Created by : Tom Shaw On : Tue, 07/02/2024 - 10:25
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As we come out the end of June the most important, bemusing and sometimes non-sensical race that nobody knows about returned as the Worksop Harriers went head-to-head with Retford AC in the annual canal relay. In customary fashion the race reverses direction each year and this the race started at Manton Club, where it joins the canal off High Hoe Road before heading along the canal, through Scofton, Ranby, Green Mile and on to Botany Bay where the final relay team runs an out-and-back turn around leg to King’s Park Retford before the race heads all the way back with the five pairs of runners cover a grand total of 21 miles of racing between them across 9 stages, each being run between the bridges of the canal. A rapid start from a pairing of Nick Moore and Matt Daly saw the Harriers attack right from the gun in a race which would see the Harriers team work hard to hold on to lead from start to finish. Matt and Nick came in Scofton in a time of 18:32 to produce a healthy lead nearly 2.5 minutes from the first stage to hand over to the first ladies team of Hannah Miller and Leak Smith who would extend the lead by a further 40 seconds on a challenging route from Scofton to Ranby. Onwards to Green Mile and Aidy Hopkinson teamed up with Henry Brady, with Paul Marriott on reserve before the final twin leg team of Tom Shaw and Dom Fielding took the baton on the turn around team and our second ladies team of Sally Ormrod and Madi Spencer with a lead of over 5 minutes. With just one stage to run but the longest of the day, Sally and Madi held off a chasing Retford onslaught as they ran the 4 mile turn around stage from Botany Bay to Kings Park and back to ensure on their return as they handed back over to Nick and Matt to commence the return journey back towards Worksop. With the orders reversed and still in the lead the harriers returned to driving that time gap up again and clocking a total time of 2 hours 11 minutes across the 21 miles of canal trails, it will be Worksop Harriers on the trophy this year.
In true club competition fashion, it was our tend to host Retford as guests as the post-race celebration/commiserations took place near by at Papa’s and in keeping a great competition exciting and always something to race for, this years 24th edition see’s the competition stand at 12-a-piece. Next year the race will once again reverse to start in King’s park with the turn around going Scofton to Manton and will inevitably see one club take the lead once again!
On to the weekend and it was still a theme of running couples as the ever popular Round Sheffield Run had its summer edition over Saturday and Sunday. Starting in Endcliffe Park the race covers around 14 miles total but runners are timed on 11 stages between 400 m and 2.5 km to total around 12 miles of running with recovery stages in between. The stages range from some very challenging hill climbs to frantic downhills where you need to make sure your brain keeps up with your legs before the flat 400 m final sprint to the finish. Runners can take part as pairs (Male/Female or mixed) or can compete solo in what is the ultimate long distance fartlek. On the Saturday 9 Harriers competed as Nat Cunningham was our fastest Harrier of the day in 1:48:28 (and a big course PB to boot) followed by James Morgan (1:48:46) and Scott Arthur (1:53:15) for the individuals. On to the couples of Tamara and Steve Hazlehurst nipped under the 2 hour marker in 1:59:17, followed by Lucy Binch and Charlotte Randell (2:22:43) and one more couple of the day of Sam and Kate Thorneloe in 2:26:22
On to the Sunday and another mix of individuals and pairs as Tom Shaw was first back in 1:21:32, Chris Bliss (1:27:51), Kev Saville (1:37:57) and from the ladies Rachel Silcock made a welcome return (1:56:44), Alice Shaw-Phillips ran 2:01:04 and Katrina Considine ran 2:12:55. Finishing with the Pairs and Harrier Matt Daly ran with Dean G in the fastest Harrier time of day (1:17:09) whilst Henry Brady and Hannah Miller coupled up as they achieved our highest position of the day, finishing 5th Mixed team in 1:28:40. Bryan Cherry ran Stephen Carr round in 1:38:51 whilst Sarah Cherry making it a year of firsts as she teamed up with Debra W to run 2:51:24. Delia Nicholson also made it another year of tradition as she ran 2:57:27 with Linda F.
If you weren’t sure if you saw the Harriers Green and Black out on the course you will certainly have seen them as you finished as Mother/Daughter combo of Sally and Holly Bulmer were on hand to welcome runners home on medal duty ensuring runners didn’t have to do any extra work than needed as they crossed the finish line!
We round the weekend off with some valuable T&F experience for some Young Harriers whilst a young-at-heart Chris Johnson joined in with a couple of club standards. Starting with the girls and Grace Walton competed in the 100 m (14.3s), 80mH (13.90s) and finishing with what was to be a fantastic Harries 1-2-3 as she finished 1st girl and 3rd overall in the HJ (1.40m). Charlotte Ayton also ran the 80mH (13.5s), 200 m (29.5s) and Javelin (15.86m) whilst it was a jumps and throws for Lily Johnson as she competed in the LJ (3.77m) and Javelin (21.93m).
On to the boys Ethan Ellery ran the 200 and 400 m to place 3rd and 2nd respectively in 26.2s and 55.9s. Freddie Marks competed in the 100mH (16.2s) before a 5.22m LJ and then 2nd int he HJ with 1.45m. Rounding out the boys and Brooklyn Crooks was the clear winner of both the long and high jumps with a HJ of 1.70m and LJ of 6.05m.
On to the sole veteran of the team and some nice speed work for Chris Johnson saw him bag a pair of Club Silver standards as he finished 2nd in the 800m (2:36.0) and 3rd in the 3,000m (11:11.0)
