RICHMOND & ZETLAND HARRIERS 2/5/19
Richmond and Zetland Harriers
IT WAS A COUPLE OF BIG WEEKS for Richmond's athletes, with track meets, trail races, half marathons, 5ks, 10ks and even a few longer marathons thrown in for good measure. All roads led to Manchester for the annual marathon, one of the earliest in the calendar and has previously been a good hunting ground for excellent times in the past and this year was no exception. Lee Davies led the line and was the first of our athletes across the finish in a superb time, going sub 3.00 for the first time and setting an excellent new pb (02:56:41, pb), Lee was followed by Paul Simpson also with a fantastic new pb (03:18:17, pb) he was followed by another in pb shape in the form of Garry Malton who produced a 7 minute pb (03:42:00, pb) and Robert Dashwood with another great performance just over 4 hours (04:12:02).
It was also the Kieran Maxwell memorial track meet in memory of a young athlete from Darlington, who was known to many in the club. Leon Reeve ran the senior 1500m producing a fine run in 8th place in another big pb by 30 seconds and the 3rd senior male (04:49, pb). Ken Harker was also in the same race and finished (05:08) and also competed in the 3000m (11:22). Josh Hammett set a new pb in the U15 boys 1500m (04:56, pb) and he was followed by Joe Reeve in 6th (05:04). Debbie McIlroy returned to competitive throwing after a 2 year absence, but her class shone through and with only one throw recorded, took the win in the ladies' javelin (31:25), unfortunately during the 2nd throw she injured her knee.
Dan Upton was also among the medals at the Connahs Quay, Deeside Open taking the win in the shot (12:81), the discus and 4th in the javelin. At the slightly hilly Hamsterley Forestry 10k, Elly Robertson was in fine form finishing as the 3rd senior lady, the 10th lady and 42nd overall (53:36).
Carl Jones was also out on the trails at the Ben Campbell trail 10k, taking the win and smashing the course record in the process. Heather and Kirsten Jones also set new PBs as well. Over at Dalby Forest, John Gray and his flying dog Pippa took 3rd place overall at the 2nd round of the Canicross series.
The spring coast 5k was held at Marske-By-The-Sea with many of our athletes supporting this race. Steve Middleton was in the mix in 7th and the 2nd V40 (16:54), Leon Reeve was 21st in another big pb (18:01, pb) and Diane Adkins running well again (28:34).
The Darlington rocket trail 5k race was another supported by our runners, with Pauline Whittaker in 36th (25:58) and Nicki Buckett in 61st (29:02). It was also the Wensleydale Wander held over 12 miles of scenic countryside with wife and husband duo Nicola and Paul Simpson up in the heights of the medals. Nicola was 6th overall (01:34) and the 1st lady with Paul 3rd overall (01:33). John Gray also ran the North Burnsall trail half marathon finishing in 27th overall (01:52:48).
Josh Lincoln was 21st (28:45) and Jeremy Pattison had a welcome return to racing and finished in 45th (30:37) at the Hartlepool marina 5 and Rob Lickley in 123rd (35:43). At the Swainby Sweep held over 16 miles, Kimberley Reeve was 9th overall and the 2nd lady (02:20), Pauline Whittaker took on the 7 miler and finished in 24th and the 1st V50 (1:04:15) and Nicki Buckett finished in 60th (01:13).
Tony Lambert was 35th at the Boston (Lincolnshire and not USA) marathon (03:04:19). Steve Sadler had another great run at the Vale of York 10 miler in 49th place and the 2nd V55, setting a new PB in the process (1:04:17, pb).
At the Stockton Sprint Duathlon, Sam Kettlewell was 17th overall and Leon Reeve in 54th. Over the standard distance Carl Jones was 9th overall and the 2nd vet.
At Catterick parkrun Charlie Stephenson was the 1st finisher (16:53), Anthony Jefford was 4th (18:56), Leon Reeve was 6th (19:34), Garry Malton was 15th (20:45, pb), Holly McCowie in 18th and the 2nd lady (21:02), Stephanie Stephenson (21:39), Alastair Wilkin in 29th (22:15), Pete Richardson in 41st (23:59) and Ian Hepworth was 55th (25:06, sb). At Northallerton parkrun, Rob Scott was the 1st finisher just outside the course record (16:28, pb), Steve Middleton in 2nd (17:44), Ian Christon was 3rd (18:37), Josh Hammett in 4th and a new pb (19:12, pb), Ken Harker in 5th (19:14), Elly Robertson in 40th and a new pb (25:21, pb) and Elaine Watters also in a new pb (25:42, pb).
Donna Riddler was 19th and the 1st lady at Fountains Abbey parkrun in a new pb (19:27, pb). Jim Wilkin took the top honours at Northallerton Junior Parkrun as the 1st finisher and a new pb (08:19, pb), Charlotte Jackson-Bowers was 10th and the 3rd girl also in a new pb (09:41, pb), Kiki Fletcher in 18th also in a new pb (10:16, pb), Rebecca Wilkin in 19th (10:16) and Abigail Wilkin also in a new pb in 22nd (10:29, pb).
Further information on the club and training nights can be found on the website www.richmondzetlandharriers.co.uk
Image: Dan Upton at the Connah’s Quay track meet.