From Ash Winter…
Someone said something about spring being here, but standing outside Argos in Guiseley on Sunday morning it somehow didn’t quite feel like it. Wind, rain and hailstones greeted the 24 Harriers looking to improve their race league standing at the Guiseley Gallop. This two lapper with a hill to finish promised plenty of undulations, with the full knowledge of the lactate filled legs that await you on the second loop and finishing stretch.
There was a brief trot down the start in Esholt Woods, with some of that lovely, slippery but not too deep mud. Sliding down it with pre-race giddiness was fun, grinding up it in the last kilometre was a different order of fun. We gathered for a Harriers photo, the mood was cold but jovial, race league counters are delightfully social affairs. A brief race brief and off we went, thundering along the first kilometre.
A trip down through the woods, then some decent trail and tarmac, familiar to Rombalds Striders and HDRSL participants. After the trail and tarmac, a turn uphill and back into the woods. An extremely slippery turn, where Tony Pye and his son had positioned themselves to witness the chaos as the churn increased. If I was marshalling, I too would have picked that spot.
At the Predictor on Tuesday night, Steve Murray and myself had a lovely conversational run around Ilkley. No such friendship during this race, he was just ahead of me for the whole thing and no matter how hard I tried I couldn’t catch him. Came close on Tony Pye Hill the second time around, but Steve drew away from me again with leaving me with a devastating certainty that he would indeed be waiting with an already secured Easter Egg at the finish. However, my time of 46:39 and 3rd MV45 was still very pleasing, as part of a strong Harriers showing.
Oscar Shinn’s tilt at being the youngest ever winner (probably) of the race league continued with a superb fourth place. Nick Kealey was fifth overall and first MV50, picking up those age category wins while Ritchie Williamson watches on, brooding. First Harrier lady home was Lucy Hayes in 10th with an excellent 52:32. John Hayes, Jonathan Turner, Richard Joel and Steve ‘You won’t catch me Ash’ Murray picked up a 1-2-3-4 in the MV55 category, strong showing from those four as ever. Alison Weston was first in the FV60 category and gave me a lift home so gets a further award as an all-round good egg, Rachel Holder was first FV55 and Jean Sullivan third, completing the top honours.
Honourable mentions for every Harrier who contributed to a great day, Oliver Holder, Iain Young, Andrew Overend, Luke Watkeys, Geoffrey White, Andy Shinn, Will Worboys, Esmaeli Zadeh, Alex Lewis, Vicky Rutherford, Sarah Hayes, Owen Parker and Nigel Illingworth.