Ilkley Harriers news archive 2022
Snake Lane 10 – Sun 27 Feb
Sat 26 Feb 2022
From Sally Armitage…
A fast, flattish, chip timed (ordinarily) 10 mile road race starting and finishing in Pocklington, and running out and around the surrounding country lanes and villages. It can definitely be likened to Tadcaster 10, for those who have done that. Sally Malir and I were the only 2 Harriers to enter. We were welcomed with blue skies and sunshine. I didn’t do my research properly and thought it was slightly uphill at the beginning followed by a long gradual downhill the rest of the way. I was wrong. There was a long, mostly downhill run for around the first 7ish miles, with a glorious tailwind pushing us along. At mile 6 I commented to a passing seasoned Snake Laner that I was a bit worried about all this lovely downhill and he kindly informed me that the race finishes with 2-3 miles uphill into the headwind… He wasn’t wrong.
Despite the tough finish it was a brilliant race and I was so happy to be out busting a gut for fast times again. Unfortunately the chip timing had failed so results were all on gun times. We had to submit our watch times to be listed with a chip time, not sure how that affects the accuracy of the results…. A Wakefield runner took the final vet prize from under my nose in the F40 category, beating me by 2 seconds. So no funds for the pony piggybank this weekend. Sally Malir however did bag a prize, 3rd F55, bravo!
(1 50:32 Lewis Gamble-Thompson, New Marske Harriers Club)
108 65:45 Sally Armitage
323 76:04 Sally Malir
1302 ran
English National XC Championships – Sat 26 Feb
Fri 25 Feb 2022
Photo credit: Becca Ashelford, Andrew Bennett, Pic2Go
From Hilda Coulsey…
Someone said this original course, Parliament Hill on Hampstead Heath, was the muddiest place on the planet. Don’t be daft I thought we know what cross country courses are like up here! I agree now though. For a predominantly road runner looking to speed up there were precious few opportunities – the last kilometre was good!
It was lovely that Sheila Shields was with us. We remembered Pete, how this event was a highlight of his year. It was particularly poignant for us as we Harriers gathered together at the start line.
For those who haven’t been before, this was my first time, the cacophony of noise as we stood at the start line chatting with Harriers team mates and with those around us from so many other clubs was unbelievable, then it went silent for about 20 secs and we were off, then the noise from the crowd as we set off up the hill was as loud – amazing!
Runners from all over the country were there with their tents and flags, friends and families. It is inclusive for club runners of all capabilities. From the elite, Mahamad Mahamad the men’s winner running like a gazelle skipping along seemingly not touching the mud, the triathletes Georgia Taylor-Brown and Alex Yee, to the thousands of club runners old and young, fast and slow out for a day’s enjoyment. It was tough this year, it was exceptionally muddy but so inspirational.
Support almost all along the route was stunning. I lost track of how many “well done Ilkley”s I heard. One of the ladies I was running alongside, from Chorley and about aged 30 (I’m happy when running alongside 30 and 40 year olds) said I should be used to these hills coming from Ilkley. I said I am, that’s not the problem, its the mud, mud, mud, which caused pained laughter all round me. I thought if I have enough energy to chat and chuckle shouldn’t I be running harder as I slithered and slid into the next 100m of mud. I tried so many times to pick a line at the edges which wasn’t too bad only for 20m later it to become worse I probably added 10% to my distance. Of course seasoned cross country-ers will be sniggering at this knowing its best to plough on regardless. And I was wearing mudclaws, which I thought were the thing for mud only to realise that spikes were the thing as then you can get some purchase on the less muddy bits (I think?).
What a great family/social atmosphere, open to all, and after the shoes and clothes are hosed off who knows maybe I’ll return too.
From Petra Bijsterveld…
I had been to the Nationals in London once before, in 2018, and 4 years later it turned out to be just as exciting. Whilst this event is also great when held at Wollaton Park, Donnington or Harewood, nothing can beat the iconic start line at the bottom of Parliament Hill and the charge of a thousand women, or two thousand men, up that hill, colourful with club tents and flags, flanked by walls of noise from cheering spectators as the course narrows towards the top and turns right into the first patch of serious shoe-sucking mud. The course was a brilliant mix of some of the worst mud I have encountered (and I have seen quite a lot!) and good, dry and runnable terrain. The weather was perfect, dry, breezy and sunny, and such a relief after endless weekends of gales and rain.
