Harrogate League - Handicap - Ripon - 15th July 2008

Ripon Runners hosted the annual Handicap Race, which signals the end of this season’s Harrogate and District Road Race League, at the Cricket Club on Tuesday 15th July. The weather was excellent, making for a warm evening’s running, as numerous club athletes got underway at staggered start times. The handicap race gives those normally competing at the back of the field, a feeling of running at the front of the pack, with the aim being that everyone finishes at least in close proximity. The 9.2K course takes in part of the scenic Studley Park and is a mixture of undulating on and off-road running.

Jon Orange

Eight Richmond and Zetland runners made the short trip to Ripon and enjoyed the competition, as well as the supper and presentation for the league awards afterwards. Final results and times are not yet available for the actual handicap race, but final standings and trophies were decided at the last race proper at Hudswell, Richmond, two weeks earlier. One of the first Harriers home was Ian Scott running strongly on the evening and racing well, while Tony Ryder was also enjoying another great outing, having set a new PB only a week earlier at the Pit Stop 10K at Croft. Jon Orange was fastest on the night, showing his form both on and off the road, which earned him 2 trophies in the league, having competed in all the league races, while Taff Rogers had another strong race, to finish well up the final order. Tony Ditchburn was also home in good time, with a solid run over the course and team mate Ian Hepworth proved that he can still turn on the speed in the MV60 category, finishing well in his own age group. For the ladies, Sarah Gregory missed her allocated time slot and had to set off 2 minutes later with a faster group, but enjoyed the race anyway, using it as a hard training run and taking in the atmosphere, while overall ladies champion Rachel Ross-Russell did not have the best of evenings, with an upset stomach on the way round. Luckily this did not affect her overall standing, as the handicap race does not count towards individual or club points.

Presentations were then made for the overall individual and team winners of the league’s 5 races, which began in May. Jon Orange was first up to take two shields, for both the overall male individual winner and also top athlete in the MV40 category, which was well earned with some fine performances, with outright victories in 3 out of the 5 races. Tony Ryder then collected the shield for the men’s winning veteran team, earned by a number of male Richmond and Zetland athletes throughout the 5 races, which was a great result and one retained from the 2 previous years. Rachel Ross-Russell also stepped up to collect her 2 trophies as overall ladies champion and first in the FV35 age group, rounding off a great series.