Ilkley Harriers news archive 2022
Meltham Tough 10k – Sun 30 Jan
Sun 30 Jan 2022
From Neil Chapman…
Christos Tzelis, one of our youngest senior members was the only Harrier to tackle the Meltham Tough 10k at the weekend. Those who have done it will appreciate his performance in this aptly named 10k, which has many testing climbs, and is no PB course. Christos, only 16, had an excellent run finishing as first Junior Male, but also 6th overall in a race of almost 350 runners. The winners rarely get under 35 minutes, and whilst the first two were a little ahead Christos had a close battle with three other runners for most of the race, and there was only 19 seconds between them at the finish. Well done Christos.
Lytham 10 Mile Road Race – Sun 30 Jan
Sat 29 Jan 2022
From Dave Foyston…
Race organiser Tim Armit and co held the fifth Lytham 10 Mile Road Race. Three Ilkley Harriers attended the race – Mike Abrams-Cohen, Dave Foyston and Mike Williams.
The weather was dry with a light wind.
The race starts by the painted beach huts on Lytham sea front and follows an out and back route, the route is a flat fast course which heads out to Fairheaven Lake and along to Lytham Green before turning back just after the Windmill on Lytham Green.
The Harriers held their own in this race with fantastic results from all three – Mike Williams finishing 3rd in the MV60 age category, well done Mike.
1 Sam Evans, Preston Harriers, 54:33
15 Dave Foyston 1:01:04 (6th MV40)
18 Mike Abrams-Cohen 1:01:57
59 Mike Williams 1:11:35 (3rd MV60)
280 finished
Northern XC Championships – Sat 29 Jan
Sat 29 Jan 2022
From Petra Bijsterveld…
Photo credit Northern Athletics
The Northern XC championships 2022 took place at a familiar location, Pontefract Racecourse, on Saturday. With storm Malik at full strength the conditions could be called character building, though at least it was sunny, dry, and not particularly cold by January standards. Club tents were not allowed because of the wind, and actually even keeping the flag from taking off skywards was a challenge. When I arrived a large team of officials and volunteers were trying to keep the main marquee down, its large metal frame being buckled by the wind and presenting a genuine hazard. Safety was restored by removing all the canvas.
Running wise, despite it being a circular route to me it felt like you were battling a headwind about 90% of the time, and only had benefit from a tailwind for 10% of the course. It was bone dry underfoot so it could have been a lot worse!
Jemima was the best placed Harrier coming in a fabulous 5th place. Nathan Edmondson led the Harrier men home in 22nd.
Special kudos to Steve Gott who performed some ad-hoc tree surgery services, standing atop a trailer, at Harewood, where a falling tree threatened to frustrate his and Dan’s progress towards the race!
U17 women
(1 17:32 Jess Bailey, Leven Valley AC)
18 18:55 Emily Gibbins
53 20:57 Lucia Stoney
93 ran
Senior Women
(1 31:13 Eleanor Bolton, Ribble Valley)
5 31:53 Jemima Elgood
78 38:46 Rachel Carter
147 42:25 Sarah Pickering
228 50:17 Petra Bijsterveld
262 ran
17th team out of 33
Senior Men
(1 41:43 Hugo Milner, Derby Athletic Club)
22 44:39 Nathan Edmondson
183 51:51 Steven Gott
212 52:59 Dan McKeown
281 55:35 Tim Ashelford
357 58:19 Stephen Coy
414 1:01:16 Mark Iley
517 ran
21st team out of 39
Northern XC Championships – Sat 29 Jan
Fri 28 Jan 2022
From Petra Bijsterveld…
Photo credit Northern Athletics
The Northern XC championships 2022 took place at a familiar location, Pontefract Racecourse, on Saturday. With storm Malik at full strength the conditions could be called character building, though at least it was sunny, dry, and not particularly cold by January standards. Club tents were not allowed because of the wind, and actually even keeping the flag from taking off skywards was a challenge. When I arrived a large team of officials and volunteers were trying to keep the main marquee down, its large metal frame being buckled by the wind and presenting a genuine hazard. Safety was restored by removing all the canvas.
