Running Log

The BRITISH MASTERS 5K road race at Horwich saw some impressive results from two Ilkley Harriers athletes.

Sally Morley crossed the finish line in 18min 44sec to earn second place among the women, while team-mate Geoff Howard won a bronze in the men’s over-65s category.

Howard’s time of 19:12 set a new club record for both the male veterans over-60s and over-65s.

The RESERVOIR BOGS and BUCKDEN PIKE events were among the more challenging fell races OVER the weekend.

On Saturday, Buckden hosted the historic four-mile race that takes in extremely steep climbs, reaching 1500 feet at its peak.

Graham Pearce (Pudsey & Bramley) led the 137-strong pack to the finish on the gala field in 35:28.

Wharfedale and Holmfirth competitors dominated the next top spots, with Ted Mason (Wharfedale) and Tom Brunt (Holmfirth) arriving for second and third places ahead of team-mates Chris Newman (Wharfedale), Bill Stewart (Holmfirth) and Sam Watson (Wharfedale).

Wharfedale edged out Holmfirth to take the first men’s team prize but Holmfirth gained revenge as top women’s team.

Tom Sessford (Keighley & Craven) was first among the under-18s and first of his club members with a solid time of 43:56.

The ‘pick your path’ strategy for the 7.5mile and 1500ft Bogs race from the Hare & Hounds in Chiserley, Hebden Bridge, saw 89 competitors attempt to choose the quickest (and least lethal) track between checkpoints.

The results proved that the Bingley Harriers men made clever decisions, with their team coming in third behind Todmorden and Calder Valley.

Dick Ballantine (Keighley & Craven) was fifth in the men’s over-45s with 1hr 18:06. Michael Smith (Bingley) and Mike Baldwin (Ilkley) achieved third and fifth places respectively in the men’s over-50s.

Congratulations to Ian Nixon (Pudsey & Bramley), who won the ESHOLT BASH TRAIL RACE with an impressive time of 35:06.

Claire Elener (Eccleshill) was first female over-35 and second among the women overall, finishing the 10K course in 42:41.