Holmfirth hit the road in Northern Relay work out
HOLMFIRTH Harriers fielded four teams in each of the Men’s and Women’s events at the Northern Athletics Road Relay Championships at
Sport City in Manchester.
The event sees top athletes from all over the north competing, including a number of international athletes.
There was a select showing for the juniors, with just two complete teams and two incomplete teams taking part.
For the under-13 boys Declan Levay took the first leg, returning in a creditable 24th place to hand over to Jack Sunderland, who gained 11 places. Unfortunately, the team didn’t get a final position as there wasn’t a third Harrier in the event.
Imogen Wolff took the first leg in the Under-15 girls ‘A’ team and Libby Pringle ran well in an incomplete ‘B’ team.
Imogen put in an excellent performance to reach the changeover in sixth, before handing over to Elena Inch, who kept the team in contention with a good run.
Isabel Richardson took the anchor leg, running a similar time to Imogen to bring the team home in sixth out of 46.
In the Under-17 women’s race, Zara Tyas gave the team a superb start to hand over to Mollie Scaramuzza in fourth place.
Mollie ran well to ensure the team were still within the top 10 at the second changeover, and Olivia Dyson gained another couple of places on the final leg to give the team an excellent eighth.
The 6.1km, two-lap flat course, for the women proved fast and a real test for all in the senior women’s race.
Ruby Sykes used her summer track season speed and got the ‘A’ team off to a good start in 15th (22:31) in a field of 73 on leg 1.
Captain Helen Berry took over and ran strongly through the field to take the team up to ninth (22:42).
Lucy Byram further improved the team position, returning in 7th (22:48) and with Olivia Sykes on the anchor leg dropping just one place to finish in a credible 8th place (25:13) amongst some strong competition. Holmfirth women’s results: 8th Holmfirth Harriers AC ‘A’ 1:33:14: Ruby Sykes(15th) 22:31,
Helen Berry (9th) 22:42, Lucy Byram (7th) 22:48, Olivia Sykes (8th) 25:13 32nd Holmfirth Harriers AC ‘B’ 1:43:34: Margaret Sykes (35th) 24:44, Zoe Storr (39th) 27:32, Cara Inch (31st) 25:01, Clare Locke (32nd) 26:17 38th Holmfirth Harriers AC ‘C’ 1:46:13: Amy Smith (40th) 25:31, Ruth Mackenzie (33rd) 25:28, Alannah Booth (35th) 27:06, Jean Shotter (38th) 28:08 50th Holmfirth Harriers AC
‘D’ 1:51:03: Deborah Hall (53rd) 26:52, Lesley Ewart (52nd) 27:24, Debbie Beck (58th) 32:18, Erica Byram (50th) 24:29
More than 108 full senior men’s teams were fighting for the top 25 spots, in order to qualify for the National Road Relays.
First off was Chris Law, paying the price for a quick start. Chris came back in 31st (21:39) still a fast leg to hand over to a strong Aaron Kettlewell who stormed round to gained 10 places, this took the A team to 2 rd (21:01).
Next up was cool and collected Lewis Byram who also had a fast leg to gain a further two places, 21st
(21:18).
Clark Hind, Holmfirth Harriers road secretary, suffered with many with a fast start, this didn’t phase Clark as he stayed strong to drop only two places to 23rd (22:48).
Next was Kai Sunman with a very strong race gaining five places taking the A team to 18th (21:20).
Last off was Steve Green Holmfirth’s most experienced within the A team, Steve knew the goal was to qualify for the National road relays and ran a solid race to bring the team home in 20th (23:16).
Holmfirth men’s results: 20 th Holmfirth
Harriers A 2:11:22: Christopher Law (33rd ) 21:39, Aaron Kettlewell (23rd) 21:01, Lewis Byram (21st) 21:18, Clark Hind (23rd) 22:48, Kai Sunman (18th) 21:20, Steve Green (20th) 23:16. 72nd Holmfirth Harriers B 2:27:45: Jacob Harman (89th) 24:50, Joe Law (91st) 25:19, Fionn Kerry (76th) 22:27, Lavell Pierre (73rd) 24:49, Christopher Beadle (71st) 25:32, Damian Mcqueen (72nd) 24:48. 94th Holmfirth Harriers C 2:43:18: Mark Law (105th) 26:21, Gary Graham (102nd) 26:29, Paul Girdlestone (106th) 27:47, Jonathan Burdon (103rd) 28:28, John Ewart (103rd) 28:05, Michael Sanderson (95th) 26:08. 106 th Holmfirth Harriers D 3:10:25: Craig Sheard (113th) 29:46, Kevin Dessoy (113th) 27:52, Rob Kersey (111th) 29:01, Matthew Rose (109th) 28:38, John Field (110th) 35:07, Kenneth Mcguire (107th) 40:01.