English Schools Track & Field Championships - Birmingham - 13th-14th July

Three junior Richmond and Zetland Harriers qualified for the highest level of school athletics and were duly rewarded by being able to compete against some of the most talented youngsters in the country, at the English Schools Track & Field Championships, held at Birmingham’s Alexandra Stadium on 13th and 14th June. All put in fantastic performances and were pleased with their results on the day. Doug Roberts continued his excellent form and despite recently being injured, managed to finish in his second ever fastest time over 3000m in the Intermediate Boys age group. He clocked a time of 9.06.48 for 7.5 laps of the track, giving him 10th position overall from the 20 competitors making the final. Leanne Shaw also ran a fabulous time over her strongest distance of 300m, finishing 6th in her heat in 42.12, coming up against some strong opposition at this level. Just to prove that she was not to be out-classed, she joined team-mate Ruth Hill, recently recovered from a stress fracture in her foot, in the 4x100m North Yorkshire relay team. They brought home the bronze medal, finishing third in a phenomenal time of 48.81 and achieving a national standard in the process, finishing only 1/100th of a second down on the silver medallists.

Harrogate League - Handicap Race - Ripon - 17th July

Jim Robinson V60 Winner

Ripon Runners hosted the annual Handicap Race on Tuesday 17th July, which marked the end of this season’s Harrogate and District Road Race League. For once this Summer, the weather provided a great evening, as 186 competitors got underway at various staggered start times. The handicap race gives those normally competing at the back of the field, a taste of life at the sharp end, with the aim being that everyone is at least in close proximity at the finish line. The course, which is just short of 10K, takes in part of the Studley Royal Park and is a mixture of on and off-road running, with mud a-plenty following this year’s rain.

Six Richmond and Zetland runners made the short trip to Ripon and enjoyed the competition and presentations afterwards. First Harrier home was new recruit, Anna Lupan in a great time of 38.44 and 13th position, which was also the fastest from a club member on the night. Sarah Gregory was next across the line in 35th place, having completed the course in 44.34. Taff Rogers was close behind, finishing in 39.37, which earned him 37th position, while Tony Ditchburn had an excellent run, to claim 48th place in 40.49. Ian Hepworth was next home in 135th position overall, with a solid clocking of 46.38, while Jim Robinson rounded off the league, with 169th place in a time of 44.35.

Presentations were also made to the overall individual and team winners of the league’s five races, which began back in May. Jon Orange reclaimed the trophy in the MV40 category, following some fantastic performances, while Jim Robinson then collected the shield for the winning Men’s Veteran Team for the second year running, which was earned by a number of male Richmond and Zetland athletes. Much to his surprise, he then returned a few minutes later to collect the trophy for winning the MV60 category, a fantastic achievement and well-deserved accolade. The overall competition saw Richmond and Zetland finish well up the ranks, with third in the Elite Category and fourth team overall.

NYSD Track & Field Meeting - Catterick - 1st July 2007

Results are also just in from the 4th NYSD Track and Field meeting, where Richmond and Zetland played hosts at their home track of Catterick on Sunday 1st July. Many athletes achieved excellent results, as well as the event giving young athletes, under the age of 11, the chance to compete. There were wins for Fergus Roberts over 100m and 1000m clocking a phenomenal time of 3.02.5, with plenty of support from Paul Harmsworth, James King, Thomas Bingley, Connor Fraser, Marcus Richardson, Michael Cullen and Ben Purkiss, showing the Under 13 Boys team is really at full strength. Amy Coulson took the honours over 100m, in addition to a 2nd place over 1000m for the Under 13 Girls, while Sophie Talbot claimed 3rd in the Long Jump and 2nd in the Shot Putt. Amongst the younger athletes, Rachel Stirr and Max Robson finished in well-earned 3rd positions over 75m in the Under 11 age group.

Sam Wood took a fantastic victory over 3000m for the Under 15 Boys in an excellent time of 9.56.0, with George Robinson claiming the runner’s up position in 10.09.1, as well as his in the High Jump, while Arron Mornington proved untouchable in the Javelin, throwing a fantastic distance of 34.82m. Maddy Winzer also took 3rd place in her new age group of U15 Girls for the 1000m with a fabulous time of 3.14.6

Sprinters Leanne Shaw and Brogan Fraser, promptly claimed 1st and 2nd over 300m for the Under 17 Ladies, as well as Jane Thornton proving her speed to finish 5th in 49.4. The Senior Men battled it out over 3000m with Shaun Purkiss taking the honours in 4th position with 10.23.9, with Tad Zaranko close behind in 5th with 10.32.0 and Ray Robson in 8th with a strong run of 12.14.6.

RZH Results: Under 11 Girls – Rachel Stirr, 3rd 75m 13.0, 3rd 600m 2.23.4 & 4th Long Jump 2.55m. Under 11 Boys – Max Robson, 3rd 75m 12.7, 2nd 600m 2.05.2 & 4th Long Jump 2.79m. Under 13 Girls – Amy Coulson, 1st 100m 14.9, 2nd 1000m 3.27.3, 6th Shot Putt 4.08m & 7th Long Jump 2.64m, Sophie Talbot, 3rd 100m 15.3, 3rd Long Jump 3.10m & 2nd Shot Putt 5.93m, Kerry Robson, 4th 100m 15.4, 4th Long Jump 2.94m & 4th Shot Putt 5.19m, Rosie Stirr, 7th 100m 16.4, 6th 1000m 3.50.4, 5th Shot Putt 4.29m & 5th Long Jump, 2.74m. Under 13 Boys – Fergus Roberts, 1st 100m 14.1 & 1st 1000m 3.02.5, Paul Harmsworth, 2nd 100m 14.4, 3rd 1000m 3.21.9 & 2nd Shot Putt 5.92m, James King, 3rd 100m 15.1 & 2nd 1000m 3.16.4, Thomas Bingley, 6th 100m 15.4, Connor Fraser, 8th 100m 16.3, 6th 1000m 4.10.4 & 3rd Shot Putt 5.24m, Marcus Richardson, 9th 100m 17.7, 6th 1000m 4.10.4 & 4th Shot Putt 5.24m, Ben Purkiss, 7th 1000m 4.25.0. Under 15 Girls – Maddy Winzer, 3rd 1000m 3.14.6, 10th Long Jump 3.28m & 5th Shot Putt 6.08m. Under 15 Boys – Sam Wood, 6th 100m 14.1, 1st 3000m 9.56.0 & 3rd Shot Putt 6.99m, Ashley Richardson, 10th 100m 14.6 & 4th Shot Putt 6.65m, George Robinson, 6th 400m 63.8, 2nd 3000m 10.09.1 & 1st High Jump 1.25m, Arron Mornington, 4th 3000m 10.46.9 & 1st Javelin 34.82m. Under 17 Ladies – Leanne Shaw, 2nd 100m 13.0 & 1st 300m 43.4, Brogan Fraser, 3rd 100m 13.6 & 2nd 300m 45.7, Jane Thornton, 4th 100m 15.0 & 5th 300m 49.4. Senior Men – Shaun Purkiss, 4th 3000m 10.23.9, Tad Zaranko, 5th 3000m 10.32.0, Ray Robson, 8th 3000m 12.14.6. Mixed Age Groups - Male 4x100m Relay (U13) 4th 59.8. Female 4x100m Relay (U15) 6th 62.6.