It was a tough run but I felt good, and buoyed by quite a few cheers from friends and some familiar figures from the Northern running scene around the course, as well as very friendly marshals. I always try and thank every marshal in the hope of some good karma, e.g. protection from ankle twisting or tripping over tree roots! It worked as I had a smooth run finishing just inside 50 minutes, slightly slower than 4 years ago as my Strava was quick to point out, but in 2018 it had been bone dry underfoot (Beast from the East) which Strava has no way of taking into account. I think I did well, so there! Excellent results from all 6 Ilkley women today, Ruth Kitchen leading us home in brand new spikes hastily purchased on site on our unanimous recommendation!
Lovely to watch the men afterwards, sadly two entrants had to pull out leaving Cameron and Tim to represent the Ilkley males, unfortunately not enough for a team, but excellent running from both.
The Junior club was represented by Oscar Shinn who had a very good race in the U15 boys, with thanks to mum Karen and her brother for helping me with the flag and tent at the start of the day.
Senior Women
(1 29:00 Jessica Gibbon, Reading AC)
291 38:35 Ruth Kitchen
459 41:42 Sarah Pickering
467 41:54 Alison Bennett
743 47:53 Diane Kitchen
811 49:45 Petra Bijsterveld
873 51:56 Hilda Coulsey
1010 ran
57th team out of 104
Senior Men
(1 40:52 Mahamed Mahamed, Southampton AC)
285 49:29 Cameron Reilly
1084 60:37 Tim Ashelford
2087 ran
Flower Scar Fell Race – Sat 19 Feb
Fri 18 Feb 2022
From Jeff Green…
Four Harriers ventured over to Calderdale to run in Todmorden Harriers’ Flower Scar Fell Race, despite the yellow weather warnings of snow and bog (bog forecast available to Met Office subscribers only!
Both forecasts proved pretty accurate as you can probably gather from the photo!
At least 3 out of the 4 of us were first-timers – so were grateful that the navigation sections of the race had been removed (due to previous storm damage and environmental concerns). It was also slightly shorter than usual – again, probably no bad thing given the conditions.
The first 2 miles or so of the race consisted of a steep and muddy climb, followed by fields and then moorland up to Flower Scar. Once over the top, there was a short downhill section into a headwind of stinging sleet before turning away from the wind onto a tussocky drag up to the high point of the race (geographically speaking) of around 440m. Past the wind turbines, it was then downhill for the next 2 miles: a bit of track, but mostly the tussocky, snowy, muddy, slippery, boggy kind of terrain that might put some people off fell running!
Having felt quite strong for most of the race, it was a bit disconcerting to start wheezing asthmatically up the last climb (I’ve never had asthma). Fortunately, it subsided on the final descent and some post-race symptom googling (never a good idea, I know) suggests it might be exercise-induced bronchoconstriction. If anyone else has experienced it – please let me know if I should see a doctor!
Catching sight of Oli again before the finish was never going to be a good sign – he’d sprained his ankle less than a mile from the finish when he was holding on to 3rd place. Alas, that packet of crumpets had slipped through his fingers. Likewise, I could almost taste the jar of Nutella that I had my eye on, but was pipped to the first M50 spot by 3 seconds.
The journey home was almost as eventful – a dodgy fuel-injector meant that we could only limp along in 2nd or 3rd gear for most of the way and we passed several cars that were stranded in the snow on Oxenhope and Cullingworth Moors. Fortunately, winter tyres were the day’s winners, getting us safely (if slowly) back to Wharfedale.
(1 65:13 Doni Clarke, Todmorden Harriers)
9 70:32 Jeff Green
21 74:08 Oli Murphy
102 89:06 Paul Disney
174 127.11 Mary Jeal
185 finished
Dewsbury 10k – Sun 6 Feb
Sat 5 Feb 2022
From Dave Foyston…
Photo credit Mick Hall Photography
On Sunday 6th February 2022 race organisers Dewsbury Road Runners held their annual road race the Dewsbury 10k. Seventeen Harriers attended and it was fantastic to see such a good turn out and such good results.
