REPORT BY: JEAN SULLIVAN

HARRIER Jack Cummings stormed to success to win the popular Keighley 10km over the weekend.

This race, staged on Mother’s Day, to raise money for the Sue Ryder Manorlands Hospice, sees runners start at Victoria Hall and follow a circular route through the paths and parks of Keighley, as well as taking in a section of the Leeds Liverpool canal towpath and the stunning East Riddlesden Hall.

Cummings had a superb run, crossing the line in 35:11, in a nail-biting finish with the Harriers’ star managing to secure first place with just a four second gap between him and the second finisher.

Andrew Overend was the second Harrier home, with Thomas Mountain the third Harrier to cross the line, fresh from his PB at the Fountains Abbey parkrun the previous day. Jane McCarthy led the Ilkley ladies home in a speedy time of 42:58, finishing first in her age category. Junior Harrier Lucy Hayes was next to finish, with Mum Sarah the third Ilkley lady to complete the course. Bernie Gibbons also had a superb run, taking first prize in her age category. Carole Cunningham completed the 5km option, and was also highly placed in her age category.

Also on the roads, this weekend saw the staging of the Dentdale 14, celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. This undulating road race is a circular route around the lanes of scenic Dentdale in the Yorkshire Dales. Harry Brook-Dobson completed the course in a superb time of 1:35:05, finishing in thirteenth place overall. There was also a Dentdale 7.5-mile race option on the same day, with Ilkley Harrier Sally Malir completing this in an impressive 1:03:02, who claimd first prize in her age category.

Off road, The Howarth Hobble was a popular choice for Ilkley Harriers this week, with ten hardy Harriers taking part in this challenging 32-mile ultra race, organised by Keighley and Craven Athletics Club. The route traverses gritstone moors around Haworth, Todmorden and Hebden Bridge and involves 4400ft of ascent.

Ben Sheppard led the Harriers home, finishing in 28th place, as he completed the course in a superb time of 5:02:22. Hot on his heels was clubmate Gavin Lamb, with Lamb finishing the race just under a minute later. Dave Robson was the third Harrier home, who completed the route in 5:16:34.

Kate Archer maintained her fine form and was the third lady over the line at this event in 5:18:52. Alison Weston was the second Ilkley lady to finish, with Jacqui Foster the third. Harriers Martin Hartley, Peter Shelley and Derek Oliver also had great runs at this event, as did Ritchie Williamson, back racing having completed the Spine Winter race.

Continuing her love of ultra running Petra Bijsterveld took part in The Welcome Way Ultra, organised by Punk Panther Endurance Events Ltd.. The Welcome Way is an existing waymarked circular long distance walking route connecting Otley, Burley and Baildon and this event largely follows this route. There were options to run 50 miles (6000 ft), 34 miles (4300 ft), 20 miles (2200 ft) or a half marathon, with Bijsterveld opting for the 50-mile option. Conditions were cool and dry, but with low visibility, and lots of mud to contend with. Bijsterveld finished in an impressive tenth place overall, taking first prize in her age category.

This weekend saw the staging of the UKCAU Inter Counties cross country championships at Wollaton Park in Nottingham, with Ed Hobbs and Christos Tzelis proudly representing Yorkshire in the U20 race. Unfortunately Hobbs was ill during the race and had to withdraw, but Christos went on to finish 29th out of 155 runners in a highly competitive field. Tzelis was the third Yorkshire counter in the race and helped them to win a silver medal at this event.

In the U17 race, Harriers Sam Bentham and Archie Budding were running in an even more competitive field than the U20 race, with almost 300 runners battling it out to win. Their excellent running meant they helped their U17 Yorkshire team finish in second place overall.

Continuing with cross country, three Ilkley Harriers took part in the PECO Cross Country League end of season relay race, which gives participants a chance to race cross country as part of a team with fellow clubmates. This race, which took part in Bramley Fall Park in Leeds saw Harriers, Steven Gott, Matthew Snow and David Singleton compete as a team, (team name ‘Old Menstonians’), and they finished in an impressive nineteenth place out of the 45 teams that took part, not quite deserving of the word ‘old’ in their team name!

It takes dedication to race on a Friday evening, but it paid off for Harrier Daniel Fazackerley, who took park in the Evensplits York 5km. This race, billed as the ‘flattest, fastest’ 5km in Yorkshire, is held at the University of York Sport Village cycle circuit, with Daniel finishing in an impressive eighth place overall, in a super quick time of 15:56.

The allure of the interclub parkrun championships between Ilkley Harriers, Bingley Harriers and Saltaire Striders has continued to encourage lots of Harriers to add a parkrun to their weekly schedule. This week saw the grand total of 38 Harriers give these timed 5km runs a go, with some incredible results. It was a PB for Thomas Mountain at the Fountain’s Abbey parkrun with Thomas completing the course in 20:01. Mark Hall, David Foyston and Nathan Coy all managed to finish in the top five at various parkruns, with Will Worboys clocking an impressive 225 parkruns by completing the Robert’s Park parkrun this week.