[Photo courtesy of Nigel Pepper – Diane Kitchen amongst the runners winning her category at Roundhay]
From Will Worboys & Nicola Budding…
Ilkley runners going well at Cross Country
The main running event of the weekend was race number four in this year’s PECO Cross Country series. Taking place at Roundhay Park in Leeds and hosted by Chapel Allerton, the senior race was an approximately 4.3 miles course around the scenic park; attracting a good number of Ilkley Harriers.
Amongst some excellent performances, Diane Kitchen headed the way, being the only one of 13 travelling Harriers to win their category. Diane won the veteran F65 category in good style finishing in a time of 38:27. The quickest Ilkley lady overall, as is often the case, was Rachel Carter. She had another superb run to finish 16th overall of a total 336 runners and 3rd in her category (F45) in a time of 30:28. Sally Malir also put in a very good showing to finish 4th of the F60 runners.
In the Men’s race, the first Ilkley athlete to finish was youngster Oscar Shinn, 29th overall (of 412) in a superb 25:57. Next came Gawain Moore who came 2nd of the M45’s in 26:14. He was followed by Steven Gott who was sixth in the same category in a time of 28:03. Race 5 of the series is scheduled for March 2nd at Stockeld Park and will be hosted by Wetherby Runners.
In the junior PECO, Michael and Isobel Moore both took part in the one mile race; Michael finishing in 3rd place with a time of 6:56 followed by Isobel with a time of 8:00. Amelia Nichols ran in the 2 mile event finishing in 15:34.
Meanwhile in Lancashire, Ilkley’s Sally Armitage excelled in the Williamson Park half marathon. A challenging route through the Lune Valley, incorporating 452 metres of climb in addition to strong winds, was no deterrent to the Harrier finishing 2nd lady and 5th overall in a brilliant time of 1:34:38.
Harriers were also busy on Saturday morning at the 5K parkruns. Jack Wood was the only first finisher this week, which he managed in a time of 17:50 at Hockgraben in Southern Germany. James Horrex ran well a little closer to home in Sheffield and came 4th in 18:14. At Myrtle Park in Bingley, Nicola Budding was 5th female home; while Gaenor Coy was 12th at Cliffe Castle. The highest age grading was Hilda Coulsey who posted an impressive 82.15% while getting a time of 27:33 at Portrush in Northern Ireland.
Many Harriers were busy doing their own thing this weekend with spring marathons and half marathons on the horizon; plus of course the Ilkley Moor Fell Race which is now less than three weeks away, taking place on Sunday 2nd March and starting at 11:30, with the shorter junior races getting underway at 10:30.
Ilkley Harriers is a friendly welcoming club, open to all. If you would like to try us out, please register first on the training page at www.ilkleyharriers.org.uk and then come along to our main club night at 6.45pm on Tuesdays, meet upstairs at Ilkley tennis and squash club.