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The mens team of 29 secured an incredible number of points moving them into 3rd Place in the Rest to Count trophy race. Leading them home, and winning 2nd place in his age category, was Bill Shively who completed the course in a very respectable time of 36.10. John Oliver gained yet another age category success by securing M55 3rd place. Congratulations to all our ‘virgin’ vets, we hope you enjoyed the experience and will join us again, and to our stalwart competitors who keep coming back for more. Fabulous team effort lads.
One question for you all – Can you all come to the next race? - Please!
Last, but by no means least, a huge thank you to our ever increasing ‘supporting cast’. –Family, friends and club members - without each one of you (and the wonderful assortment of food) this race would not have been possible. Special thanks to our friends from Action Medical Research who always ably assist with marshalling - at least the weather was better this year guys!
John Welbourn has once again provided some great all action
photos and it has been reported that he ran from his marshalling position to get
these shots. Could he be in training for our next race!!!
Individual race and all vets competition details can be found on
the Knavesmire website or alternatively at www.yvaa.org With a reputation of narrow and precipitous paths, and only barbed wire to prevent you from a headfirst plunge into the unknown, the Honley course has always been the ‘Ugly Sister’ of the series. Great news – it has been transformed into a real ‘Cinderella’. Almost perfect weather conditions together with the re routing of the course reminded all our team of what is so good about running! Warmed up by a couple of laps around the field you negotiate the first stile. A steady uphill climb follows with more stiles to straddle (apologies to the Pudsey Pacer who I hope has recovered from my foot in their face). Then onto open fields with the most spectacular panoramic views – you had plenty of time to admire whilst clambering over even more stiles. Two of our runners however were not satisfied with the numerous stiles on route they decided to take a detour which included a number of closed farm gates to hurdle! Appearing for the first time as a vet Andrea Lancaster put in a stunning performance by securing 3rd Lady overall in a time of 47.50. As one of our clubs leading ‘off road specialists’, Andrea who is recovering from injury found the conditions ‘ideal for training’! Please come and train with us again. Congratulations to Pete Welsh who once again led our mens team home in spite of his recent ‘exertions’ at the Wistow Summer League. He was closely followed by ‘vets virgin’ David Leaf who ran in YKH colours for the first time. We were informed he enjoyed the experience and we look forward to him joining us again. A good run by David Bygrave and a ‘steady recovery’ run by Martin Medlar both helped the points tally. Good running folks I hope you all enjoyed it as much as I did. The after race buffet (especially the cake and chat) was a great way to finish with the added bonus of tea and coffee. Shame we did not win any spot or raffle prizes but you can’t have everything!! You will all know what’s next – Weds the 4th August 7.30 pm at the Racecourse - Our Vets Home race (and club run). Lets show our West Yorks competition that we mean business. We need you to either run (and earn us points) or marshal (and earn us kudos). Hope to see you soon but if you need any further details you can contact
Jane Tel: (01904) 623595
jane@jhartas.freeserve.co.uk
Individual race and all vets competition details can be found on the Knavesmire website or alternatively at www.yvaa.org
Vet's Grand
Prix Series. Race 4 Mean wood! – This course lives up to its name – it is mean and is run through woodland. Starting off with a short run around a field you soon encounter the first of the steep up hill tracks quickly followed by tree root strewn plunging downhill stretches. Unfortunately at least three of our runners ‘came a cropper’ somewhere along the course but I am pleased to report they all bounced back to complete the course. Martin Medlar will face interrogation as to how he managed to trip up a fellow Harrier! Pete Welsh, one of our real stalwart vets, led our men's team home which was once again boosted by some new faces Phil Raddall, David Bygrave, and Neville Callow all joining us for the first time this year. We hope they enjoyed the run and will join us again. Our Ladies team was headed home by Kelly Temple, who continues to run as a guest, and Liz Matthews whose running is going from strength to strength. Congratulations to everyone who turned out to earn us valuable trophy points and to our loyal supporters. Its Honley next folks! Another stroll in the park! Scheduled for Sunday the 11th July at 11am we look forward to seeing you there. Full details are available at www.yvaa.org Hope to see you soon but if you need any further details you can contact
Jane Tel: (01904) 623595
jane@jhartas.freeserve.co.uk PS – Please don’t forget our own Vets GP race is taking place on Weds the 4th August. In addition to getting as many eligible club members (that is any one aged over 35 who can run or walk the 10k course) to compete in the race we need help with marshalling etc together with food for the after event buffet. Please let us know how you can help – contact as above.
