littondale I realised something was odd about my bike computer - it was calculating the average speed including stops rather than just moving time - which meant that our 14.7mph wasn't that far outside 15mph (gold standard) despite the stop, so we pressed on a bit over to Malham. During the climb from Halton Gill we got separated, so after stopping in Malham for 5 minutes or so I started to get anxious about the average speed which was quite literally dropping before my eyes, so left before The Herb arrived.
The section over to Hetton and down Wharfedale passed ok, but always with Langbar looming after it - and even with my best efforts I still couldn't seem to make any headway into the required speed to hit my standard, meaning I had no slack at all. Langbar felt really hard, and I hit the top with about 20 minutes to get back to Ilkley within 5:25. I hammered it down the hill, and was just starting to relax after I turned off Carter's Lane onto the Denton road when my bike computer flew off. A screeching halt, some choice words and a mad dash back to the sports club, and I "dibbed in" at 5:21:08, 4 minutes inside gold and enormously chuffed.
The Herb arrived an inordinately long time later, having missed the turn to Thorpe and carried on in the wrong direction going back UP Wharfedale, only turning round after a brief tour of Grassington and a second visit of the day to Kilnsey. He doesn't wish to talk about the time (but suffice it to say he'd have smashed Silver standard if he'd gone the right way).
All in all a great day out, with brilliant organisation (apart from the signs at the Thorpe road not being quite billboard-esque or illuminated enough for the visually challenged Herb), a beautifully scenic route and some gnarly lumpy bits.
Thing is, we'll have to do the long one next year...
Bob H has spotted the results are up ... names I recognise, including some retired members. I feel they should be remembered. I think the DM must be our old DM. The age and time seem about right.
80K Course Bob Hamilton 2:56:30 Gold Philip Atkinson 3:19:06 Silver Paul Wood 3:39:25 Silver Peter Shields 3:58:04 Bronze Bradley Chapman 3:58:27 Bronze 130K Course Andy Wiggans 5:21:08 Gold Kelly Harrison 5:51:19 Silver Jo Foster 6:00:28 Silver Dennis Ackroyd 6:00:31 Silver Jim Ryder 6:00:35 Silver Janet Grace 6:07:57 Silver David Matthews 6:19:42 Bronze Andrew Herbert 6:24:56 Bronze 182K Course Tim Ashelford 7:32:23 Gold Richard Malir 7:40:11 Silver Stuart Pitches 9:01:29 Bronze
Great to see so many members (and retired-from-running ex-members) out on the White Rose this year. I promised No.2 son I would ride with him this year, so I went around the short course early doors and caused a few problems by arriving back while people were still going out! I recorded 2.51, but it was a while before they could find a time-station to dib me in! Great rides from Kelly, Jo and Andy in particular. It seems a little harsh that the ladies have to go for gold by the same standard as the men! Well done too to young Bradley and old Paul. I think our webmaster might be finding a new lease of life. It's got to be silver in the 130K next year. And then gold!! Great to see Dennis out and still clearly very fit. Remarkable that he managed to split Jo and Jim. I'm pretty sure they didn't ride together. Stuart must have a story to tell! Major mechanical or majorly lost? You were flying when we rode together a few weeks back. Let's have some more reports and encourage an even bigger turnout from the club next year. It's a fantastic event to have on our very doorstep.
Jo Foster adds ... It was a great ride and very well organised. Jim and I rode round together, never seeing Dennis unfortunately (see Bob's report!). A bit unfair that I was a few seconds quicker than Jim becuase he could have gone a lot quicker, kindly waiting for me as we'd agreed we'd ride together. We caught up with Kelly at Malham who was feeling good, rode with us for a few miles and then disappeared into the distance - great ride Kelly! We also spotted Bob coming back in the other direction! Great to be able to do a sportive from home and my the first one where I've managed silver standard instead of bronze! Good Etape preparation. We've just worked out that the same distance will take us to the foot of Mont Ventoux in 3 weeks time - ouch!
