A larger than expected entry meant a delay to the start of this years Harriers V Cyclists but a clear but cold day didn’t put people off and a record field of 280 runners and riders set off on the 5.5 mile circuit. Rain for the past two weeks meant the ground was very wet and water logged but over night freezing temperatures and snow meant the ground was hard in certain summit locations so the discussions in the Start/Finish field were of whether the runners or the cyclists would win overall.
First back in a record time of 34:35 was Tom Adams of Ilkley followed by Joe Baxter of Pudsey & Bramley (37:00) and completing the first three finishers was Will Simmons of Team Zuffle Racing (37:16). It became clear that the Harriers would win overall when the first 9 to finish were all runners with Ian Taylor of C&N Cycles finishing first cyclist in a time of 39:13. Taking second and third places on two wheels were 2 Bingley boys, Andy Peace (Jedi Cycles 40:49) and Ian Holmes (Jedi Cycles 42:31).
First lady home was Annabel Mason of Leeds University in a time of 45:47 followed by Steph Curtis (Pennine FR) in a time of 46:25 and Emma Taylor of Accrington Road Runners in 47:20.
I would like to thank all those people who helped and marshalled on the day as well as the Bradford & Bingley Sports Club for allowing us to use their facilities at short notice and especially after the flooding they experienced the week before. I would also like to thank Wilsden Wines and Bingley Brewery for kindly donating prizes for the event and Milner Fields farm for allowing us to use their land.
Full results can be found here
Next years race will be a week earlier (12th November) and start a little earlier (12:30) as it will be the official FRA Dinner race which is being hosted by the Bingley Harriers. I hope to see you all there again.
Stephen Firth.