REPORT BY: PETER SHELLEY

FOUR Ilkley Harriers travelled to Sweden to compete in Lidingöloppet on Saturday.

Based on Lidingö island east of Stockholm and first held in 1965, the event has expanded to encompass multiple races with up to 60,000 runners competing over a long weekend.

Keith Wood, Lynn Donohue, Nigel Tapper and Alexandra Lewis tackled the main 30km trail race which took them on a point-to-point route through forests over varied terrain and gradients across a large part of the island. All finished under three hours 30 minutes.

Sheena Pickersgill and Peter Tapper both ran in the 15km race in a time of 1:42:20.

In the monthly mid-week Even Splits 5k race at the University of Leeds Brownlee Centre, recently crowned English Fell Running Champion Ben Rothery translated his spectacular pace to the flat with a winning time of 15.14.

Rothery was followed home in 16:44 by Alex Wolfenden whose form continues to strengthen in the under-18 rankings. Adam Gerrish and John Jackson both ran strongly to finish under 20 minutes.

The Knutsford 10k saw Ruth Kitchen run a rapid new personal best of 37:05, placing 116th of 1625.

Saturday saw 232 runners compete in The Meanwood Valley Trail Race. Among them were nine Ilkley Harriers led home by John Hayes with a strong showing to finish in 11th place and secure the first male vet 55 prize. He was followed by Peter Shelley in 25th place, Thomas Mountain in 35th, Jane McCarthy in 36th, Tony Pye in 39th, Kate Prior in 59th, Duncan Cooper in 62nd, Lucy Hayes in 82nd and Amanda Newham in 207th.

McCarthy added a first lady vet 50 award to the one she achieved in the 2023 race. Competitors enjoyed the support on the course and the challenging route through undulating woodland on the northern outskirts of Leeds.

Further motivation came from the race’s inclusion in the Ilkley Harriers 2024 league. Competition is intensifying as five races remain of a 24-fixture calendar.

Saturday’s bright cool conditions were equally appreciated at the parkruns. In his first appearance at Roberts Park Tim Ashelford finished 18th of 419 runners and first male vet 60, closely followed by Harry Sime in 19thand second male vet 60, James Horrex 32nd, Tom Worboys 35th, Will Worboys 104th and Martin Stubbs 132nd.

Mark Hall was 5th of 325 and first male vet 60 by some margin at Lister parkrun, Dave Reynier 21st, Martin Campbell 61st and Paula Reynier 120th.

Samesh Chotai finished Skipton parkrun 2nd with Heather Crolla 69th of 212.

Bob Hamilton was 42nd of 358 and first male vet 65 at Roundhay parkrun.

Martin Hartley finished 6th and Jacqui Foster 44th of 119 at Cliffe Castle. Geoff Howard finished 144th of 447 at Fountains Abbey. Stephen Coy and Gaenor Coy finished 3rd and 17th of 44 respectively at Horton Park.

Further afield, Adam Gerrish finished 13th of 219 at Doddington Hall in Lincolnshire while Alison Bennett finished 28th of 236 at Newark.