PHOTO: Harriers Iain Young and Patrick Wardle doing battle [credit Dave Woodhead]
From Dan McKeown….
We had 13 runners out at Rombald’s Romp on Ilkley Moor on Saturday: an 8-mile trip over the brow of the Moor and back, organised by North Leeds Fell Runners.
I was hopeful of a decent result after avoiding injury / illness over the summer for the first time in a few years, and staggered off the top of the first climb in third place. Better was to follow as I surged into the lead just after the descent to the Millennium Way.
(In the interests of sporting and journalistic integrity, I should acknowledge that this was because an errant marshal had sent the leading duo in the wrong direction.)
The natural order soon re-asserted itself, the legit contenders hared off into the distance, and I spent most of the remaining three-quarters of the race keeping a wary eye on the pursuit from fourth place. When I arrived at the finish line, it turned out my podium rivals had managed to find their way there without further mishap.
The haul for third place was a box of After Eights, some mince pies that need eating by early November, and a pack of garlic croutons. Having seen toilet cleaner handed out as a prize at Dick Hudson’s before, I felt more relieved than elated.
Harriers highlights included:
- Fifth woman overall and second W40 for Kate Prior
- First W55 for Elaine Cossins, pipping Jean Sullivan
- Second M55 for John Hayes and second M65 for Mike Williams
Credit to North Leeds for another enjoyable event, which was also a qualifying race in the Harriers race league – the next is Within’s Skyline on 11 October.
Harriers placings:
3 Daniel McKeown 01:00:08
15 Patrick Wardle 01:08:22
17 Iain Young 01:09:39
23 John Hayes 01:11:07
25 Thomas Mountain 01:11:44
35 Kate Prior 01:14:14
36 Justin Pierce 01:14:32
37 Holly Digne-Malcolm 01:15:15
39 James Lumb 01:15:54
54 Esmaeil Zadeh 01:23:00
60 Mike Williams 01:27:33
69 Elaine Cossins 01:32:25
73 Jean Sullivan 01:36:18
(Winning time 56:19, 87 ran)
