R&Z take on Europe's best
There was another busy week of racing at Richmond and Zetland Harriers. On Tuesday it was the Bridges of the Tyne 5 mile race and Michelle Nolan was again in podium form with 2nd in 29:32. Tony Ditchburn and Ian Hepworth made the trip to the Pitstop 10k at Darlington which was run in oppressively hot conditions. Tony was 117th in 48:47 and Ian 167th in 55:31. The Morrisons Gateshead 10k was well attended and Steve Middleton was 17th in 35:35. Michelle Nolan was 40th and on the ladies podium again in 3rd (37:49). Jeremy Pattison was 47th in 38:13 and followed by Peter Armstrong in 138th, 40:54. Liam Rabjohn absolutely smashed his pb at the Leeds 10k with a fantastic top 10 finish in 9th place in 34:15. Three harriers made the trip to the undulating but very picturesque Kilburn 7 mile race. Andy Everard mastered the conditions better than most and came home in 73rd place (55:20). It was nip and tuck between Pauline Whittaker and Mark Fletcher (who over heated after 2 miles, as it was above 10 degrees, but the draw of the teas at the end made sure he finished) for most of the race with Fletcher (123rd, 62:00) just making it to the line ahead of the fast finishing Whittaker who recorded a fantastic pb on the course (124th, 62:03)..
A few harriers were competing at triathlon at the mid-week super sprint event at Ellerton lakes. Carl Jones was first harrier in 4th. Holly Flannery powered her way to the front and was the 1st lady and 11th overall. She was closely followed by Liam Rabjohn who was 14th, Jo Adams was 4thlady and 28th, Harry Robson was 31st, James Greer in 58th and Ryan Canizo in 83rd.
At the weekly parkrun at Darlington Harry Robson continues his fine form with 3rd (17:46), Jacqui Keavney (20th) was next home and 1st lady (20:00). Nick Mason was 24th in 20:21, Shaun Purkiss next (28th, 20:36), Laura Kirkham in 59th (22:18), Mark Fletcher and a new pup pb in 127th (26:25), Emily Kirby in her first parkrun was 168th (28:23) and Natalie Kirby in 262nd (35:47). At Fountains Abbey Jo Adams was 4th and 1st lady in 18:28. Brother Jack was 13th and broke 20 minutes as a first time run (19:49). Not to be outdoor Rosie Adams was 17th in 19:55 and the 3rd woman and another new pb! Jeremy Pattison was 4th at Albert Park parkrun in 18:19 and also a new pb.
Richmond athlete Marc Scott qualified for the European U23 10,000 metres final and was in contention for the first few kilometres but the winner from Turkey shattered the European record in Tallin, Estonia. Marc finished a superb 6th in his first major track championship, following on from a great season where he set new bests in the 3000, 5000 and 10,000 metres to finish the season as the current British top ranked U23 athlete at all three distances. He also represented Great Britain and Northern Ireland in the European U23 cross country where he came 7th and the team were silver medallists. He will now be spending the rest of the summer learning to run at normal pace and has even volunteered for the parkrun take over as the tail runner to find out what it’s like to be lapped by someone else for a change!