From Petra Bijsterveld….

The local cross country season started today after a long covid-induced hiatus, and it was wonderful to see so many familiar faces from many clubs, and of course the organisers and the official starter, who was on good form today cracking jokes with us before firing the gun. The weather was kind, if anything it was a tad warm for running, and underfoot conditions were very dry considering the rain we have had in the last few days.

Excellent running by all Harriers including the juniors who raced in the morning. In the senior women’s race, consisting of 3 large laps (3.2 miles), Rachel Carter led the Ilkley women, coming home in 10^th place as well as being 1^st W45. Alison Bennett continued her brilliant current form with a very fast time, though such was the strength of the field, this made her ‘only’ 2^nd W60. Diane Kitchen, myself and Steph Fox arrived around 5 minutes later each having given their all! Personally I was delighted to get around so well and without injury as this was the first ‘fast’ run for me in 4 months, having strained both calves in turn this year my training has all been of the slow variety.

The men’s race was 5 laps of the same course (5.5 miles) and was won in brilliant style by Tom Adams with Oli Murphy in 3^rd place. Harry Holmes of Pudsey and Bramley, who recently won the Ilkley fell race and had been leading in the initial laps, came 2^nd, it was nice to see Tom reel him in sometime around the 3^rd lap if I was counting correctly, and trapping him in an ‘Ilkley sandwich’. Strong running by all Ilkley men, who ended as 2^nd team, with Tim Ashelford coming 1st M55.

 

Results

 

Senior Women

(1  20:09 Becky Penty)

10 22:34 Rachel Carter 1^st W45

31 24:37 Alison Bennett

62 29:07 Diane Kitchen

65 29:42 Petra Bijsterveld

70 30:56 Steph Fox

78 ran

7^th team

 

Senior Men

1  30:23 Tom Adams

3  31:13 Oli Murphy

14 33:37 Nathan Coy

17 33:50 Matt Cox

44 37:18 Tim Ashelford 1^st M55

68 39:30 Jim Ryder

123 ran

2^nd team