Holmfirth Harriers put on a strong show in the YVAA Road Relay Championships at Roberts Park, Saltaire.

The Harriers had 38 runners taking part making up 11 teams with some less experienced club members taking part.

The course took in the park, roadside footpath and canal and riverside paths.

In the F35-44 age group Holmfirth’s first team was struck by disaster when Jacqui Khoueiry was prevented from getting to the event by an accident on the motorway.

Then Jo Bailey-Taylor, who moved up from the second team was injured within 200m of the start of her leg, so the team were unable to finish the race.

It was a great pity as they were certainly in with a chance of a medal.

Helen Berry ran the fastest leg of any female athlete completing the 2.9-mile course in 15 minutes 45 seconds.

The second team came back a very creditable 10th of 16 teams.

Holmfirth Harriers logo
Holmfirth Harriers

The F45-54 first team, with Margaret Sykes running the fastest F45 time in her first race after a long battle with injury, were clear winners.

The second team did well to finish the team, with Clare Ash bravely hobbling round after pulling a calf muscle.

The F55+ team were second with Lesley Ewart and Val Battye running the third and fourth fastest legs of the day.

In the Men’s event the M35-39 team finished sixth just one second in front of a team from Baildon thanks to a sprint finish, to great cheers from those watching, by Mark Owen to just pip them on the line.

In the M40-49 age group Dave Watson, on leg three, ran the fastest leg of the day in a time of 14.20 and was in fact fastest of any of the men.

The whole team put in solid performances and managed an excellent third place overall.

The second team led by a very quick 16.12 by James Durrans, also put in a very solid performance coming sixth of 13 teams.

The M50-59 team and M60-69 first team also came in third in their respective categories and the M60-69 second team were fifth.