Relay record shattered (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Relay record shattered

1:51pm Tuesday 17th June 2008 in Sport By Simon Forde

Pudsey & Bramley showed their fell-running dominance with a record-breaking win in Sunday’s Bradford Millennium Way Relay.

Their 5hr 31min 22sec for the five-leg 47-mile route knocked five minutes off their own course record.

Jamie Noon and Paul Stephenson, on leg two from near Oxenhope to Laycock, and Steve Neal and Richard Pattinson, on the final leg from Ilkley to Bingley, both managed leg records in what were ideal conditions.

The relay saw the first appearance of a team from Airedale Athletics, drawing on runners from Bradford-Airedale, Eccleshill Road Runners, Skyrac and St Bede’s.

Will Kerr and Stephen Broadbent stormed the first leg to hand-over in second place. The team’s final position of sixth in a time of 6:11.13 would have won the race some years.

Defending champions, Keighley & Craven worked their way through to finish second in a club record 5:55.59.

Ilkley Harriers smashed their club record in third, also breaking the six-hour barrier.

Keighley were consoled by winning the ladies’ and vets’ prizes, while Ilkley won the mixed team, with Sarah Jarvis and Marc Teasey anchoring the team in a club-record final leg.

Teasey thanked the organisers afterwards: “A fantastic day and another excellent event. The balance between informality and good organisation is well struck, the course is always a pleasure to run on and the marshals/helpers were friendly, encouraging and supportive throughout.”

A record 42 teams took part. Emergencies led to some doubling up. Bingley’s Stephen Fry ran the third fastest time for leg four (from Silsden to Ilkley) before helping out Dutch team, Oldambt, on their final leg.

The four continental teams were hosted for the long weekend by organisers St Bede’s.

They stayed at the Green-wood Centre in Eccleshill and Nell Bank in Ilkley.

Belgian newcomer Viki Matheussen said: “We’re going to organise a group to come and walk the course and really take in the amazing countryside”.

Leading final team positions –

• Open: 1 Pudsey & Bramley (5:31:22); 2 Keighley & Craven (5:55:59); 3 Ilkley Harriers (5:56:40); 4 Horsforth (6:02:22); 5 Abbey Runners (6:11:01); 6 Airedale Athletics (6:11:13); 7 Pudsey Pacers (6:23:51); 8 Bingley Harriers (6:26:45); 9 Otley AC (6:31:51); 10 Baildon Runners (7:07:32). Mixed: 1 Ilkley Harriers (6:41:41); 2 Chapel Allerton (7:14:09); 3 Kirkstall Harriers (7:21:04); 4 Accrington Road Runners (7:24:16). Ladies: 1 Keighley & Craven (7:25:42); 2 Horsforth (7:43:02); 3 Abbey Runners (7:59:25). Vets: 1 Keighley & Craven (6:32:27); 2 Wakefield Harriers (6:45:55); 3 Valley Striders (6:48:01).

• Otley 10k Road Race – Top 20 finishers: 1 Darran Bilton MV40 (Leeds City AC) 52:01; 2 Gary Dunn M17 (Thirsk & Sowerby H) 55:06; 3 Stewart McDonald MV40 (Bingley Harriers) 56:22; 4 John Convery MV45 (Bingley Harriers) 56:48; 5 Graham Pearce M17 (Pudsey and Bramley) 56:59; 6 Tim Midgley M17 (Bingley Harriers) 57:22; 7 Paul Marchant M17 (Rothwell Harriers) 58:17; 8 Adam Breaks M17 (Stainland Lions) 58:26; 9 Owen Beilby M17 (Wharfedale H) 58:42; 10 Jeremy Rogers M17 (Abbey Runners) 58:47; 11 Zack Whitehead M17 (Otley AC) 58:49; 12 Jamie Hutchinson M17 (Ilkley Harriers) 58:54; 13 Andy May M17 (Abbey Runners) 59:08; 14 Dennis Speck M17 (Pocklington Runners) 1:00:36; 15 Rory McMahon M17 (Lancaster & Morecambe AC) 1:00:37; 16 David Smithers M17 (unattached) 1:00:52; 17 Andrew Guiseley M17 (Dewsbury Road Runners) 1:01:01; 18 Andrew Meskimmon MV40 (Dewsbury Road Runners) 1:01:21; 19 Willy Smith M17 (Keighley & Craven AC) 1:01:37; 20 Quentin Lewis M17 (Baildon Runners) 1:01:45.