Leeds Abbey Dash 10K 1st December 2002

Richmond and Zetland Harriers had twelve runners in the Leeds Abbey Dash, one of the most popular dates on the Road Race Calendar, on Sunday 1st December. The traditional 10K course, out to Kirkstall Abbey and back to finish outside the Town Hall, regularly attracts over 2500 starters including the cream of Northern Clubs.

This year’s race was cold and wet and resulted in slower than usual finishing times. A group of five runners ran away from the field in the early stages but were closely packed into the easterly wind back down the Kirkstall Road. Mark Hudspith of Morpeth did most of the work, knowing that he hadn’t the same finishing speed of at least of his rivals. He hung on to finish third behind the winner, former National X-C Champion Michael Openshaw and runner-up Stuart Stokes, the Commonwealth Games steeplechaser, ahead of Steve Hepples, the popular NYSD competitor from Loftus and Kevin Sheppard.

Jon Orange

Jon Orange was runner number one for the Club, knocking 25 seconds off his previous best set in the CDBramhall/Darlington 10K last August, finishing in 32:07 and 26th place. Jon is now training seriously for next year’s London Marathon; he turns 40 later this month and has set himself a target time of 2 hours and 30 minutes, a time which might win the Veteran’s race! Second Harrier home was Ken Harker in 34:34 for 66th place, just 2 seconds and 4 places ahead of his training partner James Wardman, running for Loughborough Students. With Club Captain Shaun Purkiss hot on both their heels finishing in 34:50 for 72nd place, the unofficial team results show RZH finishing 6th, one place behind perennial rivals, Otley. Brian McNabb ran 36:53 for 140th place and Jim Robinson ran 37:41 for 186th, bettering last year’s Veteran place by one, finishing 2nd MVO55. Mike Brooks was timed in 39:09; Rachel Robinson was 3 seconds faster than last year, finishing in 41 minutes exactly; Ian Hepworth 43:54; Darren Cox 44:14 and Andy Whiteley 45:15. Grete Buck, making a welcome return to racing after a 6 month lay-off with an achilles injury, was twelfth Harrier in 60:14, outside the prizes this year but still a creditable 5th LVO60.

The next races for the Club are the Poultry Run at Loftus or the Saltwell 10K and Junior Races at Gateshead, both on Sunday 22nd, the Boxing Day Handicap, the Guisborough Woods Fell Race the following day, then the Jolly Holly Jog and Fun Run at Ripon on Sunday 29th.