Created by : Tom Shaw On : Wed, 05/28/2025 - 11:02
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Another busy week up and down the country for the green and black and we start with a catch up from last weekend with two fantastic young athletes. Freddie and Penny Johnson took part in a para athletics school championship in Leicestershire. Freddie stormed to victory in the 300m with a mighty lead to take first place in the boys ambulant year 3/4 race and 2nd in the 50m. Sister Penny came 2nd in the girls 300m ambulant year 3/4 (she competed a year young) and 3rd in her 50m to make it a great day for the pair. It may have been a para event but the competition was strong. Both will now go on to the National junior para championships in July. Both children will continue to compete in both able-bodied and para competitions with the ultimate goal to make it to the Paralympic talent pathway when they are old enough (following classification).
On to this week and its many Harriers favourite race of the year as 4th edition of the Rother Valley Relays took place. Running in teams of four (Men’s or mixed teams) or three (Women’s teams) its a very popular night for local clubs with over 270 teams competing as each runner takes a 5 km CCW lap of the lake. Harriers corner was once again in full swing cheering the runners on to the final straight as we fielded 4 mens, 6 women’s and a mixed team who ran some of the fastest times of the night to come away with a bit of silverware. A blistering start by Ben Rhodes saw the Harriers mixed team right up at the front of the race in 3rd as he handed over to Hannah Miller and Miley Townrow with two excellent time trial efforts at the sharp end of the race before handing over to Tom Shaw to hold off some fast anchor legs. The mixed team finished the 20 km 1:11:29, not only taking 2nd in the mixed competition but also finished 12th overall from the 150 4-person teams. Speaking of which, on to our mens and first up Matt Daly led out a Nick Mould, Henry Brady and Chris Johnson, finishing 26th in 1:16:04, whilst our V50 team saw a strong performance with Barnaby Gray, Paul Parry, Chris Lawrence and James Morgan ran 1:21:14. Team 3 saw a PB fest as Danny Watts, Henry Cole, Pete Spencer and Adam Jonczyk ran 1:26:51. Finishing off the mens team Chris Gales made an impressive club debut, followed by an impressive return from Dom Ayton, Matan Duveen and Jordan Shipman ran 1:27:53
On to our ladies team and it was perfectly balanced and three impressive runs and just 10s separating Leah Smith, Madi Spencer and Sally Ormrod as they finished 14th in 1:04:04. Our V50 ladies were led by Rachel Silcock, then Cathy Mhembere and Julie Holloway in 1:13:32. Following close on their heels Sam Robinson, Lucy Binch and Alex Edwards ran 1:13:53 whilst another club debut and fastest time in many years for Tamara Hazlehurst, handing to Gabs Bower and Charlotte Randell ran 1:14:19. Sharon James, Carolyn Luckham and another fastest time for many years from Sarah Morgan saw a time of 1:31:04. Biggest cheer of the night was perhaps saved from the final team as Natalie Cunningham handed over to Emma Butcher and then Alice Shaw-Phillips running the anchor leg as she ran possibly the last race for the harriers for a little while but one to go out on!
On to the weekend there was plenty of T&F as our juniors started on Saturday with mini-league #2. The U11 boys continue to perform well narrowly finishing 2nd on the day and currently top for the season. In the U11 Girls for Lauren Townrow taking 2nd in the 600 m (2:14.0) to go with strong performances in 80m and LJ. On to the U11 boys and a great team turn out of George North, Oakley Allsop, Roman Marks, Hugo McCarty and Freddie Parente. Plenty of strong results and PB’s with some highlights including a Worksop 1-2 in in the 600 for George and Oakley, strong runs of 3rd/4th in 150m for George and Roman before all four boys finished 2nd in the 4x100 m relay. On to the jumps and George took 1st in 3.69m whilst Freddie took 3rd in the Howler Javelin.
Up and age group to U13 girls and a good day for Eliza De Villiers taking 3rd in 70mH (14.9s) and joint 3rd HJ (1.25m)before competing in the 100m. Eliza was joined by Aya St Juste in 100m, 200m and HJ and Sarbina Cupit-Richards (100 and 200m). On the boys side and strong results from Isaac Beresford saw him take 1st in the LJ (4.36m) 2nd in the 75mH (15.8s) and 3rd in HJ (1.35m). Joining Isaac and great runs by Mason Heath in 75mH followl closely in 16.3s as well as running 15.2 in 100m, finishing with 1.10m in the HJ.
On Sunday it was #2 of the County Dev League and a trip to Berry Hill. With the wind blowing fiercely along the north straight it made for some challenging throws and laps of the track but some excellent performances none-the-less. Starting with the Sprints Daberr Yousef won his round in the 100 m (13.4s) before going on to run the 800 2:22.5. Also on 100 m Charlotte Ayton ran 13.7s before winning her 100 mH (17.2s) and clearing 5.00m in the LJ. Ceryn Greaves also competed on 100 m (15.1s), Shot (7.28m) and 3.77m LJ. In similar fashion Grace Walton won her 80mH match (14.3s) before jumping LJ (4.37m) and HJ (1.35m). Finishing with the endurance races and a good days work for Miley Townrow saw her un 5:10.4 in the 1500m before running 2:34.6 in the 800m whilst the senior athletes today were represented by Tom Shaw leading the 5,000m in 16:32.8
Off the track and right up North as four Harriers made their way up to Edinburgh for the Marathon. Starting in the iconic city, the route heads through Holyrood park before out along the coast towards Aberlady before turning back to finish in Musselburgh. Weather conditions were no more kind up north with plenty of wind and a hailstorm interrupting the later half of the marathon but not enough to stop some PB’s as an Charlotte Randell 4:08:37, Kate Thorneloe and Mark Manley ran close in 4:53:35 and 4:55:56 with Lee-Anne Manley finishing off the four in 5:43:03.
A little closer to home two runs to finish with. Carolyn Luckham was the sole harrier taking part in the Goole Riverbank Challenge 10k. A flat but mostly trail out and back along the riverbank, Carolyn managed to improve on last years time by 2:12. We finish the report as Jo Campbell ran the East Yorkshire Half. An undulating course not helped by the winds but a promising return to form as Jo ran 1:55:46.