The race is an out and back course and starts just under Dewsbury viaduct and heads out along Bradford road with a slight incline towards Batley before turning back at the 5k mark and returning on the same route to where you started.
The Harriers held their own in this race with Nathan Edmondson first Harrier home battling it out at the front finishing 3rd with a time of 31:31.
First female home was Jane McCarthy finishing in a time of 39:01 setting a new V45 Female club record for the 10k, congratulations Jane!
Team Results:
The first three men back for the Harriers were Nathan Edmondson, Michael Abrams-Cohen and Dave Foyston finishing 15th out of 63 teams with a combined time of 1:45:39
The first three ladies back for the Harriers were Jane McCarthy, Rachel Carter and Helen Waddington finishing third out of 45 teams with a combined time of 2:04:28.
Winner: Joe Sagar of Spenborough & District in a time of 30:37.
2026 Runners finished
(1 30:37 Joe Sagar, Spenborough AC)
3 31:31 Nathan Edmondson
150 36:54 Michael Abrams-Cohen
156 36:56 David Foyston
160 37:01 Jonathan Turner
164 37:04 Steven Gott
167 37:10 Rob Cunningham
219 38:07 Jeff Green
245 38:31 Kyle Bethell
273 39:01 Jane McCarthy 3rd F45 and new club record
314 39:35 Rachel Carter
326 39:46 Iain Young
554 43:12 Dave Reynier
575 43:32 Mike Williams
632 44:22 Helen Waddington
709 45:35 Emma Sheppard
1080 50:53 Hilda Coulsey 2nd F65
1623 60:22 Amanda Newham
2026 ran
Rombalds Stride – Sat 5 Feb
Fri 4 Feb 2022
From Peter Shelley…
The route: – 35km taking in roads, tracks, footpaths, bridleways, fields, woods and exposed moorland. Something for everyone to love and hate!
Surfaces – the variety of surfaces presents you with one of many kit dilemmas: shoes that are comfortable through suburban Menston will have your feet slipping sideways and backwards on the Chevin climb.
Kit – in addition to the shoe dilemma, what to wear? Y fronts only with a view to getting round quickly, or the full walker’s kit including camping stove and bivvy bag?
Fuelling – there are several checkpoints offering food and drink which work well particularly if you like jelly babies and flapjack. When I asked the good people at Burley Woodhead for something salty to combat the cramp I was beginning to feel, I came away with about a kilo of peanuts in cupped hands.
Toilet – to stop or not to stop? You could go full dehydration and dispense with it, or do the right thing, drink plenty and pick your moment and place. Personally I go behind a tree just off Millenium Way to the right after ‘Ilkley Bottom’. Too much detail? Apologies.
The Chevin Climb – yes, that climb. Steep, slippery and placed for maximum inconvenience and discomfort at km31-32 of the route when you’ve already climbed 800m over Baildon and Rombalds Moors.
Weather – you pre-enter this popular event in the autumn thinking ‘how bad can it be?’. Well, it’s in February, so quite bad as it happens, particularly if you are not an elite runner who makes it back to the scout hut by midday for your pie and peas. The forecast deteriorated daily in the week preceding the event, and the rain and 40mph winds crept forwardsin the day. By the flagstones at Lanshaw Lad we were running in slow motion into a powerful headwind. A bit of team-work came in handy if you could find someone to rotate with Tour de France style.
Headwind became tailwind at Piper’s Crag to blow us east. A series of unlikely, exciting and possibly unwise segment times followed on tired legs. Familiar obstacles and terrain approached at unfamiliar speed. As the route veered south-east, care was needed to avoid being blown down the slope to Hangingstone Road by a sudden gust.
Coordination – running in the wind was bad enough, but anything involving physical or mental coordination like pace calculations, fiddling with kit, zips or food became a challenge from 10k in. Fingers and eyes refused to participate in the self-clip exercise at the unmanned checkpoints.
