Harrogate League - Richmond 17th May 2007

Shaun & John - Gilling West - Richmond

Richmond and Zetland Harriers hosted the second event of the Harrogate & District Road Race League at Gilling West on Thursday 17th May, over a 5-mile course, which includes a few undulations en-route. There was a good turn out of athletes for their home meeting and 14 Harriers took part. Jon Orange was first home again and claimed an excellent 4th place overall and first MV40 in 26.55, while Dougie Roberts simply flew round and was 5th across the line in 27.40 and first U16 competitor. Shaun Purkiss was next to finish in a well deserved 11th place with a time of 28.49 and was promptly followed by Ian Scott and Tad Zaranko, battling it out for 20th and 21st places, with times of 29.54 and 29.56 respectively. Paul Roberts continued the team’s good form to take 25th place in 30.17, while Chris Peacock made a long-awaited return to post-injury competition with 58th position in 32.26. Taff Rogers was another competitor running well on home soil and crossed the line in 32.55, which earned him 63rd overall and with Darren Cox taking 69th place in 33.07, the team were climbing the leader board. Tony Ditchburn had a good race, finishing in 33.17 and 73rd overall and team mate, Jim Robinson wasn’t far behind in 84th with 33.50, bringing him home as 2nd MV60. Adam Scott obviously enjoyed his first race in club colours, taking only 34.19 to complete the course and with it 92nd position, while Ian Hepworth continued his post-marathon form to take 109th place in a time of 35.30. Neil Piper rounded off a good evening’s team racing in 38.31, taking 161st position, which put them in 2nd place overall, 1st in the Vet’s category and 2nd in the Elites section. It also means that Richmond and Zetland leapfrog Harrogate and go into the overall lead in the race for the Vet’s league title.

Young Athletes League - Shildon - 20th May 2007

The second meeting of the Young Athletes League took place at Shildon on Sunday 20th May, where more national gradings and individual victories were the flavour of the day. Paul Harmsworth was in action again for the U13 Boys, achieving a grade 4 for his 100m in 14.6 and 800m in 2.39.5, while Thomas Allen did exactly the same in the U15 Boys category over 800m, with an excellent time of 2.16.3. Brothers Marc and Rob Scott and George Robinson had a busy afternoon between them all, with a national grade 4 for Marc and George in the 1500m with 4.49.3 and 4.53.4 respectively and Rob performing well over 800m and in the Long Jump. Liam Fletcher took victory for the U17 Men in the 1500m with 4.42.5 and Paul Kilsby claimed another grade 4 in the Javelin, with his magnificent throw of 35.09m.

Over 800m and 150m, Amy Coulson took a further grade 4 ranking for the U13 girls with her excellent times of 2.45.7 and 23.0, while Sophie Talbot ran well in the 75m, 150m and gained a grade 4 in the Shot Putt with 5.61m. Rosy Stirr also competed well in this age group over 75m, 800m and the Long Jump, while Abby Fletcher earned 2nd place over 1200m. Helen Fletcher adeptly covered 100m in the U15 Girls category, in addition to the 800m and Shot Putt. There were also the now customary wins for Ruth Hill over 100m, another grade 4 clocking with 13.2 and Leanne Shaw over 200m and 300m, collecting grade 3 for her times of 26.2 and 43.1. Jane Thornton also competed well in the 3000m, 300m Hurdles and 300m flat.

RZH Results: U13 Boys - Paul Harmsworth, 2nd 100m 14.6, 3rd 800m 2.39.5 & 4th Long Jump 3.45m. U13 Girls – Sophie Talbot, 4th 75m 12.0, 4th 150m B 24.1 & 3rd Shot Putt 5.61m, Rosy Stirr, 4th 75m B 12.5, 2nd 800m B 2.59.4 & 4th Long Jump B 2.57m, Amy Coulson, 2nd 150m 23.0, 2nd 800m 2.45.7 & 3rd Long Jump 3.05m, Abby Fletcher, 2nd 1200m 4.53.7 & 2nd Shot Putt B 3.98m, Team 4th 4x100m Relay 65.6. U15 Boys - Rob Scott, 5th 100m 15.0, 4th 800m B 2.44.6 & 2nd Long Jump B 3.83m, Thomas Allen, 2nd 400m 60.4, 1st 800m 2.16.3 & 3rd Shot Putt 6.42m, Marc Scott, 3rd 1500m 4.49.3, 4th Long Jump 4.10m & 3rd Javelin 14.26m, George Robinson, 1st 1500m B 4.53.4, 3rd High Jump 1.45m & 2nd Shot Putt B 6.42m, Team 3rd 4x100m Relay 57.9. U15 Girls – Helen Fletcher, 5th 100m 16.2, 6th 800m 2.59.7 & 4th Shot Putt 3.93m. U17 Men – Liam Fletcher 6th 200m 27.3, 1st 1500m 4.42.5 & 1st Javelin B 25.97m. Paul Kilsby, 2nd Javelin 35.09m. U17 Ladies – Ruth Hill, 1st 100m 13.2, 1st 200m B 26.8 & 3rd Shot Putt 6.30m, Leanne Shaw, 1st 200m 26.6, 1st 300m 43.1 & 2nd Shot Putt B 5.64m, Jane Thornton, 1st 300m B 53.0, 1st 3000m 15.08.1 & 2nd 300mH 68.3.

Sheffield Half Marathon - 20th May 2007

Ian Hepworth seems to be unstoppable in his racing since the London Marathon and was in action again at the Sheffiled Half Marathon, which also took place on Sunday 20th May. He put in yet another strong performance on a good day weather-wise for running, on a course with a few modest hills and despite walking for a short spell at around 11.5 miles, he crossed the line in a fantastic time of 1.40.38; almost 5 minutes faster than his half marathon time from the previous year. His overall position was 787th out of 3687 competitors and 18th out of 78 runners in the M55 age group.