From John Hayes…
Thank you to all who organised and helped out at this year’s Ilkley Fell Race. I enjoyed it greatly. So too did my dad (Mike Hayes aka Spike) who at 85 was – I think – the eldest runner.
From Petra Bijsterveld…
A very successful 2023 edition of the Ilkley Moor Fell Race saw both the men’s and women’s records broken. Our own Ben Rothery took the win and broke Simon Bailey’s 19 year old record by 3 seconds. Junior Wharfedale Harriers runner Amelie Lane, after a very successful cross country season, broke Emma Clayton’s 10 year old record by 3 seconds to emphatically take the women’s win, arriving more than 2 minutes ahead of the second woman. Jeff Green won the M50 age category. Not to take anything away from their fantastic achievements, the good weather and dry underfoot conditions were no doubt favourable for fast times, and certainly increased the enjoyment for all runners. This year the race incorporated the Yorkshire Senior and U23 Fell Running Championships, where thanks to the performances by Ben, Jack Cummings and Oli Murphy Ilkley won the Senior Men’s Team gold. The Senior Women’s Team gold went to York Knavesmire Harriers. In the individual results Ben retained the Yorkshire Championship title and Jack Cummings gained the bronze.
The race was very well supported by a legion of Harrier volunteers offering their time and energy, very ably led by Peter Roll in his first year as Race Director. There were lots of smiley runner faces and a really positive vibe in the finish area.
1 35:28 Ben Rothery
4 36:33 Jack Cummings
9 37:54 Sam Bentham (junior) 1st U18
12 39:14 Oli Murphy
25 42:26 Jeff Green 1st M50
43 44:44 Gavin Lamb
47 45:18 Samesh Chotai (junior)
48 45:47 Christos Tzelis
49 45:53 Forrest Hamilton
60 47:00 Steven Bysouth
83 49:22 Rob Cunningham
85 49:24 Peter Shelley
89 50:21 Richard Joel
91 50:30 Tim Ashelford
104 51:21 Jim Ryder
110 52:10 John Hayes
117 53:03 Jenny Roberts
128 54:29 Justin Pierce
138 55:24 Alison Weston
140 55:40 Alistaire MacGregor
142 55:52 John Marsham
147 56:33 Jeremy Greenwood
158 57:28 Bob Hamilton
178 59:53 Catherine Crawley
183 60:07 Chris Oxlade
192 61:53 Pete Kulik
207 64:17 Peter Chippindale
208 64:17 Abbie Rothery
246 ran