RHAC Road Champ’s – Two Races in one Week

There is a saying what a difference a day makes and this is certainly true of the Harriers last week. The weekend had seen several Harriers having to drop out of a long distance fell race, due to the extreme heat. One day later saw a magnificent turnout of 35 Harriers running the Cowm 5K Reservoir race, on the Tuesday evening in the pouring rain. This race is one of several run around the reservoir organised by Whitworth Whippets, who have taken over the races from Andy o’Sullivan. The race itself was the 5^th in the Harriers Road Race Championship, starting and finishing at the base of the reservoir embankment. It has a killer start, not only with a steep uphill section, but also a very sharp left turn, so the runners get crushed together, whilst sprinting uphill. The finish is then the opposite, with runners hoping that no other runner nearby fancies a sprint finish.

First Harrier back and finishing 2^nd was Danny Bennett, (M50), in 17m, 57s, so congratulations to Danny on his superb race position. Following Danny in 7^th position was Andrew Whitehouse (M40), In 19m, 13s. Next was George Haynes, (MSen), 9^th, 19m, 28s. First Harrier Lady was Zara Hirst, (FSen), 27^th, 22m, 01s. Molly Howell (FSen)was next, 31^st, 22m, 21s. Followed by Lottie Peacock (FJun), 32^nd, 22m, 40s.

With very little time to recover, Friday 18^th saw the running of the third Sale Sizzler Race and the 6^th of the Harriers Road Race Championship Series. 20 Harriers made their way down the M60 with yet again a change in the weather, ensuring that the race lived up to its name. Danny Bennett, fresh from his excellent 2^nd place at Cowm, was first Harrier back. Achieving 46^th position in 16m, 52s. Luke Burley followed, 52^nd, in 17m, 02s. First Lady Harrier back was Louise Mayall in 22m, 37s, followed by Corina Haynes in 24m, 06s. Several PB’s were achieved by Harriers for the 5K distance in addition to the vet category wins. Juliet Smith in the (FV50), Corina Haynes, (FV60) and Danny Bennett in the (MV55) category. So well done to all those Harriers on their achievements.

The weekend saw several Harriers go “off road” to run in several fell races. Pride of place goes to Abdul Wadud and Tahir Ali, who ran in the Castle to Castle Ultra 36 mile, Fell Trail, Road Race, starting from Lancaster Castle and finishing at Clitheroe Castle. Not content with being 36 miles, the race goes over four of Lancashire’s biggest climbs, Waddy Fell, Whin Brow, Trough Road Climb and Grit Fell/Clougha Pike, contributing to a total ascent of 3684ft/1075m. Abdul and Tahir finished 27^th and 28^th respectively, in times of 7hrs, 45m, 27s and 7hrs, 45m, 28s. A superb result for both guys, especially considering the hot and humid weather.

Two Harriers ventured into the Yorkshire Dales to run the Ingleborough Fell Race part of the Ingleton Gala Day. The race starts and finishes at the sports field next to the community centre, heads through the village onto the Hawes Road. It then heads up the main footpath to the summit of Ingleborough (if you are a walker this is an excellent and relatively easy walk, start from the Hawes Road, to avoid walking through the town), then comes back down the same route back to the sports field. The race is 11km/6.8m in length, with an ascent of 600m/1968ft. Both Harriers finished together, Danielle Dignan, 128^th  and Chris Gee, 129^th, in a time of 1hr, 33m, 54s.

As usual, another Harriers favourite for an easy, leisurely run is the Park Run. There are 700 of these organised all over the UK, run on Saturday mornings over 5km. Jennie Ransome gets bragging rights running in the Dolgellau PR, in a time of 24m, 25s. Sam Fretwell and Shirley Seddon, opted for a run closer to home, the Peel PR in Salford, running in 27m, 31s and 32m, 13s respectively.