Double triumph for Bradford at athletics awards evening

The Bradford Athletics Network won the Club Partnership of the Year prize.

Regional chair and chair of St Bede’s, Mike Moss, collected the award on behalf of the Network.

He said: “These awards reward specific volunteers but, as a sport, athletics is dependent on all volunteers who deserve our thanks.”

Simon Forde received the award for Services to Athletics for his innovative thinking, establishing the Airedale Athletics partnership and supporting athletes across the world.

Canadian international and director of the Bradford Athletics Academy, Michael Del Monte, accepted the award on Simon’s behalf.

These awards acknowledge the role of volunteers in ensuring the ongoing development of athletics.

Other awards went to development club of the year, development coach of the year, services to coaching, young volunteer of the year, official of the year, services to officiating and services to disabled athletics.

The Harewood House races on Sunday proved popular despite water-logged conditions, 365 completing the ten-mile race and over 100 juniors running the two-miler.

Dominic Owens (Leeds-Carnegie) was first junior, crossing the finish line in 12min 41sec. Charmaine Porter (Jarrow & Hebburn) led the chasing pack home and was first of the girls with 13min 14sec.

Howard Jeffery (Otley) proved his mettle in the Northern Road Relay Championships, finishing 103rd overall and 14th in the men’s over-50s category.

First home among the Pudsey Pacers contigent was Nigel Armitage in fifth place (62min 53sec), closely followed by Keighley & Craven’s Nigel Bedell, who was second in the over-40s category (63min 04sec).

Congratulations to Pudsey Pacer Karen Thrippleton who, in continuing her quest to run 2010 miles in 2010, ran the Loch Ness Marathon, completing the course in 4hr 25min 54sec.

Queensbury’s Raymond Hall won the over-60s age group in a time of 3:07:46, 12 minutes clear of the second placed over-60s runner.