A BRONZE medal for Emily Gibbins highlighted another busy week of summer racing for Ilkley Harriers.

This weekend saw the staging of the British and Irish Junior Mountain Running Championships in Ambleside in Cumbria.

There was huge success for Ilkley Harrier Emily Gibbins who won a bronze medal in the under 20 category. She was also part of the winning England under 20s team.

The 5.7km course, with almost 1,000ft of climbing was tough, with challenging underfoot conditions to contend with.

Emily also continued her fine form at the Hebden Sports fell race, held as part of the Hebden Sports Day.

Emily was the first lady to finish in a superb time of 12:53, finishing in sixth place overall.

Fellow Harrier Tom Adams had a first place finish at this race, completing the 1.5mile course, with 400ft of ascent in 11:08. Peter Kulik also had a great run at this race.

Two other BOFRA (British Open Fell Running Association) fell races took place this week.

Two Ilkley Harrriers took part in the Kilnsey Crag fell race. This 1.2-mile race, with 407ft of climbing, is held as part of the annual Kilnsley Show, the Yorkshire Dales’ premier agricultural show, which has marked the end of summer in the Dales since 1897.

Tackling the dramatic Kilnsey Crag, Harrier Jack Cummings came in eighth place finishing in a time of 8:56. Rebecca White also completed the race in 15:41.

Harrier Iain Gibbons took part in the Reeth Show fell race, another BOFRA fell race, held on Bank Holiday Monday. This race saw a welcome return to the fell race calendar after a two-year gap due to Covid.

Iain completed the race in 18.34, for 18th place overall. This two-mile course with 700ft of climbing involves running up to Fremington Edge and then back down through old quarry workings to the showfield at Reeth.

Also on the fells Alison Weston and Kelly Wilby completed the Grisedale Horseshoe fell race. This challenging 11-mile fell race with almost 5,000 feet of climbing, involves runners deciding their own optimum route between checkpoints.

Alison finished fourth in her age category in a time of 3:01 and Kelly was fifth in her age category in 3:29.

Meanwhile on the road, Hilda Coulsey took part in the Village Bakery Wrexham Half Marathon. This flat and fast chip-timed course is popular and attracts many runners seeking a good half marathon time. Hilda had a superb run, and finished first in her age category in a time of 1:55:50. As this race was a England Masters qualifier Hilda will now have the honour of wearing an England vest at next year’s Chester half marathon.

The multi-terrain Wetherby 10km took place this weekend. Four Harriers took part with great results all round.

Sally Armitage was the third lady to finish in a speedy time of 38:39 in 19th place overall. Tony Pye finished in 39th place in a time of 41:37. Hot on his heels were clubmates Ruth Kitchen (43:35) and Mike Williams, who completed the course in 44:26, taking second in his age category.

Twenty-nine Harriers participated in various parkruns. Ilkley Harrier Matt Cox was the first finisher at the Chevin Forest parkrun with a time of 19:00. Junior Harrier Jake Norris was the first finisher at the Thetford parkrun, completing the course in 18:21. Junior Harrier Oscar Shinn finished third at the Skipton parkrun.