REPORT BY JILL EZARD

ILKLEY Harriers had another fine week of action impressing in team and solo events, while mixing it up on fell and road.

Three Harriers’ teams travelled to the Lake District on Saturday 21 October to take part in the British Athletics Fell and Hill Relays. Being held at Braithwaite near Keswick this year, each of the c250 relay teams must complete four laps combining solo legs, pairs legs and one leg requiring navigational skills.

The Men’s Vets 40 team of Iain Gibbons, Michael Odell, Matt Cox, Jeff Green, Dan McKeown and Gawain Moore were the first over the line in 4:34:54 taking tenth place in their age category. Next over the line were the Men’s open team of Gavin Lamb, Nick Helliwell, James Batterley, Paul Carman, Ben Sheppard and Steve Gott in 4:55:59. The mixed team had an outstanding run led by Sam Bentham who came second overall in the first leg leading Forrest Hamilton, Jack Gribbin, Alison Weston, Kelly Wilby and Helen Thurston home in a fantastic fifth place in their category in 4:57:52.

Staying in the Lakes, three Harriers took part in the beautiful Langdale Half Marathon on Saturday. The course takes in the Great Langdale and Little Langdale valleys with 360° views of the surrounding fells. Although a tough course with some seriously steep climbs, Harriers’ had fantastic runs; Jaysson Sawyer was first over the line in a superb time of 1:41:49; he was followed closely by Tony Pye in 1:49:21 and Carolyn Stone had an excellent run finishing in 2:26:13 finishing in third place in her age category.

Sunday saw the 15th running of the Abbey Dash in Leeds, a firm favourite in the Harrier annual calendar. 13 Harriers took to the streets of Leeds tackling the fast out and back 10k route to Kirkstall Abbey. The weather was kind for the runners escaping the effects of Storm Babet and there were some fantastic age category results.

Continuing her great form Alison Bennett completed the race in 44:31 taking second place in her category; Bob Hamilton was fifth in his age category in 46:14; and there were top ten placings for Dave Foyston, John Hayes and Marie Watson finishing in 36:15, 39:22 and 45:50 respectively. Others who performed well were Adam Gerrish, Owen Parker, Tom Razazan, Sarah Hayes, Jonathan Nelson, Victoria Coppack and David Ibboston who all posted great results. Maria Brophy also returned to racing after illness who had an amazing run completing the course in 1:00:54.

And finally, 20 Harriers took to the paths and trails to participate in the weekly parkrun events across the country: In Skipton, Rachel Carter and Jane McCarthy were the first and second finishers in 20:52 and 21:12 respectively; on a trip to the seaside at Cleethorpes, Tom Adams was the first finisher in 15:32; in Bedworth in the West Midlands Kate Archer was the first finisher in 21:26; and closer to home at the Chevin Forest event, Danny Thompson was the fourth finisher in 19:46 with Adam Gerrish close behind in tenth in 21:51 in a pre-Abbey Dash warm up.