1 2h37:41 Simon Booth, Borrowdale 15 3h24:00 Jon Whitaker 24 3h37:39 Ian Rowbotham
Graham Arthur reports ... Another extended navigational challenge (low cloud), like Jura, but without quite so much wind, and no rain, yet a much higher attrition rate. For a good brief description of this sixth in the Scottish Long Classics series, also a counter in the SHR Champs, click SHR report. My multiple reccies and two times racing of this course over the last couple of years paid off, and, unbelievably, I never got lost. There was a moment of despair when I realised I had dropped my compass early on in the race. Fortunately I had an altimeter, and spot heights plastered all over my map.
1 17.26 Graham Pearce, P&B 11 19.43 Ben Stevens 16 20.22 Jamie Hutchinson 19 20.46 Richard Joel 62 24.57 Jim Towers 92 28.10 Sue Morley 109 34.14 Lyn Eden
Vic Verecondi reports ... A new era time has arrived in the Verecondi household ... as of tonight my son Luca holds the "record" for a 5km race ... this came about through a 5 km time trial tonight staged by Keighley and Craven AC. Luca and other juniors were running in the event. The course was quite tough, the route being a 300 foot climb on road up to Jubilee Tower staring at Greenhead School and then back. Basically 2.5km upwards, turn around 2.5km back down. Anyway my time was 21.58…. Not bad I thought... I was delighted to see Luca (12 years of age) obtain a time of 21.28 Fantastic effort. His training has been very good and it seems all those extra sessions on Saturday mornings on Ilkley Moor have helped also. Thanks very much to those who organised the event for the juniors and also for making me very welcome, it was a most enjoyable evening.
Jim Eden reports ... from the Cricket Inn, Totley. 6 miles, 1450ft of climb on the fells and through the Blackamoor Nature Reserve. Lovely run but tough in very hot and humid conditions. Part of the Totley Fell Series:
Jim Towers 61mins 16secs Lyn Eden 89mins 26secs
Results from skyrac.org.uk:
1 37.59 Michale Creedy, St Theresa's 6 41.16 Jamie Hutchinson 45 52.25 Angela Srivastava 91 70.55 Claire Macina
Results from www.wharfedaleharriers.org.uk:
1 38.18 Gareth Hird, Wharfedale 6 40:11 Jim Ryder 7 40:28 Chris Gale 9 40:46 Ian Rowbotham 11 41:00 Jack Wood 15 41:43 Richard Joel 18 42:28 Jez Helliwell 24 43.56 Duncan Cooper 25 44:03 Steve Weston 33 44:54 Richard Reeve 39 46:06 Paul Stephens 42 47:20 Paddy Hagan 52 49:01 Alison Weston 56 49:30 Michael Waterhouse 60 50:37 Chris Oxlade 62 51:30 Jim Towers 70 54:44 Clare Smith 76 56:39 Rachel Hagan 80 59:29 Bob Payne 81 61:55 Sue Morley 88 82:22 Lyn Eden Ilkley
Wendy Hutchinson reports ... I did the Cancer Research 5k at Harrogate Pavillions and my time was 26.27 which was another PB for me.
Jim Eden reports ... off road course approximately 5 miles using part of the Meanwood Valley Trail
Jim Towers 37mins 20secs Lyn Eden 50mins 59secs
Jim Eden reports ... part of a 9 race series, 4.25 miles, 550ft of climb. Torrential downpour and thunderstorm all race made the three river crossings interesting and flash flooding meant that you were knee deep in places. All good fun.
Jim Towers 38mins 01secs Lyn Eden 50mins 17secs
Morgan reports ... Another poor run by me in the Helm Hill BOFRA race on Sunday afternoon in muggy conditions. Dave Cummings had a great run to place 15th. A decent course, if a bit fast, with short ups and downs. I wouldn't call it a cross country course, but I wouldn't call it a typical BOFRA course either!
15 27.42 Dave Cummings 36 32.02 Morgan Williams
Photos on David Brett's site.
Don Macrae reports ... certainly lived up to Pete Bedwell's promotional sell of being friendly, well organised and a good course. I managed to sneak under the two hour mark in 1:59:51 as the only Harrier on the result sheet. However, there was also Mr Lonergan doing his 100th. H.M. (86th. in 1:34:27) accredited to Sale Harriers. Same coloured vests?