Vet’s Grand
Prix Series. Race 3 A bit like buses – no races for ages and then three come along!!! Kirkstall, last week, Pudsey this week, and Meanwood next Tuesday – and, yes, that does mean the usual ‘encouragement’ from your Captains to run for your club next week! No thumbscrews this week we promise. 16 very ‘committed’ Harriers responded to last week’s plea and turned up to help with our trophy challenge. With a breakneck downhill start avoiding the ‘organic’ mud the race continues through into the woods and then the fun begins! A long uphill stretch follows, with time at the top to catch your breath before the muddy plunge downhill! However you then get a chance to wash your feet with a paddle through the ‘soothing’ stream only to have to repeat the process by completing a second lap. To finalise the task there is just the ‘2 in1’ hill from hell! But it was a lovely evening! Rolls Royce performances by Janet Cordingly, to win first place in her age category and Bill Shively who was 4th man over 50 just missing third place by 3 seconds! Great to see Janet returning to form after her prolonged absence through injury. Jane Hartas and Gill Waites both ran well having only just arriving back from a gruelling walking and ‘wine’ week in the Alps. Liz Matthews and Martin Medlar once again improved their times- obviously the training with Richard Gott on a Wednesday is paying dividends. Determined running by Irene Welborn, Viv Fraser Jean Wright and Jean Snelling boosted the Ladies points tally. Thanks Ladies – I know that a couple of you have not been well of late and we really appreciate your efforts. Good runs by Pete Welsh and Maureen Medlar both of whom are returning from injury and wearing some very sexy socks. Maureen secured third place in her age category – were the socks the secret? Martin Parvin and Dick Hunter performed well adding valuable points for our mens team challenge. Thanks guys. Congratulations to this weeks ‘vets virgins’, Des Durkin who we understand was ‘persuaded’ to run by Martin Parvin (who did pay the race entry fee?) found the race exhilarating and David Goult, running for the first time in a wasps vest. Sorry about this introduction David but the vets series does present the odd challenge! Kelly Temple ran as a guest (being too young to qualify) – now that really shows enthusiasm! No report would be complete without a word of thanks to our most stalwart supporters Alan Wright and John Welbourn. Whatever the conditions they offer us all much needed support and encouragement. John aka David Bailey has also ‘kindly’ and brilliantly photographed our agonies! Our next race is at Meanwood on Tuesday the 22nd June. We would love to see you there. We are meeting at the Racecourse (back of the grandstand) at 6pm to share lifts Individual race and all vets competition details can be found on the Knavesmire website or alternatively at www.yvaa.org Hope to see you soon but if you need any further details you can contact Jane Tel: (01904) 623595 jane@jhartas.freeserve.co.uk Maureen Tel: (01904) 400568 m.medlar@btconnect.com
Vet’s Grand
Prix Series. Race 2 At last…..The weather may have been gloomy, but not our 24 strong team of Harriers who turned out to represent their club, for this, the long awaited second race of the GP series. In the picturesque (if somewhat wet and murky) grounds of Kirkstall Abbey a record breaking number of 236 runners set off at pace eagerly anticipating the challenges of this new ‘flatish’ course…… Sorry folks, but this is ‘West Yorks and vets’ type of flat – a bit lumpy and bumpy but very pretty!!! - terrain that is not the runners! Everyone seemed to have enjoyed the ups and downs of the new course and it was reportedly good training for the mountain climbing at Pudsey?? Our mens team surpassed themselves with brilliant racing by all including the following prize winning performances- Billy Shively M50 2nd. John Oliver M55 3rd. Mike Mc Grath M60 2nd. Ian Bithell M65 3rd. ‘Virgin Vet’ appearances by John Middleton and Stephen Phillips (who competed for the first time in club colours) helped to secure valuable points – Thanks guys. We hope you will join us again. Once again our ladies turned out in numbers enabling us to continue competing in the Trophy Race! Angie Arnell finished strongly as 12th lady overall and congratulations to Pat Rowson who won her age category. Kelly Temple joined us as a guest and we hope she enjoyed the experience. Well done ladies – you all did good. Yet another really great team effort which was commented upon by the race organisers who appreciate that we have the disadvantage of mid week travel. Apologies for not mentioning you all individually but thankfully there were so many of you!!! Our next event is at Pudsey on the Tuesday 18th June. Any YKH club member aged over 35 years can run to secure points for our teams. Youngsters (under 35 years) can also run as guests. Just turn up, pay £3 race entry, then enjoy the race, the scenery, the buffet and of course the company. Individual race and all vets competition details can be found on the Knavesmire website or alternatively at www.yvaa.org Hope to see you soon but if you need any further details you can contact
Jane Tel: (01904) 623595
jane@jhartas.freeserve.co.uk
VETS CROSS COUNTRY SUCCESS
Congratulations to both Joe Brown (running his first ever vets and cross country race in a wasps vest) and Duncan Chambers who both completed well in the second race of the competition for the ‘younger’ man age category 35-49.
Thanks to all those who ran and supported. A great start to the season. |
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