After some of our Club runners had battled through snow, ice and hail showers to run the Three Peaks, and a week later others had struggled in hot weather running the Leeds Half marathon, we wondered what nature had in store this weekend. It was the perfect compromise, with sunshine and a cool breeze.
Our M75 team started with the ladies at 10:30, three per team for all our entered teams, with each stage being a 5K circuit around the undulating tarmac paths and roads of Sutton Park. The M75’s did not have much competition, but pride was at stake to clock a respectable time and chasing some of the mature ladies helped them get round the course. Peter Covey ran stage 1 in 22m-36 to post fastest time for age.
Second leg was Dave Barber, clocking 24m-38; with Fred Gibbs running leg 3 in 23m-21. They won the M75 category and it was good to see both Dave and Fred competing again after overcoming injury/health problems. Perhaps we could increase the competition with a Bingley M75 A and B team next year?
Next to run were the M55+ and M65+ groups at 12:15.
For the 55+, Stephen Fry did an impressive run only 2 weeks after the Three Peaks to clock 18m-35 in 13th position, Mark Westman worked hard to finish in 20m-16 (21st) and Peter Pyrah did a class stage 3 in 18m-17 in 14th. The team were placed 14th in a strong field of 37 teams, with the fastest time for age of 16m-28 by Martin Rees of Les Croupiers.
The 65+ squad were led by Peter Ellerton, clocking 21m-22 in 8th place, Stuart Thompson improving our position to 6th with 21m-28 and Bryan Parkinson our top man, retaining 6th in 21m-28. We finished 6th team out of 13 and the fastest time was 18m-36 by Robert Taylor of Stockport. Not too shoddy for a pensioner!
Fastest for age times emphasise the high standard of competition at National events. All the more credit to the Bingley ladies over 55 team to win gold medals at Sutton Park with 9 teams competing and post fastest time for age (Sue Becconsall 20m-23) and 4th fastest (Mary Green 21m-02) Especially so when Sue has had back problems which have restricted her training and racing. A great day for Bingley.
Report by Peter Ellerton, mens vets rep.