Graham Arthur reports ... with some bigger-name events on this weekend Settle Hills was a very pleasant and low key jaunt round Attermire.
Results from Settle Harriers:
1 53.35 Alex Whittam,Calder Valley 23 68.58 Steve Weston 27 70.06 Graham Arthur
Wendy Hutchinson reports ... Well what turned out to be a scorcher of a morning with no breeze, the conditions for me were worrying. However, having run the race last year in a time of 1.08 I had remembered the gruelling hill at the end and managed to reserve a small amount of energy that was not sapped up by the heat at the end to put in a performance of 58.25. Happy with this it was then nice to know that in my age group 40-49 I came 102
63 40.16 RICHARD REEVE 555 47:43 AMANDA ODDIE 883 49:48 JOHN PICKERING 901 49:53 JOHN MARSHALL 1133 51:07 TIMOTHY HARVEY RATCLIFFE 1570 53:15 FIONA SCHNEIDER 1960 54:56 MARGOT DALE 2171 55:40 EMMA O'LOONEY 2856 58:25 WENDY HUTCHINSON 3307 59:58 GREG WRIGHT 3642 61:14 ELIZABETH MCANDREW 6404 76:25 BRIAN SWEET 6985 84:49 CHRISTINE REILLY
Jane Bryant reports ... Sally Morley, Jann Smith and myself made our way over to a cloudy Horwich for the BMAF 5k as part of the Horwich carnival races. It was a tough 3 lap course. The results were:
1. Claire McKittrick 17.79 (Chamwood A.C.) 6. Sally Morley 18.23 4th V35 21. Jane Bryant 20.58 4th V40 25. Jann Smith 21.56 5th V40
Ilkley ladies were 2nd team overall to Hallamshire Ladies and 2nd V35 team, so silver medals all round.
Jim Eden reports ... 4 miles, 700ft of climb, from the Hare and Hounds Pub, Chiserley, nr Hebden Bridge. Final event of the Midsummer Madness 3 day event.
Jim Towers 38.22 Lyn Eden 54.30 1st FV 0/60
1 34.14 Hector Haines 43 44.07 Norman Bush 56 46.00 Peter Haines
British Championship race, results from www.tebay.org
1 69.44 Simon Bailey, Mercia 52 82.32 Lee Morley 83 86.21 Dave Wilby 105 88.17 Ian Rowbotham 122 90.21 Jim Ryder 126 90.38 Jonathon Whitaker 142 93.00 Geoff Howard 147 93.22 Emma Barclay 148 93.31 Heather Dawe 156 94.41 Helene Whitaker 161 95.53 Duncan Cooper 168 96.19 Holly Williamson 183 99.16 Alison Eagle 199 102.19 Peter Shields 214 105.32 Alison Bennett 261 114.07 Kelly Harrison 279 119.29 Amanda Newham 303 144.45 Andrew Bennett
After a brief shower it was a lovely evening with a hard race amidst beautiful scenery.
The team results were affected by the relatively low turnout to this distant event, but there were some great individual runs.
Results from www.harrogate-league.org.uk.
From Graham Arthur ... on the basis that our SuperVets (M/F 55+) are only just behind Swaledale, who naturally had a very good turn out at Richmond, and that Otley is a long way for THEM to come, we could clinch this one with a good turn out on Thursday 2nd July at Otley.
1 29.33 DARRAN BILTON 14 34.43 NICK RICHARDSON 24 35.26 STEVE WESTON 39 36.49 PAUL O'LOONEY 52 37.44 KEVIN GOOCH 54 37.48 JEFF PAGET 71 38.54 PAUL STEPHENS 72 38.59 SIMON CHAPMAN 78 39.21 HENRY HEAVISIDES 81 39.59 ANDREW SHELDON 82 40.00 ALISON BENNETT 98 41.13 GRAHAM ARTHUR 135 43.22 KEITH WOOD 137 43.35 VAL KERR 168 47.12 JANET GRACE 182 50.28 MARGOT DALE 187 51.10 PAUL SUGDEN 193 51.54 DONALD MACRAE 195 52.05 ANDREW BENNETT 209 55.52 DAVID MILLSON 210 56.26 MANDY CHAPMAN
Four Ilkley Harriers travelled to Kettlewell to run a five mile, 1800 ft of climb fell race organised by Abbey Runners to celebrate their 25th anniversary. A well organised event including soup and roll in the Bluebell afterwards. Well worth doing if Abbey Runners do it again next year.
