[Harriers Alison Weston, far left, and Jann Smith, second left, were among the award winners at the Craiglands – photo courtesy of Iain Gibbons]
From Nigel Illingworth & Nicola Budding…
Harriers’ successes recognised at annual award ceremony
Ilkley Harriers hosted the prestigious annual Fell Runners Association Dinner and Presentation at Ilkley’s Craiglands Hotel on Saturday evening, with 103 attendees.
The main awards were for the 2025 English Fell Championships, where Ben Rothery was joint first overall, Sam Bentham was second U23, Jane McCarthy was second women’s V50, and Harriers’ women’s V50 team second overall (Alison Weston, Jann Smith, Rebecca Mon-Williams, and Jane McCarthy).
Saturday’s Tour of Pendle Fell Race saw a strong Harriers turnout. This annual event is a leg-destroying 27km race, with a climb of 1,473m.
Ann-Kristin Marsham claimed second FV40 (3:27:45) and Katie Poulter third FV40 (3:35:58), with Harriers’ first women’s team. Also, Jonny McKenna (2:59:41), George Whittlestone (3:11:12), Paul Carman (3:15:34), Charles Wain (3:31:53), Richard Joel (3:36:31), Sacha Jones (3:56:29) and David Norris (3:56:39).
Alison Weston delivered an outstanding performance at Saturday’s Wharfedale Skyline Half Marathon. A stunning 12th finisher, third female, and first FV60 with a new FV60 course record of 2:26:27.
Mark Hall claimed first M65 in Sunday’s Preston 10 Mile Road Race (1:02:49).
Peter Roll was first MV60 in Saturday’s Litton Birks Fell Race (38:29).
Jack Cummings finished third in Saturday’s Run Alton Towers 10k (32:52).
Two Harriers endured Saturday’s Gods Own Backyard Ultra Fall 2025. This is a last-person-standing format where runners complete a 4.17-mile route (‘yard’) every hour, on the hour, until only one competitor remains. Petra Bijsterveld and Alan Travis each completed 16 yards (66.67 miles).
Harriers’ Juniors competed in Sunday’s West Yorkshire Cross-Country League at Thornes Park in Wakefield. In the U11 Boys Race, Rafe Garner was the first Harrier home (6:06), closely followed by Thomas Bailey (6:17). Ethan Pickwoad competed in the U13 Boys Race finishing the 2.9 km course in 12:19, plus Heather Crolla completed the U15 Girls 3.6 km Race in 16:06.
There were strong finishes in Saturday’s parkruns.
Sally Armitage was first female at Fountains Abbey (19:09), and Harry Brook-Dobson was first at Horton Park (19:03). Stephen Coy was fifth at Wakefield Thornes (20:22) and Harry Sime was eighth at Skipton (20:38).
Harriers Juniors also finished well with Max Hebbon first JM10 at Newtown (29:37) and Daisy Lowe first JW11-14 at East Holmes Field (29:26).
Overseas Maddie Morris was third female (26:03) at Japan’s Shibamata koen kadan, along with Sam Angus (26:04), plus Amanda Newham (31:05) at Italy’s Milano Nord.
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.