Harriers on a High at Heaton Park and York 10 Miler (October 2024)

The fell running and road running championships have both finished and attention now turns to the cross country season. The Harriers run in two leagues, the South East Lancs (SEL) and the Red Rose League (RRL).

It appears the cross country season is starting off like it finished last year, wet and muddy. Saturday 19the October 2024 was the first race of the SEL at Heaton Park and by all accounts it was very wet and muddy. A total of 29 Harriers made the short trip down the M62 to Heaton Park. Seven juniors, eight ladies and 14 senior men making up the contingent.

The under 11’s saw Finley Duckworth finishing his race in 15m, 38s and Evie Boon achieving a time of 15m, 47s in their respective races. The under 13’s boys saw Alim Arkin finishing in a time of 17m, 10s, whilst the under 13’s girls race saw 3 competing, Lily Hirst doing well coming 7^th in 17m, 17s, followed by Lola Whittaker in 19m, 12s and Isabelle Bostock in 20m, 39s. In the boys race Ben Hadfield was the sole Harriers representative, achieving a time of 23m, 50s. Two Harriers ran in the girls race, with Lottie Peacock finishing a creditable 5^th position in 26m, 58s and Aliya Arkin doing well coming 9^th in 29m,59s.

In the Ladies race Juliet Smith (L45) came a respectable 8^th in 40m, 26s, followed by Zara Hirst, 17^th, in 42m, 35s, next came her mum Susie Hirst (L50), 24^th in 44m, 38s. Jennie Ransome (L60), 25^th, Danielle Dignan, 31^st, Anna Blomfield, L60, 38^th, Louise Eadsforth, L55, 47^th and Corina Haynes, L60, 52^nd. Team wise the ladies were 4^th in the over 18’s category, 3^rd in the over 40’s age group and 3^rd team in the over 50’s category. So a very good day for the ladies all round.

Final race of the day was the men’s senior race. 14 senior men represented the Harriers, with the course now at its muddy finest. Ian Dale, V60 was the first Harrier home in 42^nd place, 42m, 34s. Well done to Ian on this achievement. Next was Pete Butterworth, V50, 51^st in 43m, 34s, then Kurtis Vincent, 62^nd, in 45m, 27s. Overall the senior men’s team came 10^th, 9^th in the over 40 category, 3^rd in the over 50 category and 1^st in the over 60 category (Ian Dale, Ian Aitchison and Stephen Leak). So a big well done to those runners.

On the road front three Harriers decided to go for  day trip to the beautiful city of York, Phil Arnfield to run a 10 mile race and Jonathan Lupton and Gareth Chambers to run the Yorkshire Marathon. The marathon started and finished at the university, going in a clockwise circular route via the historic York Minster and then into the beautiful countryside surrounding York. Phil in the 10 mile race completed in 1hr, 33m, 24s, whilst Jonathan suffering a knee injury, managed a creditable 3hrs, 22m, 57s and a PB in the marathon, with Gareth finishing in a time of 3hrs, 52m, 59s.

To show that the Harriers are not just a running club, a social evening was organised by Bryony Sherry on Saturday night at the Pavilion on Spotland Road. Runners know how to relax after a tough day. Reliving running exploits whilst savouring great curry.