Edmondson storms to Otley Chevin Fell Race victory

IMPRESSIVE on any terrain, Nathan Edmondson stormed to the finish to win the Otley Chevin Fell Race at the weekend.

This 2.9-mile race, in its 45th year, organised by Skyrac AC, sees runners contending with 900ft of climbing up Otley Chevin, before descending back down to finish in Otley. Edmondson completed the course in an impressive time of 17:06.

Hot on his heels was clubmate Oli Murphy who finished in second place in a speedy time of 17:59, with Forrest Hamilton the third Harrier home. Other impressive results included Bob Hamilton and Alison Weston, both of whom took first place in their respective age categories. Catherine Crawley also had a great run, taking third place in her age category.

Bob Hamilton, Alison Weston and Forrest Hamilton who enjoyed the Chevin Fell Race (Image: Alison Weston)

This week saw the staging of the third race in the Harrogate and District Summer Race League. This series of summer evening races are hosted by different running clubs in Yorkshire and this week it was the turn of the Dragons Running Club based in Yeadon. The route involved running along the old railway line between Guiseley and Yeadon, including a loop through Esholt Woods before the return to the finish.

Sixteen Harriers took part in fine and dry conditions. There were some excellent results; Matthew Thackwray continued his fine form in this series to finish in an impressive second place overall, with three other Harriers finishing with top 20 placings, namely Dave Foyston who was fourth finisher and claimed first place in his age category, Michael Abrams-Cohen finished in 12th place and Jonathan Turner who finished in 17th place and also took an age category win. Ruth Kitchen had an impressive run and was the second lady over the line. She was followed by Jane McCarthy, with Dawn Turner the third Ilkley lady to finish.

Still in Yorkshire, the off-road Settle Saunter took place this weekend, an annual event organised by the Rotary Club of Settle, taking participants into quieter and lesser-known parts of the Yorkshire Dales, with 10km, half marathon and a 23-mile routes on offer. Helen Waddington, along with Paul Carman, who was running to support his mum, did the half marathon option, which visits the picturesque locations of Feizor, Austwick, Clapham and Stainforth Force, before finishing back in Settle. A fantastic performance by Waddington, who finished in 12th place overall out of a field of over 100 runners, with Helen also taking first prize in her age category. A great run also by Carman and his mum (as well as by his dad who also took part).

Great teamwork continued. with ten Ilkley Harriers taking part in the Bradford Millennium Way relay at the weekend. This relay consists of five legs, with two runners per leg. It starts and finishes in Bingley, taking in Wilsden, Denholme, Oxenhope, Haworth, Oakworth, Steeton, Silsden, Addingham and Ilkley, with some stunning scenery en-route.

Ilkley men finished in an impressive third place in the open category, with Jack Wood, Tom Adams, Gavin Lamb, Nick Helliwell, Tom Lally, Matthew Kennedy, Nuno Cesar de Sa, Nick Kealey, Danny Thompson and Dan McKeown all flying the flag for the Ilkley Harriers and completing the relay in an impressive total time of 6:40:54.

Harrier Ben Sheppard undertook the Stanza Stones ultra, a new entry in the race calendar, organised by Cragrunners. This 50-mile linear route with over 6600 ft of ascent, starts at Marsden near Huddersfield and finishes in Ilkley, following parts of the Pennine Way, Stoodley Pike, Haworth and Ilkley Moor. Runners visit the 6 Stanza Stones, each one having a poem by Simon Armitage carved into their rock face.

Ben finished in a superb fourth place overall and only three minutes behind the third finisher, particularly impressive given the extremely hot conditions on the day.

The sunny conditions tempted lots of Ilkley Harriers out to participate in the weekly timed 5km parkrun races. The Bradford parkrun was very popular with six Harriers taking part. James Lee was the first Harrier home, finishing in seventh place overall in a great time of 19:32. Steve Murray also managed a top ten placing, finishing in ninth place in 19:51. Michael Abrams-Cohen finished second at the Bowling Park parkrun, with Dave Foyston the third finisher at the Robert’s Park parkrun. Adam Gerrish, Rob Budding and Oscar Stapleton also managed to finish in the top ten at the Pontefract, Chevin Forest and Robert’s Park parkruns respectively. Jaysson Sawyer continued his impressive return to racing, completing the Fountain’s Abbey parkrun. In the Lake District, Owen Parker ran the Rothay Park parkrun for the first time, completing the course in 20:37 and finishing in an impressive 12th place overall.