Yorkshire Vets Grand Prix Reports: GP3 Kirkstall and GP4 Meanwood

Yorkshire Vets Grand Prix Reports: GP3 Kirkstall and GP4 Meanwood.

GP3 was hosted by Kirkstall Harriers on Tuesday 27 May. The 257 runners comprised 146 male vets, 96 female vets and 15 guests. Starting with a circuit of Kirkstall Abbey, the out and back course took in pavement and roads, riverside path and a circuit of Bramley Fall woods. Winners were David Watson, M40, Holmfirth in 32m-06 and Tanya Seager, F40, Stainland in 38m-38.          Bingley finishers were –

Paul Mitchell                      37m-33                  10^th man and 3^rd M50

Stuart Thompson              44m-05                75^th man and 2^nd M65

Peter Ellerton                    44m-26                78^th man and 3^rd M65

Marisol Carrera-Vivas   44m-40                   10^th lady

Tamsin Treasure-Jones  48m-44                 25^th lady and 2^nd F45

Ann-Marie Roper           49m-13                   27^th lady

 

GP4 , hosted by Valley Striders on Tuesday, 24 July, was based at their Meanwood HQ. Another warm night attracted 86 lady vets, 142 male vets and 22 guests, total 250. The 2 lap course took in woods and fields with a lot of climbs and descents over rough and rocky ground. From the start, one and a half laps of  a small field and maybe 200 metres of track took us to a single file entry to climb the woods path. Only the fast starters avoided a lengthy queue here and a shorter one further up at another narrow point. After that the course was free flowing and the two laps seemed to pass very quickly. Good showers and plenty of sandwiches were available before the presentation, all for a fiver race fee. The fee was recently raised to £5 to provide improved first aid cover, and Stuart Thompson received their attention after finishing.

The winning runners were the same duo as Kirkstall, with times of 27m-13 for David Watson and 32m-15 for Tanya Seager. Bingley put in some good performances:

Paul Mitchell                      31m-03                9^th man and 2^nd M50

Stuart Thompson              37m-32                71^st man and 3^rd M65 despite a heavy fall on the course

Les Haynes                         37m-39                75^th man and 1^st M70

Peter Covey                       38m-17                83^rd man and 2^nd M70

Peter Ellerton                    39m-02                90^th man

Fred Gibbs                          40m-35                103^rd man and first M75

Tasmin Treasure-Jones   41m-40                20^th lady

Ann-Marie Roper              42m-36                29^th lady

M85 John Johnson of St Theresas anf F70 Hilary Wharam of Horsforth are both regular runners in the Grand Prix series, Hilary clocking 63m-22 and John 71m-59 at Meanwood.

Next race in the series is on Wednesday evening 9 July at West Vale near Halifax, hosted by Stainland Lions. 7:30 pm start, all the details on YVAA website. It is likely to be a hilly and rough terrain type of course.

 

Report by Peter Ellerton