REPORT BY: JILL EZARD

IT was the first Harriers’ organised race in the 2024 calendar on Sunday with the 32nd staging of the Ilkley Moor Fell race.

As last year, this iconic race was also chosen as the 2024 Yorkshire Senior & U23 Fell Running Championships so attracted a very talented field.

The race is short but steep taking in some of the toughest ascents and descents of the moor resulting in a total of over 400m of climb in just 8km. A fantastic turnout of 33 Harriers took to the start line with some outstanding performances.

It was an Ilkley first and second in the men’s race with Ben Rothery taking the win and the Yorkshire Championship title in a time of 37.05. In a close second in 38:42 was Sam Bentham, also taking first place in his age category. Oli Murphy taking 11th place in 40:31, the Harriers managed to secure the men’s team prize.

Jane McCarthy was the first woman home in a superb time of 52:40 taking first place in her age category. Other top three age category places were secured by Alexander Wolfenden in 44:26, Kelly Wilby in 1:02:02 and Alison Bennett in 1:04:35. Thanks must go to organiser Peter Roll and all the volunteers from the club who made the day a huge success.

The rest of the weekend’s Harriers took to the roads for their races. Hilda Coulsey was the sole representative of the club at the Leicester 10k, aiming to get a great time under her belt early in the season. And the race didn’t disappoint. Starting in Jubilee Square in the city centre, the race takes participants through Victoria Park, out to the University and back to the finish line at Jubilee Square. Coulsey had a fantastic run in a tough course and completed in 53:47, yet another age category club record.

With an equally impressive performance, Christos Tzelis travelled to Manchester for the Trafford 10k. A fast race known for its PB potential, the race attracts a high quality field from all over Europe, with nearly 30 of the finishers completing the race in under 30 minutes. The race heads out to Dunham Massey on quiet country roads before heading back to the start at Partington just outside Manchester. Tzelis had a fantastic run and finished in 31:08, in 74th place out of over 1500 finishers and taking third place in his age category.

Taking on their annual overseas half marathon challenge, four intrepid Harriers travelled to Paris to take part in the Harmonie Mutuelle Semi de Paris. Starting south of the Seine on Boulevard Saint Germain, the route takes participants out to the Bois de Vincennes, returning via the banks of the river to the iconic Place de La Bastille. Jane Bryant was the first Harrier over the line in 2:04:47, followed by Helen Horton in 2:05:23, Anna Nolan in 2:07:27 and Jacqui Weston in 2:14:56.

And finally, the ongoing parkrun challenge with other local clubs lead to another fantastic turnout at the local events with over 40 Harriers turning out. Roberts Park was the most popular with ten Harriers taking part. Nicky Liptrot had a great run and was sixth finisher, with Diane Kitchen clocking an age grade over 80% and a PB. Other PBs across the country included Harry Brooks-Dobson, Martin Campbell, Vince Gibbons, Dave Reynier and Tom Lambe. Driving the age grade up again for the club were Geoff Howard and Alison Bennett, both with gradings over 87%.