ILKLEY Harriers stalwart and multiple club record holder, Hilda Coulsey, defied the odds to run at the World age group championship which was incorporated into the Sydney Marathon, Australia last weekend.

Athletes can only take part in the championship if they have succeeded in making the qualifying time for their age group, which Hilda being in the 70-74 group, comfortably made by over 12 minutes at last year’s London Marathon.

Unfortunately, it looked like Hilda would not make the start line when she tore a calf muscle seven weeks ago and has been unable to train since; making the fact that she managed to run and complete the 26.2 mile race at all an incredible feat.

Hilda decided to run/walk the event for as long as possible and hope for the best. A plan which clearly paid off, as she finished the big city marathon which passed landmarks such as the harbour bridge and the opera house in a time of 5hr 41.

Hilda has already stated that she plans to use the event as the first long training run for her next marathon.

Back in the northern hemisphere, young Harrier Sam Bentham put in an incredible performance while running for England to win the Under 20 Home International Mountain race in to become the British and Irish champion.

The race took place at Glendalough in Ireland and comprised of a 6km run up Brokagh mountain including almost 1,000 feet of ascent. The win cements Bentham’s position as one of the clubs brightest young talents.

On this side of the Irish sea, the prolific Alison Weston followed up her run last weekend at the Stockholm half marathon by this weekend finishing third in her category of W50 at the ‘Three Shires Fell Race’ in the Lakes.

This despite accidentally adding some extra distance to the 11-mile route because of thick mist on the tops.

The race which takes its name from the Three Shires Inn in Little Langdale where it starts and finishes, traverses several peaks including Wetherlam, Swirl How and Pike of Blisco and endures over 4,000 feet of ascent in the process. Clubmate Paul Carman also completed the race, finishing in 74th place overall and a time of 2hr 48.

Another Ilkley runner Forrest Hamilton has been extra busy and managed two races this weekend with excellent results in each. On Friday evening the Harrier managed a brilliant PB of 17.10 at the York Evensplits 5K race. Then on Sunday morning he came 9th overall at the undulating Pudsey 10K in another speedy time of 39.49.

There was an additional personal best at the York 5K for Harrier Harry Sime who managed 19.45 and just seems to keep improving at his specialist distance. Robert Hamilton also had a great run to finish 1st V65 in a time of 22.02.

Back at Pudsey, Ilkley’s Rachel Streets put in a superb run to finish as 4th female overall in a time of 51 minutes dead. Not a straightforward road 10K, with some tricky climbs and over 700 feet of uphill, Pudsey’s 9am start only attracted one other Harrier, Nigel Illingworth, who had an excellent run to knock two minutes off his course best and finish in a time of 58.16 coming 10th in his age category.

Also on Sunday was the Wetherby 10K which attracted several Harriers who found themselves running in heavy downpours, which created some muddy areas on the mixed terrain course. Tony Pye was the first Ilkley runner home with a strong time of 41.58 and finishing eighth in his category. Mark Gill was a minute further back and came third in his age category.

Sally Armitage, Nicole Liptrot and Geoff Howard also snuck under the 50 minute mark at the event; while there were other good runs from Matt Henderson Aleksandra Atman and Jo Henderson.

Meanwhile at the National Cross Country championships Rachel Carter was Ilkley’s only finisher coming home in 71st position out of 266 finishers overall. The event which had been rearranged due to a torrential downpour was set in the grounds of Weston Park near Telford. It took part on an undulating course and was mud free and dry this time!

At the weekly 5K parkrun events there were two Harriers finishing first. James Horrex in a time of 20.17 at the tough Cliffe Castle event and Alex Foyn at Hermanus in South Africa in a time of 19.56, where Natalie Gravett-Foyn was also second female.

Other excellent performances were had by Stephen and Nathan Coy, finishing fourth and 7th respectively at Hastings. Adam Gerrish was fifth at Roberts Park, where John Hayes followed him in eighth and Sarah Hayes was 14th female.

Finally, at Osterley, Melanie Edwards completed her landmark 50th parkrun in a time of 34.33.