2018 WYXC League, Race 2

Category: Cross-country Published Date Hits: 1072

Sunday 4 November, Nunroyd Park

The second race of the West Yorkshire Cross Country League was held at Nunroyd Park, Guiseley, last weekend.  The rain held off and for the most part the athletes and spectators enjoyed some sunshine.

A slight change of course from last year due to the upgrades that have been made to the park, but still just as fast and challenging!

Annie Mclean runs strongly
to finish 33rd (U13) 

In the Under 11 boys, Declan Levay had another impressive result on the hilly Autumnal course, and came in second place, just three seconds behind the winner. Callum Noble came in at 26^th, Samuel Allott and Luke Hirst crossed the line almost together in 57^th & 58^th places, and Alexander Gilligan in 70^th.

The Under 13 girls continued the great performance demonstrated in the league’s first race in Spenborough two weeks before, with six Harriers racing at this event. Imogen Wolff had another excellent race, coming home in third place, Katie Cannon in 28^th, and Annie McLean displaying consistently strong running placing 33^rd again.  Zara Earnshaw and Emily Wood came in 45^th and 46^th places respectively, and young Beth Cannon placed in the top 50 (48^th). Holmfirth Harriers currently stand at 7^th place on Team Table for the Under 13 girls category with two races left in the series.

Harry Gilligan finishes
21st (U13B)

The two Under 13 boys competing for Harriers this week both performed well: Harry Gilligan was the best of the Under 13 boys, finishing in 21^st place, with Jack Sunderland close behind (24^th).

In the Under 15 girls race, Elena Inch gave another great performance to finish in 10^th place, Mollie Scaramuzza (24^th) and Lauren Hirst (36^th) gave consistently impressive performances, placing Holmfirth 5^th in the Team table for this age group.

In the Under 17 girls category Holmfirth currently stand in second place, thanks to the excellent performance of Zara Tyas (4^th), Olivia Dyson (7^th), Sophie Kettlewell (12^th) and Olivia Throssell (17^th).

The senior women demonstrated consistency, finishing second team again, but closer to winners York Knavesmire than they had been in the first race a fortnight ago.

LtoR Helen Berry, Juliette Brandford,
Ruby Sykes & Cara Inch

The four team counters packed well on the first lap, with Juliette Brandford making a very fast start.  As the race progressed, the women found their pace and Helen Berry took the lead from the quartet, chased closely by Ruby Sykes.  Helen closed on the leading group in the final lap, moving away from Ruby, with them finishing  6^th (19:54) and 7^th (20:25) respectively. Cara Inch, in her first cross country race over a senior distance, made the step up successfully and had a great race to finish 12^th and 1^st U20 (21:37).  Juliette completed the team in 26^th (22:24).

Other Holmfirth women’s placings;  36^th & 3^rd V45 Kath Farquhar (22:55), 58^th Debbie Hall (24:10), 112^th Ann Smith (35:20)

Holmfirth Harrier’s Senior Men arrived hoping to take advantage of the dry conditions on a usually muddy course. Aaron Kettlewell and Lewis Byram had an epic battle in the race, won by Joe Baxter (Pudsey & Bramley), with Aaron, 6^th & 3^rd SM in (31.04), just edging Lewis, 7^th (31.06), in a sprint finish. On his return, Dave Watson, had a great run to finish in 11^th & 2^nd M45 (31.54). Fourth home, after running the previous day, was Kai Sunman in 20^th (32.40). Sam O’Shea ran well for 37^th (33.54) while newcomer, Ben Parkin 55^th (34.53), had an equally strong run to bring the team home in third place.

Mens team counters
LtoR Kai Sunman & Sam OShea

Other Holmfirth men’s placings: 67^th Clark Hind (35.55), 70^th Chris Taylor (36.02), 80^th  Damo McQueen (36.34), 107^th Chris Beadle (38.12), 108^th  Neil Thornton (38.32), 116^th Mark Law (39.21), 126^th Simon Barrans (40.33) & 151^st Jason Haigh (45.40)

Link to results: http://www.westyorkshireathletics.org.uk/R2NP2018.htm