Running Log

Victoria Wilkinson of Bingley Harriers crowned a fine day for West Yorkshire runners with a superb win at the rescheduled YORKSHIRE & HUMBERSIDE CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS.

Wilkinson came home eight seconds ahead of Leeds City’s Susan Partridge on a cold, bright day at Thornes Park in Wakefield.

Jenny Dybeck was second junior lady home for Ilkley Harriers, finishing 31st overall, while Sue Becconsall (22nd) managed a similar feat in the veterans’ category, helping Bingley to fourth among the women’s teams.

Other local clubs were led home by Helen Glover (Keighley & Craven, 17th), Claire Pearson (Skipton, 25th), Amy Sharrad (Spenborough, 39th), Emma Inglis (Skyrac, 48th) and Tamara Hird (Wharfedale, 49th).

The men’s race attracted many of the region’s big-hitters with Mark Buckingham (Holmfirth) continuing his recent run of successful duels against Andrew Pearson (Longwood) to emerge victorious in 33min 06sec.

The Bingley team – led home by Ian Holmes (seventh), Richard Harris (17th) and Lee Athersmith (27th) – were third overall behind strong teams from Hallamshire and Leeds City.

Richard Pattinson was first back for Pudsey & Bramley in 40th, ahead of runners for Pudsey Pacers (Darren Burnley, 47th), Keighley (Nigel Bedell, 57th) and Skipton (Richard Barrett, 65th) from the 202 finishers.

Junior result of the day was Tom Blanchard’s first place for Skipton in the under-13 boys’ event.

Phillip Done (Keighley & Craven) was fifth in the same race, while Rebecca Coope (Pudsey & Bramley) was tenth in the girls’ equivalent.

In the under-15 races, Skyrac’s girls were a creditable sixth, with Hannah Brown (11th), Molly Keefe (16th) and Kate Walsh (51st) counting.

In the boys’ race, Wharfedale duo James Hall and Will Smith were tenth and 13th respectively.

In the under-17s, Ben Marriott (Bingley) pipped Keighley’s Faisal Ismail to eighth, while for the girls, Alex Bell (Pudsey & Bramley) landed the runners-up spot, clear of Bingley Harriers’ Carly Robertson in seventh.

Many of these runners will be on show at Roundhay Park on Saturday as the NATIONAL CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS come to town, with races starting at 11am.