Running wise, despite it being a circular route to me it felt like you were battling a headwind about 90% of the time, and only had benefit from a tailwind for 10% of the course. It was bone dry underfoot so it could have been a lot worse!
Jemima was the best placed Harrier coming in a fabulous 5th place. Nathan Edmondson led the Harrier men home in 22nd.
Special kudos to Steve Gott who performed some ad-hoc tree surgery services, standing atop a trailer, at Harewood, where a falling tree threatened to frustrate his and Dan’s progress towards the race!
U17 women
(1 17:32 Jess Bailey, Leven Valley AC)
18 18:55 Emily Gibbins
53 20:57 Lucia Stoney
93 ran
Senior Women
(1 31:13 Eleanor Bolton, Ribble Valley)
5 31:53 Jemima Elgood
78 38:46 Rachel Carter
147 42:25 Sarah Pickering
228 50:17 Petra Bijsterveld
262 ran
17th team out of 33
Senior Men
(1 41:43 Hugo Milner, Derby Athletic Club)
22 44:39 Nathan Edmondson
183 51:51 Steven Gott
212 52:59 Dan McKeown
281 55:35 Tim Ashelford
357 58:19 Stephen Coy
414 1:01:16 Mark Iley
517 ran
21st team out of 39
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Brass Monkey Half Marathon – Sun 16 Jan
Sun 16 Jan 2022
A strong contingent of Harriers headed to York Racecourse for this popular event, which sells out within an hour or so each year. And many of those lucky enough to grab a spot also bagged themselves a half marathon PB in what were ideal conditions. Pride of place goes to Jane McCarthy, who was not only first in her LV45 age category but she also set an all-time club record with her time of 1:26:06.
Stanbury Splash – Sun 16 Jan
Sun 16 Jan 2022
From Adam Gerrish…
The Ilkley Harriers race league kicked off with the Stanbury Splash at the weekend. A nice 6.7-mile route around Stanbury moor, featuring 1,200ft of ascent. It was well attended by the Harriers and there was a comfortable win for Jack Cummings, a clear 2 minutes ahead of second place. The hills were gruelling, but it was an enjoyable run even though I managed to fall in one of the icy cold streams!
Sir Titus Trot Marathon – Sun 9 Jan
Sat 8 Jan 2022
From Colin Williams…
On Sunday I took part in the Sir Titus Trot Winter Marathon, my first Marathon this year and my 49th marathon / Ultra race. The event was organised by It’s Grim up North Running. As always, they offered a selection of races from 5K all the way up to a 32 mile Ultra, I lined up with 17 others on the Marathon start line. The route was along the Leeds Liverpool canal, starting and finishing at Saltaire. I came 4th in a time of 3:42:46, the race was won by Colin Johnstone of 100 Marathon Club, in a time of 3:14:31.
Yorkshire XC championships – Sat 8 Jan
Sat 8 Jan 2022
From Petra Bijsterveld…
The Yorkshire Cross Country Championships returned after a Covid-related hiatus in 2021. In previous years the event has been held at Lightwater Valley, but this venue is no longer available so the organisers scouted for a new home and settled on Kiveton Park just south of Sheffield. A park and woodland area created out of a former colliery site it provided an excellent cross country venue with plenty of mud, a decent hill and a couple of small water jumps. The weather was fairly unremarkable for January, not icy cold but cool enough, a bit of a breeze with intermittent heavy showers. Attendance overall was a little down on previous years but there was a good turnout from Ilkley (though there is always room for more runners in the XC tent!) and some excellent running. The star of the day was Jemima Elgood who won the senior women’s race, only 10 days after her stunning 10K time of 33:12 at Ribble Valley.
