"University Challenge" Saturday 7th December

Richmond and Zetland Harriers had half a dozen runners competing for their relevant “places of learning” on either side of the Pennines on Saturday 7th December.

At Hartford Campus in Northwich, Cheshire, the Harriers had three of the scoring four from six in the Junior Girls team at the English Schools X-C Cup Final. The day was fine and bright, the course was flattish but muddy in the gullies from recent rain and the Allertonshire School team lined-up with 23 others from the length and breadth of England. Jo Adams was first home for the team, timed at 10:12 for the 2.4K, less than a minute behind the winner but the quality of the field showed in her 35th place. Jo’s younger sister, Rosie, had an equally good run to finish in 46th, Jennifer Crewdson was 48th and Katie Roberts was 57th, fourth counter in the team which finished 10th. Becky Sadler and Abby Thompson both ran well and finished in 76th and 84th places respectively.

The other three Club members competed for their respective Universities in the annual X-C relays at Boddington Park, Leeds, and Club Coach (retired) Graeme Nicholson was there to watch the action and report. The Women contested the first race, three x two miles, and Louise Jackson ran the opening leg for Leeds Metropolitan University, coming home in 14th place with a time of 13:02 and their team finished in 11th place. Andrea Woodvine ran the second leg for Nottingham University in the same race, taking over in 2nd place. Despite disrupted training because of her studies, she completed her lap in 12:59 (almost a minute faster than in 2001) and came home in 5th position. Their team finished 6th overall out of 33 teams. In the Men’s race, six x two miles, Scott Wardman ran the 5th leg for Leeds Metropolitan University; he completed his leg in 11:34 to bring the team home in 9th place with their final leg runner pulling back one place to finish 8th overall out of 32 teams.