Jim Towers 52.02 Morgan Williams 53.47 Amanda Newham 56.37 Lyn Eden 75.50 1st FV 0/55
Dave Taylor was 56th in 53 minutes; Norman Bush was 43rd in 50:21 1st V65
.Morgan Williams reports ... Short and steep with 2 crossings of the River Wharfe. Nice sunny day, bite to eat and an ice cream afterwards. Well done to Jenny for keeping her run of seconds going!
David Brett took some good photos. Results from www.bofra.co.uk
1 Ted Mason 12.59 (Wharfedale Harriers) 10 Lee Morley 14.03 17 Ian Rowbotham 15.07 27 Dave Cummings 16.20 39 Jenny Dybeck 16.59 (2nd lady) 41 Norman Bush 17.05 49 Morgan Williams 18.03 50 Alison Eagle 18.09 (3rd lady)
Results from St Bede's site:
Open team, 8th 6:29:08 Jamie Hutchinson, Dave Wilby 1:19:58 Paul O'Looney, Richard Reeve 1:25:37 Neil Chapman, Pete Shields 1:07:21 Nick Richardson, Malcolm Pickering 1:12:38 (5th fastest pair on this leg) Jez Hellewell, Jonathan Sinclair 1:23:34 (6th fastest pair on this leg) Mixed team, 18th, 2nd Mixed team 7:22:20 Dave Jepson, Sally Morley 1:27:32 Joyce Marshall, Henry Heavisides 1:33:02 Helen Horton, Keith Wood 1:22:04 Alison Bennet, Neil Smith 1:20:58 (Fastest mixed pair on leg) Val Kerr, Nigel Tapper 1:38:44
Graham Arthur reports ... Glorious conditions for the inaugural race starting and finishing at one of the Highlands’ most scenic locations. This is the fourth race in the Scottish Long Classics series, and I have now been lapped by Brian Marshall, so embarrassment at being in the lead purely by dint of having done three races as opposed to everyone else’s one or two is over. The winner was Andy Symonds with a few stars not far behind. I’ll say no more, so read the organiser’s report and salivate.
Andy Wiggans reports ... a first time for me and my chums, Sean Murphy and new member Richard Hinsley, so none of us knew what to expect apart from some lumpy bits. In the end the lumpy bits were a bit less lumpy than I was expecting, about the same as Sean was expecting (well he does live in Otley) and a bit of a shock for our Richard. As usual I saw Nick Richardson bounding off into the distance and settled in to run my own race. All those sessions on a pan flat track have obviously been well worthwhile as I seemed to pass quite a few people on the hills.
As you'd expect for a hilly course that's definitely "not a PB course" all three of us got PBs - mainly on account of this being our first ever 10 miler (Rich and Sean) or first for yonks (me). In the end I crept into the top 30 in 28th place with 64:10 (PB by something over 4:30), Sean had a great run in 69:03 to be 71st and Richard, despite his surprise at the general hilliness of the hills, ran 72:30 to be 117th. This is an amazing performance for a bloke who was turning round after a mile and a bit of our lunchtime runs in late Feb as he was worried about getting trapped the wrong side of Bingley 5-Rise Locks and not being able to get back up!
Photo: Terry Lonergan's snap of the Ilkley ladies who won the team prize: Sally Malir, Jane Bryant, and Kay Pearce. Great result!