Navigation – Even on home turf like Ilkley Moor, it helps to know exactly where you are going. It’s easy to take a wrong turn in Burley or Menston and end up in someone’s vegetable patch. The number of participants meant that, unless you were Tom van Rossum (2hrs 50mins – what?!), it was possible to follow other people for much of the route, although it’s worth choosing who you follow carefully in case they are lost too.
Descending – there are a few off-road downhill sections to enjoy, but when deploying the ‘brakes off, brain off’ technique, fell runners must beware gathering road runners around their ankles.
Pacing – 6 min average km pace will get you round in 3hrs 30mins, for what it’s worth. Unfortunately none of the kilometers in this event are average, and mental arithmetic is out, at least for me, (see ‘Co-ordination’), so I stuck to my other measure of 145-165bpm heart rate, which got me round in 3hrs 49m, ten mins slower than a previous attempt in 2019 in better conditions. Garmin declared it ‘5.0-Over-Reaching’, which sounds about right.
(1 2:49:59 Tom van Rossum, Valley Striders)
12 3:06:05 Dave Robson
17 3:09:44 Nick Kealey
21 3:19:31 Dan McKeown
23 3:20:33 Kate Archer 1st F
33 3:30:48 Justin Pierce
37 3:35:33 Andrew Overend
44 3:40:05 Colin Williams 3rd M50
51 3:43:45 John Hayes
56 3:45:31 Ann-Kristin Marsham
72 3:49:23 Peter Shelley
89 3:59:05 Catherine Charlton
95 4:03:35 Duncan Cooper
119 4:11:32 John Pickering
120 4:12:52 Alison Weston
133 4:17:24 Mary Fairclough
135 4:18:09 Peter Roll
138 4:18:09 Michael Ho
142 4:23:52 Jill Ezard
150 4:30:12 Paul Disney
186 4:48:57 Tom Worboys
207 5:01:26 Matt Tupling
217 5:04:40 Paul Stephens
230 5:13:50 Stephanie Fox
231 5:13:50 Teresa Brooks
232 5:13:51 Petra Bijsterveld
269 6:05:49 Helen Doyle
386 finished
Evensplits Leeds 5k and Club Championship
Tue 1 Feb 2022
From Dave Foyston…
The evening of Wednesday 23rd February 2022 marked the start of the Leeds 5k and Club Championship organised by Evensplits. the race which included many running clubs from around Yorkshire was well attended, the location of the race was the Brownlee Cycle Track, the runners completed just over three laps of the smooth tarmacked track.
Weather conditions were far from good for the event but the runners braved the wind and rain.
Representing Ilkley Harriers were Dave Foyston, Michael Abrams-Cohen, Kyle Bethell and Jake Norris (juniors).
The race was separated into two groups; all four Harriers who entered were entered into the sub 20 minute category.
Michael Abrams-Cohen was the lead Harrier at the start putting a fast first lap in shortly followed by Dave Foyston and Jake Norris and Kyle Bethell, as the race got settled Dave Foyston was now the lead Harrier moving up the field with Mike Abrams following with young Jake Norris from the juniors upping the pace with a fast finish well done Jake!!!
Two Harriers won their age category: Dave Foyston finishing 1st in the MV45 Category and Jake Norris finishing 1st Male Junior.
In relation to the club table the Harriers are in 14th Place out of 36 clubs this is calculated by how many club members have entered and also placings of the runners.
Well done to all who entered and ran. The next race is on the evening of Wednesday 23rd of March 2022, for further details Leeds 5K Series — Even Splits
(1 15:48 Pierre Devimeux, U/A)
18 17:50 Dave Foyston 1st MV45
19 17:59 Jake Norris 1st MJun
26 18:09 Michael Abrams-Cohen
42 18:56 Kyle Bethell
139 ran
Sign up for the Predictor!
Tue 1 Feb 2022
Tuesday 8th March, followed by quiz
In memory of much-missed Harrier Brian Sweet. It’s again being organised by Bernie and Neil and will start at 7.10pm on Tuesday 8th March, meet at Old Bridge on Denton Rd side (there won’t be any club runs that night).
