BACK TO TRAINING 15/12/20
Back to training!
Just as training and Time Trial type races were gathering momentum, Lockdown 2 brought another abrupt halt to matters.
During the lockdown club members paid tribute to Dan Upton, who died suddenly at home aged 45. Dan will be remembered as an athlete who would have a go at any event and will be thoroughly missed at the competitions he took part in throughout the country. Dan, a former Decathlete, who competed for the Harriers as a junior, then re-joined the club again two years ago to concentrated on "trying to throw things, to varying degrees of success" (in his own words), but really Dan had much success competing in the Senior track and field league. Because of Dan's fantastic performances in the Discus and Shot Put, he was ranked No.1 in the UK in the M40 age category and in September 2020, threw his lifetime best in the shot put with a distance of 13.54m. He also had fantastic running PBs across all distances from 100m (11.48secs) to half marathon (1:22:37) and PBs in the 5K and 10K events of 17.39 (2007) and 35.54 (2007) respectively.
Prior to the second lockdown Sam Jenkins tackled the Yorkshire Trod 50k ultra on the 24th October, battling the wind and rain all day but a quality race through the Yorkshire Dales finishing 14th.
Joseph Smith had a great race in the Northumberland Castles Half Marathon on the 1st November finishing 18th in 1:26:17 a new PB.
With the lifting of lockdown, members were keen to get the bit between their teeth again and 11 Harriers travelled to York on Tuesday 8th December for the York 5k Evensplits Time Trial at the cycle circuit at York Sport Village. The cold wet weather didn't hamper some outstanding performances and a number of PB's. Five Harriers were in the top ten finishers, with Rob Scott first overall in a lightning time of 15:19, followed by Charlie Stephenson 15:38 in 2nd place. Another impressive run by Carl Jones saw him finish 4th and a new PB of 15:44, Stefanos Stephanou 9th 16:22, Tom O'Mahoney 10th 16:26 (PB), Steve Middleton 16th 16:47, Joe Reeve 28th 17:19 (PB) and Ken Harker did his fastest 5k since 2015 finishing 36th in 17:42, Paul Simpson 80th 19:24 (PB), Ollie Middleton 100th 20:45 (PB) and Nicola Simpson 103rd 20:51 (PB).
Further information on the club and training nights can be found on the website Richmond & Zetland Harriers > Home
FULL D&S REPORT AT https://www.darlingtonandstocktontimes.co.uk/news/18918527.shock-sudden-death-talented-sportsman-dan-upton/