Results from www.otleyac.co.uk (photos there too):
1 53.43 Ian Fisher. Otley AC 24 62.56 Nick Richardson 28 64.10 Andy Wiggans PB 30 64.25 Richard Joel 36 65.23 Richard Reeve 2nd V50 37 65.35 Jack Wood 63 68.44 Simon Chapman 64 68.45 Neil Chapman 71 69.03 Sean Murphy PB 72 69.05 Sally Malir 1st LV40 105 71.25 Nigel Tapper PB 116 72.25 Mike Baldwin 117 72.30 Richard Hinsley PB 132 73.52 Jane Bryant 2nd V40 134 74.05 Peter Shields 135 74.13 Kay Pearce PB 157 75.45 John Woodward 195 78.57 John Coates 249 84.14 Janet Grace 271 86.43 Brenda Ogden 290 89.40 Alison Stretton 1st ladies team (of 11); 5th men's team (of 22) 349 finished
This was a counter in the Ilkley Harriers Running League
Alison Eagle reports ...
Although I am not concentrating on these this year they are still great low key events, friendly and well organised, with food and lots of prizes after each one. Using them as training runs, I was a little diappointed with my outing at Walton. Very hot conditions and my badly timed final push, due to a lapse in memory about where I was in relation to the end, left me in 4th overall, 3rd Vet45 in 38.38.
At Pudsey, once again in the rain just like Stretton, on a muddy woodland course (great) I had a better run and finished 3rd overall and 1st Vet45 in 37.24.
Shame that we cannot get more Harriers out to these as I'm sure we have number of runners who could do well in their age groups! See YVAA web page for details for the next one in the series at Meanwood on Tuesday 23rd June
Ilkley once again BEAT BINGLEY in the annual Mob Match on Bingley's home turf at the Bingley St. Ives Trail Race! Hurrah!
Tom Adams won the race handsomely and led in a further 41 Ilkley Harriers - Bingley only fielded 28 runners. Taking the best 28 Ilkley Harriers' points, according to the rules, the result was:
Ilkley 2395 : Bingley 2225
Detailed results here.
So Ilkley's name will be inscribed again on the super 12" cup purchased from the legacy left by Phil Dean.
A few photos of the start here, and lots of race photos on woodentops.org.uk..
Read Dave Jepson's report here.
This was a counter in the Ilkley Harriers Running League
In the men's race, Jack Wood was 10th in 37.59 and Jean Sullivan was 19th in the ladies race in 49.24
Andy Wiggans reports ..."Bike - check, running shoes - check, wetsuit - check..." is the normal kit list for one's first triathlon - but our very own Vic "The Handy Dandy" Verecondi has apparently added some male grooming items and a mirror. Nothing else can explain the extraordinary amount of time he spent in the transition from the swim to the bike at the Wansbeck sprint tri up in Northumberland today. Looking down the list most people seem to be between 45 seconds and 2 minutes. Vic? 6:39. I can only assume he was drying his hair and ironing his bike top.
Anyway - me and Britain's best/slowest dressed man set off outrageously early this morning to get to Ashington, about 15 miles north of Newcastle, for our first open water sprint tri (750m lake swim, 23km bike and 5k run). As newbie triathletes we were in the first wave to set off, along with the people wearing armbands and rubber rings. I had never swum in my wetsuit before, and Vic had only done a few lengths of Ilkley Lido, so we were both reasonably pleased to just survive - I managed 17:48 and Vic 20:22 - both way off the pace of proper swimmers but far from a disgrace. I whizzed through T1 (as we triathletes call it) and Vic presumably met up with his "gentleman's gentleman" to be dressed and have his hair done. The bike was quick and flat, and I'm grateful to Paul O'Looney for the loan of his posh back wheel to mean I had a complete bike with which to go and do battle with the torrential rainstorm which now ensued. I passed a few folk out on the bike and came into T2 in the lead. Vic, clearly concerned more with sartorial elegance than speed, opted to go slightly slower but posted another respectable time. The run was two laps of the swim lake, and due to a watch malfunction I had no idea how fast I was going, but I didn't get passed by anyone so finished the first of the rubbish swimmers in 1:20:53, which is well inside my target of 1:30 - the results show I did 20:30 for the 5k, so not blisteringly quick but ok. Vic came in 1:43:17, but having shattered his transition PB, taking a mere 2:30 in T2, helped by not bothering with the "running specific socks" (no, I don't know what they are either) and Harriers vest he had brought along to change into.