U17 women
(1 15:33 Evie Thompson, Rotherham Harriers)
5 16:15 Emily Gibbins
21 ran
U20 women
(1 19:47 Alice Jones, Wharfedale Harriers)
14 Poppy Anderson
17 ran
U20 men
(1 21:10 Theo Jacques, Skyrac AC)
8 22:38 Nathan Coy
20 ran
Senior women
1 25:46 Jemima Elgood
42 31:45 Rachel Carter
55 33:51 Fay Walsh
64 34:45 Sarah Pickering
103 41:47 Petra Bijsterveld
113 ran
7th team out of 15
Senior men
(1 29:52 Joshua Dickinson, Leeds City)
8 31:19 Tom Adams
22 32:27 Dominic Coy
35 34:11 Cameron Reilly
73 37:28 Steven Gott
76 37:33 Dan McKeown
95 39:26 Tim Ashelford
124 41:19 Steven Coy
143 42:39 David Westhead
201 ran
8th team out of 21
parkruns – Sat 8 Jan
Fri 7 Jan 2022
From Michael Abrams-Cohen…
Photo credit Philip Bland…
A few Harriers took on the Roberts Park parkrun in stormy conditions on Saturday.
Mike AC came in 2nd place, finishing with his fastest parkrun time to date of 17:48, a good 40 seconds behind winner Michael Malyon of Baildon.
Stephanie Fox was the next Harrier in with a course best time of 25:11 in 76th position and 11th woman.
Rachel and Elsie also performed strongly with another course best time of 29:54 for 157th place.
Some excellent Harrier parkrun performances elsewhere around the region, have a look at the results here.
Auld Lang Syne – Fri 31 Dec
Sat 1 Jan 2022
[photo credit: Amanda Newham]
From Alison Bennett…
A bunch of Ilkley Harriers took part in the Auld Lang Syne Fell Race on Friday. It was a fun and festive event with many runners dressed in imaginative fancy dress attire. A piper at the start of the race, accompanied the runners streaming out of the quarry.
The 6.7 mile course was, as to be expected, fairly muddy and there was a strong, but mild for the time of year, headwind on the outward part of the course. A fallen tree to clamber over after the stream crossing created the sense of an obstacle course and added to the fun of the morning.
Dave Robson in 21st place was the first Ilkley Harrier home and Kate Archer in 51st place was the first Ilkley Lady.
Harriers awards winners and nominees!
Sat 1 Jan 2022
(Winners in CAPITALS and bold)
First of all, a huge thankyou to the coaches and run leaders who have made such a difference to the club over the last two years:
Coaches: JANE BRYANT, NEIL CHAPMAN
Run leaders: Tuesdays – MIKE ABRAMS-COHEN, NICK KEALEY, PETER ROLL, JAYNE NORMAN, PAUL SUGDEN, BERNIE GIBBONS, ANTONIO CARDINALE and JANE McCARTHY. Saturdays – SALLY ARMITAGE, HELEN WADDINGTON
Runner of the year (female): Kate Archer, Sally Armitage, Rachel Carter, JEMIMA ELGOOD, Jane McCarthy, Lucy Williamson
Runner of the year (male): Mike Abrams-Cohen, Tom Adams, Jack Cummings, NATHAN EDMONDSON, Andrew Merrick, Justin Pierce, Ritchie Williamson
Most improved runner (female): Sally Armitage, RACHEL CARTER, Jemima Elgood, Jill Ezard, Steph Fox, Claire McLoughlin, Jayne Norman, Becky White
Most improved runner (male): Mike Abrams-Cohen, Rob Cunningham, Nathan Edmondson, Forrest Hamilton, Lawrence McCourt, IAIN YOUNG
Best endurance runner (female): Kate Archer, Rachel Carter, Jill Ezard, JANE McCARTHY
Best endurance runner (male): TOM ADAMS, Gavin Lamb, Andrew Merrick, Steve Turland, Colin Williams, Ritchie Williamson
Best runner over 50 (male): Tim Ashelford, Jeff Green, Geoff Howard, Andrew Merrick, Steve Newell, Jonathan Turner, COLIN WILLIAMS, Mike Williams
Best runner over 50 (female): Alison Bennett, HILDA COULSEY, Sally Malir, Helen Waddington, Alison Weston
Endurance runner over 50 (female): Petra Bijsterveld, JANN SMITH, Helen Waddington, Alison Weston
Endurance runner over 50 (male): ANDREW MERRICK, Steve Newell, Steve Turland, Colin Williams
Captains award (female): ALISON WESTON
Captains award (male): DAVE FOYSTON
One-off stunning performance: ALISON BENNETT (club records at Aintree 10k), FORREST HAMILTON (100k Race To The Stones), STEVE TURLAND (Dragon’s Back), RITCHIE WILLIAMSON (Brecon ultra win)
One-off contribution: ROB BUDDING (Covid officer and risk assessments), JEFF GREEN (Christmas relays), MARK ILEY (Keighley track session), HELEN WADDINGTON (introducing and running 5x1k Saturday efforts)
Contribution to club (female): Sally Armitage, Jane Bryant, PETRA BIJSTERVELD, Hilda Coulsey, Jean Sullivan, Helen Waddington
Contribution to club (male): NEIL CHAPMAN, Mark Iley, Justin Pierce, Jonathan Turner, Dick Waddington
Book now for the annual awards!
