RICHMOND & ZETLAND HARRIERS
THERE WAS A REAL feel spring was in the air this weekend and it was definitely in the steps of Richmond's athletes who took on the Yorkshire road relays held at the Brownlee centre in Leeds and the performances were superb. Shannon Robinson and Holly McCowie were in the U13 girls race with both having fine runs in 6th and 10th, respectively. The U13 boys also had great runs with Josh Hammett in 7th, Ollie Middleton in 29th and Riley Deighton-Harrison in 31st giving the boys team 5th overall.
The all-conquering U15 boys team as usual took the title to add to their incredible season with Kyle Rabjohn in 2nd, Daniel Francis in 5th and Tom O’Mahoney in 14th. The men's race was run as a relay, with each runner taking on 5km and competition was great with 49 teams involved. Off first for Richmond was Rob Scott who brought the team back in the hunt for the medals in 4th (14:54), Reece Dalton then took the baton and stormed round to hand over in the lead (15:13), Carl Jones then ran leg 3 with another good performance handing over to Scott Wardman for the last leg in 2nd (15:49) and Scott ran fantastically well on the highly competitive last leg to pip Holmfirth for 4th place in a sprint finish (16:24). Rob had the 6th quickest leg overall, Reece the 11th, Carl the 27th and Scott the 48th from 212 runners! If you consider the size of the clubs ahead Hallamshire, Sheffield, Wakefield and those even behind – Leeds, Rotherham and Halifax it was a herculean performance from all involved in the squad.
The ladies team also had to take on the same course and distance and 35 teams taking to the line with the big clubs also posting teams just like the mens race. Shona Fletcher took the lead leg and brought the team back in the hunt for medals in a group of 4 in 4th (17:42), Jo Adams then took on the race for the medal placings and did just that passing to sister Rosie in 2nd (18:33), Rosie ran a great tactical race and also having a great run to maintain the position (20:51) and then passed onto the storming Donna Riddler who produced an outstanding run to smash her 5km pb in the process bringing the ladies team home in 2nd and a place on the podium (18:48). In the overall leg standings Shona Fletcher had the 3rd quickest leg, Jo Adams the 13th, Donna Riddler the 16th and Rosie Adams 57th quickest from 143 runners.
Leon Reeve had a go at the army UK north duathlon which involves a run, then bike and finishes with another run. As a relative novice in this Leon had an excellent finish in 7th overall. At the children with cancer 5km held at Darlington south park, Tom O’Mahoney also produced a fine performance finishing in 3rd overall (18:57) and Anthony Jefford not far behind in 8th (19:32). At Catterick parkrun Paul Simpson was 7th in a new pb (19:58, pb), Rob Lickley was 29th (23:33) and Garry Malton was 30th (23:34). At Northallerton parkrun, Ian Christon was the 1st finisher (18:21), Anthony Jefford was 8th in an another new pb (20:10, pb), Olivia Jackson-Bowers was the 1st female in 21st also in a new pb (23:31, pb), Pauline Whittaker in 30th and the 3rd lady (24:26) and Nicki Buckett in 58th (27:47). Elly Robertson was 61st at Darlington parkrun and a new pb (24:04, pb). Mark Forrest took the trip to Hackney Marshes parkrun for a flier to finish in 12th (17:34). Jim Wilkin took the top honours at Northallerton junior parkrun as the 1st finisher (08:26), Rebecca Wilkin was 6th and the 2nd girl (09:08, pb+=), Charlotte Jackson-Bowers in 10th and a big new pb (09:57) and Kiki Fletcher in 12th also in a new pb (10:19, pb). Further information on the club and training nights can be found on the website www.richmondzetlandharriers.co.uk