My feelings of elation at having beaten a bunch of non-swimmers were shattered by the publication of the results, as I ended up 32nd on overall time out of 134 (which to be honest I'm still pleased with for a first go), and Vic was 119th. The winner was a bloke called Alan Copland in 1:07:00, but he cheated by being good at swimming.
Last weekend a small, but some would say perfectly formed, group of Harriers travelled north to Scotland to take on the challenge of the Lowe Alpine Mountain Marathon (www.lamm.co.uk). This was my first LAMM, and my partner in crime for the weekend was Heather Dawe, who was returning to the event after a couple of years of concentrating on shorter, easier challenges such as the Bob Graham Round. The forecast for the weekend was for freezing temperatures and wintery showers so it looked like we might be in for a tough time at the hands of the usually clement and welcoming Scottish weather. As it turned out, Saturday brought a cold wind, but largely dry conditions, save for a few short showers, and Sunday was gloriously warm, hot even. Visibility all weekend was generous, and the views were endless. The terrain was pretty good underfoot, but the climbs and descents ensured we didn't have things easy.
Day 1 saw us traversing, and criss-crossing the stunning Five Sisters of Kintail ridge, before eventually heading through Glen Affric and passing Britain's most remote youth hostel. Day 2 was the more runnable day and we moved well, but those climbs still weren't getting any smaller! Eventually, after a weekend total of 16:45hrs, we finished 13th overall in the Elite, which brought with it my first Elite completion in one of the major mountain marathons.
Also on duty were Nicky Jacquiery & Joyce Marshall in the B Class, who we bumped in to in the middle of nowhere on Day 1, and Kevin & Rachael Gooch who were in the Score class. Ex members Dan Goodey & Phil Lincoln-Jones were also doing the Elite course, and I did see Ken Jacquiery enjoying a well earned Wilf's at the end too. Apologies if I've missed anyone.
Steve & Gaenor Coy report This weekend must have been the weekend for first time Open Water triathlons reading of Andy and Vic’s escapades in Northumberland.
We spent the weekend in Rother Valley and joined 100s of others competing and
watching in various events from under 9’s Scootathlon’s (which both our boys
took part in but with their running heritage managed to run 2.5k for the first
leg rather than 400m along with a large number of the boys field due to marshalling
incompetence) to the disabled national triathlon championships.
Later on the Saturday, when the weather had cleared up, Gaenor took part in her first ever triathlon and in open water (other than a brief dip in Ilkley lido in a wetsuit) as part of a women’s only event - 200m swim, 10k bike, 4k run - and pulled out a fantastic performance coming in 16th in a time of 50:43. The winning time was way ahead of the rest at 40.40.
On the Sunday after a ridiculously early start I took part in the “sprint” distance event - 750 swim, 25k bike, 5k run - and was really happy to coming in 19th in 1:24:09 out of 170 (winning time was 1:13:28) in particular with my swim of 13 mins and a 18.36 5k run, despite having a curled up insole in one shoe and energy gels in the other (which I could not feel due to numb feet) however due to these school boy transition errors I am paying for it as I have no skin on my heels – maybe I should borrow Vics run specific socks next time (but he can keep the grooming products)..
Anyway a great event and despite the bad weather on the Saturday morning a nice family weekend out which we would both recommend to others for next year.
New member Wendy Hutchinson reports on The Two Castles 10k, Run Warwick Castle to Kenilworth Castle. I finished in a time of 57.14, a PB by 11 minutes. I am very very pleased with my performance even though it not a fast run for most of the members at Ilkley but for me was a huge improvement on my last 10k run this time last year and I was also suffering from jet lag.
Alison Eagle reports ...
Apologies for this belated report for Stretton Hills but I have only just dried out. Arrived on the Friday for a weekend in the Shropshire hills in the rain and left on Sunday in the rain. In between yes it rained, and rained! But that should take nothing away from the Stretton Hills Fell Race, a course designed as a one off for the championship, only finalised the week before- and just a short at 5.75m, 2,500ft.
