Running log

Hundreds of runners descended on Bradford for this year’s City Run, with some of the district’s finest more than holding their own among some fast times – which immediately indicated not everything was as it seemed.

The race had already been reduced from last year’s gruelling half-marathon to a 5K loop with the option of going around twice for the 10K race.

However, due to a marshalling error at a turn point the 5K was in fact reduced to a 4.4km circuit and the 10K was approximately 8.8km.

Nonetheless, Bradford saw some sterling performances – not least from Bradford Airedale’s Matt Nowell, who followed up his fantastic time in the Abbey Dash by winning the shorter of Sunday’s two races.

He completed the race in a time of 14min 45sec, just ahead of team-mate Gerrard Mills, who finished first in the men’s over-40s category with his effort of 14:55.

Leslie Haynes, of Bingley Harriers, finished first in the men’s over-70s category and sixth overall with a time of 17:33, while Bradford Grammar School’s John Burke came first in the men’s under-18s and 12th overall in 20:12.

In the longer race, Kevin Ogden of Spen AC and Saltaire Striders’ Will Kerr kept up their good form by finishing fourth and fifth respectively with times of 29:38 and 29:46.

The race overall was won by Mike Burrett, of Leeds City AC, in a time of 27:55.

But the Bradford district dominated the top ten overall, with Wharfedale Harriers duo Christian Holmes (30:09) and Nick Treitl (30:46) coming home seventh and ninth and Ilkley Harrier’s Martin Archer (31:12) in tenth spot.

Other notable finishes were logged by Graham Lake of Otley AC, who came 13th with a time of 32:04, and Queensbury RC’s Martin Firth, who finished 18th overall and first in the men’s over-50s category with a run of 32:13.

Martin Fillingham, of Saltaire Striders, took a respectable 21st place overall with a time of 33.00 exactly, which also gave him third spot in the men’s over-40s.