REPORT BY: JEAN SULLIVAN

WITH the cross country season in full swing, the last race of the West Yorkshire XC league took place at Rothwell in Leeds.

And there was a first-place finish for Ilkley Harriers with Ben Rothery continuing his fine form to win the men’s race, as he completed the very muddy 9.5km course in a great time of 34:42.

Steven Gott was the second Harrier over the line, taking third place in his age category as did Steve Coy.

Rachel Carter represented Ilkley ladies, completing the challenging 5.4km course in 26:39, and taking third prize in her age category. Following in his talented Mum’s footsteps, junior Harrier Robert Carter won the U13 league, with Harriers Sam Bentham and Archie Budding coming second and third respectively in the U17 league

The Gathering Winter Fools winter relay, organised by Keighley and Craven AC, also took place this weekend. This race is definitely not for the faint-hearted, with tough wintry conditions to contend with. Ilkley Harriers submitted two teams, each having eight runners, two on each of the four legs. Leg one starts in Keighley, with mass starts at set intervals for the other legs. Leg two starts in Kildwick, leg three in East Morton and leg four in Bingley. Each leg is between six and nine miles long, on public roads and paths.

Ilkley’s mixed team finished in second place in their category (seventh overall), with the men’s team finishing in third place overall.

The seasonally named the Moors the Merrier fell race saw Harrier Martin Hartley complete this 21-mile circular route on the moors around Hebden Bridge, in a great time of 3:54:14. Martin finished in a superb 14th place overall, out of over 150 runners who took part. This anti-clockwise circular route sees runners go over Midgley Moor, Wadsworth Moor, Heptonstall Moor and Erringden Moor before a big climb out of the valley back to the golf course at Hebden Bridge. In honour of the Christmas season a Santa Hat and a present for the post-race Bran Tub were included in the essential kit list for the race.

Continuing the festive theme, two Harriers took part in the South Leeds Bah Humbug 10km., organised by South Leeds Lakers. This 10km hilly, multi-terrain race starts and finishes at the South Leeds Stadium and sees runners do a lap of the track to begin and end the race, with lots of muddy fields to contend with in between. Alex Foyn flew to the finish to cross the line in a superb 11th place overall. Natalie Gravett-Foyn also had a great run, being the 13th lady to finish out of 123 and managing to complete the course in under an hour.

This weekend saw the staging of the Northern Masters Ken Mayors 5km Championships at the Brownlee Centre in Leeds. This annual championship race includes an open race for all over 35s on a closed one-mile circuit. Ilkley Harrier Danny Thompson stormed to the finish to take third place in a personal best time for him for a 5km. Jane McCarthy also had a great run at this event, managing a sub-20 minute finish time.

Despite the very wet conditions Harriers were out in force at the weekly timed parkrun series. There was a first-place finish for Matthew Thackwray at the Bicester parkrun, his first time doing this event. A 2023 PB for Jaysson Sawyer, with Jaysson going from strength to strength completing the Robert’s Park parkrun in a sub-20-minute time of 19:45. Mark Hall, James Lee, James Horrex, John Hayes and Tim Ashelford all managed top ten finishes at various parkruns around the UK, with Adam Gerrish flying the flag for the Ilkley Harriers in Australia, with Adam completing the Centennial parkrun in Sydney.