The race started at Carding Mill, owned by the National Trust - who were very accomodating hosts. They lit the log fire and made no fuss about wet, dirty clad fell runners changing in the toilets and taking over the cafe (mind I think fell runners and followers were the only ones out that day and certainly bought our own weight in drinks, soup and cakes!). Th course went out into the local hills, lovely to run in, inlcuing steep short ascents and steeper very wet, soggy downhills. Although a marked course it was difficult to spot the flags at times in the rain and the mist, but was excellently marked out and marshalled.
In separate races mens and ladies races the Ilkley Ladies were out in force with 7 runners, and all were needed to claim first team place in both the Ladies, by just 4 points, and vets Ladies competitions. This places us in joint first place in the English Champs with Calder and ahead in the Vets with 2 wins out of 2. Once again as at Fairfield the Ilkley Ladies battled it out amongst themselves, though further down the field overall, all within 34s of each other! Holly Williamson this time the first Harrier in in 15th, followed by Helen Ilsley, 17th, Alison Eagle, 18th, and Emma Barclay, 20th. But still the red and green vest flooded in with young Jenny Dybeck in 22th ( a big step up from her U/17 races previously and a little tough she admitted afterwards!) and Alison Weston, 25th. Alison Bennett completed the team in 41st, beating Calder's third counter and ensuring Ilkley Ladies of that important first place.
After an hour's wait, the men set off just as the Ilkley ladies began to arrive at the finish! Unfortunately Ilkley men were in short supply but good results from those who did make the trek down. Unfortunately there was little support as they finished as the bad weather continued and the ladies were still warming up in the cafe!
A well organised friendly event, in a lovely part of the country. It was a shame that numbers were low. I will cetainly be happy to venture down again but hopefully with much better weather conditions!
Results from MerciaFellRunners.org.uk:
Men's race: 1 44.37 Rob Hope, P&B 38 53.57 Lee Morley 69 57.22 Ian Rowbotham 118 63.16 Geoff Howard 160 69.50 Morgan Williams 168 71.26 Pete Shields 198 finished Ladies' race 1 54.12 Philippa Jackson, Keswick 15 62.22 Holly Williamson 17 62.35 Helen Ilsley 18 62.37 Alison Eagle 20 62.56 Emma Barclay 22 64.04 Jenny Dybeck 24 64.34 Alison Weston 41 69.57 Alison Bennett 65 finished
Thanks to Val Kerr for these results ...
Winning time 48:37 15 Chris Gale 54:37 50 Norman Bush 62:00 65 Sarah Haines 66.06 67 Michael Waterhouse 66:18 93 Florence Haines 71:02 94 Chloe Haines 71:17 95 Val Kerr 71:19 (121 finishers)
Ewan Welsh reports ... Myself and Mike Baldwin kept each other company around the Wharfedale off road marathon on Saturday. Keeping in mind the not so well known saying of 'don't let the first mile dictate your last mile' we started off at a steady pace and basically kept that steady pace for the duration, we came in on 3 hrs 47 mins, no idea of the results yet. I was delighted with my run, haven't felt that good since the Archie Gemmil goal in the 78 world cup!
The route takes in (from Threshfield), Kettlewell, over to Arncliffe, up to Malham Tarn then back down to Threshfield. It's an excellent route, a friendly low key event, tea and buns at the end plus a shower, magic. I would recommend the race (for what my recommendation is worth) and put it on to your top 5 races to do on your doorstep list (if you have such a list).
Lots of Harriers doing the 1/2 marathon route, heard John Sinclaire's name mentioned over the speaker as I was basking in a shower, no idea what he won, or maybe he had lost his car keys and somebody had found them, we shall await the results.
