Local runners rejoicing as competitive events return
AFTER A long wait for competitive running to return, many local runners were back in action at several events last weekend.
Halifax Harriers were among those at the Big Flat Runway Races at Elvington Airfield, near York, where 5k, 10k, 10 mile, half marathon and full marathon races were held.
In the 5k, Sarah Cumber was second in the women’s race and set a new F50 club record of 19:29. Raymond Hall was first back in the 10k with 50:00, John Moore was first M75 in 56:37 and Susan Hall was first F70 in 63:48. Sunny Curwen clocked 69:51 in the 10-mile while Emma Vincent was second F40 in the half marathon, crossing the line in 1:46:37.
In the marathon James O’Rourke clocked 3:10:11 and Tom Paget 3:21:52.
Harriers’ Josh Hall-Brown and Ben Crowther pushed each other all the way in the York 5k, Hall-Brown breaking the 16 minute barrier for the first time in 15:58 with Crowther only two seconds behind in 16:00.
Harriers were among the clubs at the Trafford Senior Open track meet. In the 800m, U17s runner Josh Carter ran 2:04 and M50 Mark Goldie 2:19.
The 400m runners were Joe
MacDonald (54.15), Rob MacDonald (60.06) and Lucy Mills (62.8). Rob MacDonald also ran the 200m in 27.0.
Sowerby Bridge Snails returned to competitive running when six members competed in the Tatton Park 10k in Cheshire.
Club founder Jodie Smith celebrated with a personal best of 1:08:42 while Jen Sutton finished in a time of 1:06:57.
Jess Neil represented the Snails the following day in the half marathon and crossed the line in 2:15:17.
Club runs have returned with Covid-safe runs on Monday and Wednesday nights.
Stainland Lions’ Matthew Pierson set a new 10k club record of 31 minutes 35 seconds when he won the Big Flat Runway 10k, at Elvington Airfield in York.
The previous 10k club record had stood for more than a decade and Pierson improved it by more than a minute and a half to add it to his 10-mile and half marathon club records.
Gavin Foster ran a new personal best at the Run Tatton Half Marathon on Sunday. He stopped the clock in 1:17:21, finishing in 25th place overall out of 1,000 runners.
Gareth Knight also completed the half marathon, crossing the line in 1:39:21, while Paul Corns and Gerry Banham took on the Run Tatton 10k, finishing in 42:36 and 46:05 respectively.
Gavin Dodd tested himself at the York 5k, a course comprised of five loops of an outdoor cycle track, and he was pleased with his time of 19:43.
Northowram Pumas Running Club combined litter picking and running to complete their first ‘plogging’ adventure last Friday.
To celebrate Earth Day, Pumas collected nine bin bags full of litter from Hall Lane, Kell Lane, Howes Lane, Upper Lane and Towngate in Northowram, while also running 2.5 miles.
Pumas would like to thank everyone who supported them and they hope to make the adventure a regular occurrence.
Queensbury Running Club’s Paul Greenwood and Neil Windle both registered personal bests when they ran in the Tatton Park 10k.
Greenwood came home in 16th place and third in his age category thanks to his time of 34:42, a V40 club record.
Windle crossed the line in 92nd with a personal best time of 40:54.
Dave Faulkner claimed third spot in the Brighouse 10k, clocking 47:49, while in the Big Flat Runway 10k at Elvington, Steve Brook finished second MV70 in an excellent 51:18.