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 10th man and 3rd M50
Stuart Thompson 44m-05 75th man and 2nd M65
Peter Ellerton 44m-26 78th man and 3rd M65
Marisol Carrera-Vivas 44m-40 10th lady
Tamsin Treasure-Jones 48m-44 25th lady and 2nd F45
Ann-Marie Roper 49m-13 27th 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 9th man and 2nd M50
Stuart Thompson 37m-32 71st man and 3rd M65 despite a heavy fall on the course
Les Haynes 37m-39 75th man and 1st M70
Peter Covey 38m-17 83rd man and 2nd M70
Peter Ellerton 39m-02 90th man
Fred Gibbs 40m-35 103rd man and first M75
Tasmin Treasure-Jones 41m-40 20th lady
Ann-Marie Roper 42m-36 29th 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