Cumber leads the way for Halifax Harriers and sets a new club record time
SARAH CUMBER crossed the line as first woman in Sunday’s Wilmslow Running Festival 10k in a new Halifax Harriers club record time for the F50 category of 38:46. Husband Geoff was first in his age group (M75) in 48:52.
Three Harriers competed in the Ian Roberts Memorial fell race on Sunday. The ground was soft and quite level on the tops so that runners could enjoy the views without having to watch their feet. However, the final couple of miles had some steep, boggy, rocky downhills and the grassy tussocks were a nightmare to navigate. Jane Hobson led the trio home, finishing in 75th place in a time of 1:14:17 followed by Hazel Berrett in 1:17:13 and Sam Layfield in 1:21:11.
Also on Sunday, Will Carver took on the highly demanding Heptonstall Fell Race.
The route covers 15.4 miles and more than 3,000’ of climbing. Will finished in 2:34:01 in 95th place in a very strong field.
At the Harriers’ annual dinner on Friday, Raymond Hall was presented with an inscribed silver salver and honorary life membership in recognition of his many years of outstanding service to the club.
Eighteen Halifax Harriers participated in the recent Dentdale Race in the northern Yorkshire Dales in memory of their good friend and clubmate, Jim Kirkpatrick. The route was on minor roads with beautiful scenery. It was very well organised and friendly with funds going to the local primary school.
There was a choice of route with 10 Harriers opting for the longer 14.2 mile race and eight running the shorter 7.5 mile race.
Dan Mahoney - Jim’s nephew, who was visiting from Chicago - was fittingly the first Harrier home in the long race, finishing in 12th place in 1:37:06.
Ryan Barker, who picked up an injury early on, stoically continued and was 40th in 1:52:06.
Erika Nightingale was the first of the five women, clocking 1:56:56 in 58th position.
Hazel Berrett (1:59:45) was first in her age group (F60).
Other Harriers were; Nigel Jamieson (2:07:01), David Broadley (2:08:11), Andrea Ackroyd (2:10:53), Margaret Deacon (2:12:17), Fiona Murphy (2:18:45) and Martin Ellis (2:24:38).
Harriers had great success in the shorter race. Rob Hick was 16th overall and first in his age category (M65) in 1:01:33.
Mark Crabtree was second in his age group (M60) in 20th position in 1:04:23 followed by Steph Dickinson in 25th, who was also second in her category (F45) in 1:06:08.
Keith Midgley (M65) and Sharon Cousen (F50) were both third in their age groups, in 1:13:16 and 1:18:12 respectively.
Other Harriers were; Dennis O’Keefe (1:15:08), Michelle Broadley (1:19:18) and Jenny St Romaine (1:19:18).