It’s a fun evening where the ‘winners’ are those who get closest to their predicted times for a 10k circuit of Ilkley, rather than those who run it the fastest. Obviously no watches etc allowed!
And it’s followed by a quiz from Vince and free food, which is paid for by the club. This will be held at the rugby club, in the same area we used for the annual awards.
SIGN UP HERE: https://signup.com/go/mMOBOAH
Please be sure to answer the three questions in comments field (or at least 1 & 3 if you don’t want vegetarian option). Thanks!
1/ Predictor run only / Predictor run and quiz / quiz only???
2/ vegetarian option?
3/ Your predicted time for the 10k!
Timings are: meet 7pm at Old Bridge, run starts 7.10pm, rugby club open from 8pm (can park there beforehand), quiz starts 8.30pm (picture round), halfway break for food at 9.15pm
Please bring a pen for the quiz.
Outstanding Achievements: Dec 2021 & Jan 2022
Tue 1 Feb 2022
as nominated by IH members:
Running
Paul Carman, Jann Smith & Steve Turland – for their sheer grit and awesomeness for the Spine Challenger race and for battling such tough conditions and inspiring people on their Spine Challenger Adventure
Jack Cummings – victory at Stanbury Splash
Jemina Elgood – for winning the Yorkshire XC Championships and for coming 5th at the Northern XC Championships
Jane McCarthy – setting a new LV45 half marathon club record at the Brass Monkey
Steve Newell – PB at the Brass Monkey
Jonathan Turner – for Ribble Valley and Brass Monkey results
Helen Waddington – PBs at the Brass Monkey and Ribble Valley 10 km
Volunteering
Jonathan Turner – for taking on the mammoth task of chairperson and stepping up every single time.
Jeff Green & team – for organising the very enjoyable & festive Christmas relays!
Harriers Race League Update
Tue 1 Feb 2022
From Dan McKeown…
Our first three races of the year are in the books, so it’s high time for a race league update!
The race league, for those who aren’t in the know, is a smorgasbord of races over the three key (and entirely ill defined) disciplines of fell, trail and road running. Nowt for cross country, nada for track and multi-sport is ENTIRELY OUT OF THE QUESTION.
Points are awarded in each event according to its overall winning time. To protect the sanctity of athletic competition and prevent over-reliance on ‘being fast’, older (or much younger) runners are granted an age group handicap. The complete rules and list of races for 2022 are available here
On with the action: our early league leader for 2022 was Jack Cummings, who tore out of the blocks to claim overall victory at the Stanbury Splash, our first championship race of the year.
Maximum points for Jack in the season opener, but he made the tactical error of not being old enough to claim an age handicap bonus (really showing his inexperience there). Quick to seize upon this were Kate Archer and Dave Robson, both of whom claimed more than 100 points at the blustery Rombald’s Stride, making a complete mockery of the handicapping system and causing your humble correspondent to wonder why, in all honesty, he even bothers.
Hopefully, this pair of cynics will find the rest of the racing calendar a little more competitive; the Stride is, after all, a walking event.
The same could not be said of the Dewsbury 10k, where Nathan Edmondson set out his case for a bottle of Blossom Hill at next year’s Harriers shindig, coming third in a tooth-drying 31:31. You could have thrown a blanket over our next five finishers, as they all arrived hard on one another’s heels. What’s more, they would probably have thanked you, because it was cold and windy.
Satisfyingly enough, that gives us one race in each of our three categories. Jack C leads the way in fell racing, with Jeff Green and Nick Kealey also well up in the points. 2019 champion Kate Archer is top of the pile in trail racing, ahead of Dave Robson and Nick K. Nathan holds the lead in road racing, with superb scores also from Jane McCarthy and Rachel Carter.
Next races
- Ilkley Moor (FR), 6 March
- Dentdale 14 (RR) 12 March
- Baildon Boundary Way (TR) 3 April
- Dick Hudson’s (FR) 5 May
- Jack Bloor (FR) 10 May
- The Wharfedale Trail Half (TR) on 4 June is already almost two-thirds full – don’t delay!
·