From Mike AC…
The Ilkley Harriers went on a trip to Wakefield for the Yorkshire road relays. The course (roughly 4km) consisted of 4 laps of a cycle track, with a short sharp climb on the far end that you had negotiate 4 times. Iain took on the first leg, starting like an absolute monster and reaching the hill on the first lap in fourth place. He battled on and handed over to Kyle in a very respectable 15th position.
Kyle, who much to his other half’s dismay agreed to run instead of booking a holiday, took over the baton and galloped around the track effortlessly in his shiny new mango coloured Vaporflys. Having decided not to test out his new shoes before the day, this could have gone one of two ways – but thankfully for us Kyle had a brilliant run. This time not weighed down by a drawstring bag, Kyle stormed through the field and passed over to Mike in 13th, having picked up a few positions.
Mike who’d only just stripped of his marshalling jacket, set off on leg three. A non-descript solo leg where no positions were gained or lost, Mike handed over to Gotty in 13th.
Steve, filled with excitement for the opportunity to visit Wakefield Screwfix, flew around the course like a gazelle. The fastest leg for Ilkley by some way, Gotty finished in a brilliant time of 13:31 to see us finish in 12th position (due primarily to a Sheffield team having only got three runners, leading us to leapfrog to 12th).
The lads celebrated with their well earned McFlurry ice creams on an overall enjoyable day in Wakefield.
Honourable mention to Archie Budding for smashing the U17 race finishing in an excellent 3rd position. We very much look forward to recruiting him to the seniors in the coming years; and a big thanks to Rob and Nicola Budding for sharing out the marshalling duties with Mike AC- a requirement for each club that enters.
Leg 1 Iain Young -14:09 (15th)
Leg 2 Kyle Bethell-13:51 (13th)
Leg 3 Michael Abrams-Cohen- 13:50 (13th)
Leg 4 Steve Gott- 13:31 (12th)