Running log

A total of 74 athletes from nine local clubs competed in the 30th Brass Monkey Half Marathon hosted by Knavesmire Harriers.

Baildon Runners had 19 entrants, with Ilkley Harriers and Eccleshill Road Runners fielding 12 and 11 respectively.

This popular flat and fast race has a reputation for people achieving personal best times and club age-category records.

Many of Sunday’s nearly 2,000 starters would have been hoping for no less, although the weather was not ideal.

The race was run in dry but windy conditions, starting and finishing at York racecourse.

One athlete commented: “There is not much to say other than I was blown sideways and backwards for much of the race.”

Battling the elements and out on his own for most of the race, Yarud Hagos of Wallsend Harriers finished first in 66min 42sec, just outside the record of 65:21 set by Paul Martelletti last year.

Hagos, from Ethiopia, had gained his refugee status while in Bradford last year and was running then for Bradford-Airedale AC. Since relocating to the north-east, he has been making his mark there.

First woman home in 30th place was Felicity Milton of Woodford Green & Essex Ladies in a gun-time of 77:50.

Despite the strong winds, Bradford network runners enjoyed some notable results.

Will Kerr of Saltaire Striders took 27th place in 77:44 and Matt Nowell of Bradford-Airedale was a creditable 33rd in 78:22.

Henry Heavisides of Ilkley Harriers was second in the over-55s category in 89:43, while Denise Johnson of Baildon Runners took second place in the women’s over-50s category.

Stuart Preston of Keighley & Craven AC achieved his sub-90 goal with a time of 88:49, to the delight of his clubmates.

Emma Hinkles, Jim Parrish and Denise Johnson set new age-category records for Baildon Runners.

For Eccleshill, Shirley Oldale, Gill Jones, Ghizala Saddique and Rebecca Trueman all achieved personal bests.

Alice Buttle of Baildon Runners said: “I loved the flat course. It was incredibly windy but the sun was shining, so it wasn’t so bad.”