Pocklington 10k – Summer League Race Report & Results.

Results.

Kim Critchley rolled back the years to take victory in the opening round of the York & District Road Race League at Pocklington.

The vet 40 athlete seldom runs on the roads these days, but showed his class to head a York Knavesmire Harriers one-two-three in the wet conditions.

In the women’s competition, City of York occupied the top two spots as Emma Ballantyne, who was third in the 2017 series, took the spoils ahead of Jessica Troy.

Critchley edged out clubmate Stuart Grange by one second to take victory in 34mins 12secs.

Completing the Knavesmire trio Gareth Green, another vet 40 runner, was third in 34.34.

City of York’s George Cook (34.44) was fourth and second senior man home, while York Acorn’s Paul Whitaker clocked 35.31 for fifth overall and third in the vet 40 standings.

City of York’s Liam Medley was sixth and third senior man home in 35.34.

Defending vet 50 men’s champion Glen Johnson (Tadcaster Harriers) opened his campaign by winning the category in 38.37, ahead of Easingwold’s Steve Loseby (38.54) and Pocklington’s Darren Ball (39.54).

Easingwold’s Howard Thompson won the vet 60 men’s age group in 41.22, with Acorn’s David Lancaster (42.25) and Knavesmire’s John Iredale (43.24) completing the podium.

The vet 70 honours went to Pocklington’s Keith Oliver (46.58), ahead of Pickering’s Michael Hetherton (48.16) and Tadcaster’s Norman Miller (50.23).

Ballantyne enjoyed a far more comfortable victory than Critchley, winning the women’s race by 53 seconds after crossing the line in 37.56.

Troy (38.49) was followed home by Knavesmire’s Victoria Sewell (38.56) in third.

Sewell’s clubmates Emily Baines (39.36) and Sarah Attwood (39.55) completed the women’s top five.

Attwood was the first vet 35 woman home, ahead of Easingwold’s Samantha Davies (41.34) and Knavesmire’s Katy Lee (42.23).

York Acorn’s Julie Lawn (46.20) took the vet 45 women’s honours to get her title defence off the best possible start, with Easingwold’s Emma Atkinson (49.51) and York Triathlon Club’s Pauline Foot (51.05) completing the podium.

Another Acorn runner, Gill Boynton (47.10), was the leading vet 55 woman, followed by Knavesmire pair Jane Nodder (48.04) and Jet Shepherd (48.10).

In the vet 65 ranks, the defending champion, Knavesmire’s Mary Farmery (54.44), was a clear winner, ahead of Pocklington’s Kathryn Taylor (59.10), while Farmery’s clubmate Liz Piper was third in 1.14.03.

Knavesmire comfortably took the men’s and women’s team honours on the night, with City of York second and Acorn third in both categories.

Thanks to Ed Mezzetti for the report.