Sat 1 Jan 2022
These will take place at Ilkley rugby club on Friday 28th January, starting at 7pm.
The shortlists have been finalised and the winners will be announced on the night, but it’s all about an enjoyable social evening.
Please book your spot (numbers capped at 90) here on SignUp. Food is pie/peas, followed by cake! Let us know if you would like the vegetarian option in the comments field.
The cost is £7pp – we’ll set up a payment system the week before and will then email everyone. We’re looking forward to seeing you all.
FRA50@50 results
Sat 1 Jan 2022
From Alison Weston…
In January 2020 the 50th Anniversary of the fell running association was celebrated by a race series being organised – FRA members to compete in as many of the 50 original FRA races within the year. Unfortunately, Covid prevented many races from being held in 2020 and the first half of 2021, so the challenge was extended to the end of 2021. I managed to complete 22 of these 50 races, finishing with the Auld Lang Syne.
A complicated league table was regularly updated by Charmain Heaton, chairman of the FRA, which calculated individual scores relative to the winner’s time, with the best 10 races to count and then 20% of any additional races. The quantity of races helped even if the quality was lacking (as in my case!)
Top of the leaderboard points wise was Darren Fisher (31 races) and first lady Katherine Klunder (23 races), both from Chorley. Wendy Dodds from Dallam running club completed the most races out of all those participating (33 races) and was 2nd female despite being aged 70. I was first vet 50 with 22 races.
I have listed the races I completed and highlighted in bold the ones I enjoyed most and would highly recommend to others.
1 Captain Cook’s 01-Jan-20 N Yorks Moors BS
2 Tigger Tor 26-Jan-20 Peak District BM
3 Ilkley Moor 01-Mar-20 Yorks Dales AS
4 Fairfield Horseshoe 22-May-21 Lake District AM
5 Ennerdale Horseshoe 12-Jun-21 Lake District AL
6 Blencathra 03-Jul-21 Lake District AM
7 Alderman’s Ascent 17-Jul-21 SW Pennines AS
8 King’s Challenge 12-Aug-21 Yorks Dales BS
9 Eldwick Gala 14-Aug-21 SW Pennines BS
10 Reston Scar Scamper 18-Aug-21 Lake District AS
11 Rivington Pike 11-Sep-21 SW Pennines BS
12 South Mynd Tour 19-Sep-21 Shropshire AL
13 Thieveley Pike 25-Sep-21 SW Pennines AS
14 Curbar Commotion 02-Oct-21 Peak District BM
15 Yorkshire Three Peaks 09-Oct-21 Yorks Dales AL
16 Hutton Roof Crags 23-Oct-21 Lake District BM
17 Black Lane Ends 30-Oct-21 Yorks Dales AS
18 Dunnerdale 13-Nov-21 Lake District AS
19 Long Tour of Pendle 20-Nov-21 SW Pennines AL
20 Cardington Cracker 05-Dec-21 Shropshire AM
21 Litton Christmas Cracker 12-Dec-21 Peak District BM
22 Auld Lang Syne 31 Dec-21 SW Pennines