Results from SportIdent:
Half Marathon 1 90.25 Quentin Lewis, Baildon 10 101:01 Jonathan Sinclair 22 109.13 Sally Malir 2nd lady 49 119.11 Diane Haggar 50 119.14 Nigel Tapper 74 126.00 Andrew Wilson 82 127.09 Keith Wood 106 131.22 Helen Horton 107 131.24 Eric Hawthorn 113 132.53 Sue Bickerdike Marathon 1 3h05.31 Panos Aristotelous, Leeds 28= 3h47.18 Ewan Welsh 28= 3h47.18 Mike Baldwin Rugger Ramble 9 5h49:35 Amanda Parnaby
Amanda Panaby reports ... same route as the Wharfedale Off Road Marathon but setting off 2 hours earlier at 8.30 am. Wind and rain was the order of the day, finished in 6 hrs 13 min 55 secs.
From Chris Matthews..... as part of her role on the Bradford Athletics Network Shirley requested a representative from the club to attend the launch of the Bradford Marathon, I was eager to find out the details of the marathon so attended the event last Thursday afternoon in Centenary Square, Bradford. There was a representative from each of the Bradford Running clubs along with children from Greengates school, players from Bradford Bulls, Keighley Cougars, Bradford City, Councillor Kris Hopkins, and elite runner Lisa Wilkinson. Photos were taken of various groups and appeared in last Friday's Telegraph and Argus.
On October 18th 2009 there will be a 10 mile road race involving 2 loops of 5 miles from Centenary Square,1st loop out to Lister Park and back then out to Bowling Park finishing back at Centenary Square. The Marathon is proposed for October 2010 and will involve running 5 loops, each 5 miles, and running out and back to 5 different Bradford Parks,in reference to the Olympic circles! Runners can partake in a 5, 10, 15, 20 or 26 miles race on the day.
The ladies are back! with good wins in the ladies team and lady vets team competitions. The SuperVets had a good win, and we were 4th in the main team competition (could still do a little better ...). Full results, and photos, on www.harrogate-league.org.uk.
1 32.24 IAN FISHER, OTLEY AC 9 35.55 JACK WOOD 26 37.44 NICK RICHARDSON 29 38.04 RICHARD JOEL 32 38.31 PAUL O'LOONEY 41 39.02 SALLY MORLEY 42 39.06 KEVIN GOOCH 53 39.52 HENRY HEAVISIDES 55 39.59 DAVE JEPSON 63 40.32 SIMON CHAPMAN 73 41.17 NEIL CHAPMAN 79 41.46 KAYE PEARCE 97 42.58 JANE BRYANT 98 42.59 ANDREW SHELDON 100 43.03 ALISON BENNETT 104 43.13 GRAHAM ARTHUR 111 43.35 JENNY DYBECK 118 44.00 KEITH WOOD 121 44.03 CAROLINE BELL 130 44.36 PETER SHIELDS 153 46.20 VAL KERR 167 48.15 JOHN MARSHALL 176 49.04 JIM TOWERS 184 49.41 KAREN LAMBE 189 49.56 ANDY WOLFENDEN 192 50.04 COLIN LUGTON 201 51.25 ROBERT PAYNE 203 51.34 JANET GRACE 204 51.38 PAUL SUGDEN 205 51.39 SHEENA PICKERSGILL 206 52.00 ERIC MONTEIRO 229 54.31 ANDREW BENNETT 235 55.21 ADELE MITCHELL 255 58.55 MANDY CHAPMAN 257 59.20 SUE VERSPYCK 258 59.21 DAVID MILLSON 259 59.26 PATRICK GIBBONS 264 60.37 HEATHER DUKE 265 63.57 SUSAN LUGTON
1 17:35 Graham Pearce, Pudsey & Bramley 2 17:50 Tom Adams 6 19:07 Dave Wilby 11 19:52 Jim Ryder 16 20:24 Ian Rowbottam 38 22:00 Nick Pearce 43 22:31 Mike Baldwin 49 23:10 Bob Hamilton 52 23:26 Norman Bush 64 24:09 Michael Waterhouse 65 24:21 Alison Weston 67 24:25 Kelly Harrison 77 25:13 Keith Wood 84 26:01 Jim Towers 95 27:18 Sue Morley 99 27:41 Bob Payne 101 28:41 Sue Bickerdike 116 36:20 Lyn Eden