Richmond and Zetland Harriers

A quiet week for the Harriers only resulted in two parkruns at Darlington, however both first finishers were from Richmond.

Marc Scott on his return from GB duty went round the course in 16:39 to be first over the line on New Year’s Day and Carl Jones returned a very pleasing 17:20 on Saturday.

Shona Fletcher and Ken Harker crossed the line together on New Year’s Day in 6th and 7th. Harry Robson crept in ahead of Ronnie Corbett in 13th and 14th. Old stager Purkiss was 17th, Simon Withers in 30th and Andy Everard in 46th. Also showing their prowess were Michelle Todd in 151st and Joe Withers in 154th. Shona’s mum completed her first parkrun at 66 years young and managed to power over the line in 30:32 ahead of her son-in-law, who will remain nameless.

Saturday’s record breaking parkrun had the club returning after the Christmas excesses, Carl over the line 1st, with Luke Hack in 4th just ahead of Hack the Elder in 5th and Harry Robson in 6th.

Ronnie Corbett was 9th, sparing partners Andy Everard and Simon Withers in 21st and 23rd but only four seconds apart. Issie Starkey was the fourth lady across the line in 38th. Jane Hack the younger was 227th.

Next week the club returns to competitive duty with the Yorkshire Cross Countries, where on the basis of recent runs and high intensity training should have plenty of potential success.

Further information on the club and training nights can be found on the website www.richmondzetlandharriers.co.uk

THE New Year’s Day can be looked on as the morning after the heavy night before and many take a dip in the North Sea in aid of charities to clear their heads.

But the hardy head for the hills and this New Year’s Day saw the annual Captain Cook’s five-mile fell race on a course starting at Great Ayton and travelling up the hills and woods on a slippery mud track to and from the Captain Cook’s Monument on Easby moor at 1,063ft above sea level.

This year the track was more slippery than usual with recent rain and there was a strong gale force wind whipping over the moor into the face of runners coming up the track to the monument and the moor top.

There was a record turn out with 270 seniors and 21 juniors competing. This raised £1953.00 which has been, or will be donated to the charities, 'Remembering Rebecca,' 'Meningitis Research,' Cleveland Mountain Rescue Team, 'Yatton House' and a small sum to support the local Great Ayton library.

The race was won by Paul Lowe from the North Yorks Moors AC in just under 33 minutes with Cameron Taylor from the Esk Valley Fell Club and Robert Dobson from Gateshead Harriers, second and third just over half a minute behind.

The most remarkable performance came from Scarborough AC’s Bronwen Owen, in fourth place, a further 20 seconds back. Bronwen is a junior just old enough to run at this distance and smashed the women's record by two minutes. The next woman competitor to finish was nearly six minutes behind Bronwen.

Thirsk and Sowerby Harriers

WITH Christmas over, there were large turnouts at races of people wanting to run off the season's festive intakes!

A massive 271 runners turned up for the annual Captain Cook's Fell Race on a mild but wet New Year's Day, with conditions underfoot slippery in places. Bryan Miller got the year off to a good start finishing 147th in 46.28 with David Read 155th in 46.53, Claire Gillan 209th in 53.03, Graham Robinson, struggling rather, 240th in 57.01 and Faith Coy 241st in 57.08.

Two local parkruns also had large fields, with runners at Fountains Abbey having to take care in icy conditions. Julian Norton finished 14th out of 266 in 19.12, Martin Cummins 70th in 23.30, Jane Cummins 185th in 30.56 and Gillian Crane 214th in 33.43.

Darlington parkrun had 270 finishers, Charlotte Knowles having another good run to come 32nd, and 2nd lady, in 21.11, Brian Smith 68th in a new personal best 22.57, Steven Scott 95th in 24.01, Malacolm Aitken 114th in another personal best 25.22 and Peter Richardson 117th in 25.30.

Four Harriers were among the record field of 286 for the Old Monks' Race at Hart near Hartlepool on a beautiful morning over a testing course. Stuart Waters was first club finisher, 140th in 46.30. Lisa Brown 236th in 56.58, Ian Codling 261st in 62.16 and Marian Codling 282nd in 68.49.

The previous weekend, two Harriers were at the Guisborough Woods Fell Race on a very cold morning with a significant covering of snow. As ever, Lorrain Hiles had an excellent run to come 78th, and 1st F50, in 64.13 and Carol Morrison 101st in 72.39. Hilary Coventry, absent from this race, won the F50 trophy for the Summer League and Carol Morrison the

F50 trophy for last year's winter league.