REPORT BY: PETER SHELLEY

THE city of Valencia was pleased to focus on its marathon in a bid to bounce back from last month’s terrible floods and loss of life.

Funds were pledged by the organisers to help rebuild damaged sports facilities. The 28,480 strong field included locals, runners from other regions of Spain and a large contingent of overseas participants including Ilkley Harriers’ own Jane McCarthy, Hilda Coulsey and Alison Weston.

Recovering from injury, Coulsey was unfortunately unable to make the finish, but McCarthy paced her effort to great effect to cross the line in 3:09:14, 13th in her age category. Despite her strong preference for the fells, Weston put in a strong performance on the flat city route to finish in 4:01:30, 92nd in her age category.

The marathon was won by Kenya’s Sabastian Sawe in 2:02:05 (male) and Ethiopia’s Megertu Alemu in 2:16:49 (female).

Racing in the UK returned to its normal rhythm after last weekend’s cancellations due to Storm Bert. The second PECO cross-country race of the 2024-25 season took place on Sunday in Pontefract Park. Ilkley’s contingent tackled the congested field to great effect over two laps of a 2.8km course. Rachel Carter finished 20th of 318 in the ladies’ race and 4/53 in the 45 year ladies age category followed by Kate Archer in 31st place. Sally Malir was 121st and 2/21 in the 60 ladies age category.

In the men’s race, Alexander Wolfenden was an excellent 10th, with Oscar Shinn 21st, Gawain Moore 36th and 2/62 in the 45 year male age category, George Whittlestone 110th, Danny Thompson 128th, Adam Gerrish 164th and David Singleton 207th of 442 finishers.

Ilkley's younger runners competed in all three junior PECO races. Michael Moore and Isobel Moore took part in the Junior One Mile Race, Michael finishing in 3rd Place with a time of 6:02 and Isobel following in 6:48. In the Junior Two Mile Race, Amelia Nichols and Lily Singleton finished in 14:03 and 15:55 respectively.

Wednesday evening saw the last race in the Leeds Even Splits 5K series at the Brownlee Centre in Lawnswood. Sam Bentham led the Harriers home with a fantastic 3rd place finish in 15:51 followed by Oscar Shinn 20th with a personal record of 17:01, Samesh Chotai 23rd in 17:06 and Joseph Bentham in 20:03 (149 ran). Harry Brooks Dobson was 58th in 18:29 and Jacqui Foster 131st in 24:59.

With a huge sigh of relief, the Saturday parkruns were back on again this week. Junior Harrier James Lee had a good run at a typically muddy Chevin Forest parkrun coming home in 2nd place in a time of 20:29. Robert Budding finished in 25:13. Amanda Newham ran the Cross Flatts parkrun in 31:10. A busy weekend of running saw Michael and Isobel Moore set personal records of 19:54 and 23:09 respectively at the Roberts Park parkrun. Dylan Shinn finished 18th at Skipton in a time of 22:41.

Jaysson Sawyer ran the Fountains Abbey parkrun in 18:46 followed by Harry Sime in 20:19 and Tom Worboys in 20:24. Nigel Illingworth and Paula Reynier ran Lister Park in 26:52 and 28:48 respectively. Stephen and Gaenor Coy ran 20:03 and 28: 53 at Middleton Woods parkrun.