Yorkshire Half Marathon Championships - Ackworth 23rd April 2003

Richmond and Zetland Harriers renewed their road racing rivalry with Otley AC at Ackworth on Sunday 23rd March in the Wilkinson-sponsored Yorkshire Half Marathon Championships but they were edged-out on points. Otley had their first man home ahead of Richmond; the Harriers won the Veteran race; neither Club contested the Ladies race and the Otley team came up trumps to take “first-blood” in this year’s contest.

This was the third consecutive year that Ackworth RR had hosted the Championships which says a lot for the tough, undulating, out-and-back course around the sleepy villages of this part of South Yorkshire. Ian Fisher of Otley has won both previous races and is a five-time Champion over the distance but, with £5,000 in prizes on offer, there were some big names in the line-up and thoughts of a hat trick were a non-starter.

A field of over 700 toed the line in bright sunshine and John Mutai, running for Bromsgrove & Redditch, led a group of four through 3 miles in less than 15 minutes. Mutai eventually broke away from fellow Kenyan, Benson Matheka running for Mizuno, to win in a course record 65:18 and pocket a cheque for £1,000 for his morning’s work. Behind them, Julian Moorhouse running for Birchfield overcame Longwood’s Andrew Pearson to take the Yorkshire title.

Ian Fisher was 7th in 68:39, 45 seconds and one place ahead of the Harrier’s Jon Orange - who won the Veteran’s race from Mark Hall of Otley. Jon set a personal best time through 10 miles enroute to a Half Marathon best and proved that his sponsorship from Peacocks of Richmond is “paying-off” and that his London Marathon prospects are both serious and on target. John Aspell was second counter for RZH, finishing 13th in 72:49 but, with Eric Williams and Karl Povey both unavailable, the Club had a long wait before Mike Brooks made-up the three-to-count team, finishing 125th (5th MVO55) in 87:58. The team finished 3rd behind winners Otley and second place Dewsbury but the race budget didn’t extend to bronze medals!