HOLMFIRTH Harriers enjoyed an excellent weekend at the National Championships at Parliament Hill Fields, London.
Besides good racing weather, club runners and officials enjoyed a very sociable weekend – with thanks to organiser John Ewart.
The day’s races started with Ruby Sykes, in the under 13 girls’ event.
Ruby seemed completely unfazed by the event and was soon skipping through the muddy course, finishing a very creditable 195th out of 354 in 15.09 and still smiling at the end.
Hopefully, next year when the event is at Leeds she will have some others to support her.
Next were the under 15 boys, who turned out a full team. First home in a field of 398 was Tom Travis-Pollard (32nd in 16.32), followed by Max Kaye (70th in 17.03), Tom Halton (121st in 17.42) and Max Lawton (185th in 18.25) and the team finished a superb 10th out of 47 teams.
Matthew Johnson was next to run – and the omens were not good!
The university minibus failed to arrive on time then, after setting off an hour late, they got lost on the way eventually arriving about 15 minutes before the race only to find there was no number or chip for Matthew in the club entries envelope!
A quick dash down to the entries desk secured a new number and chip and he started on time. Unfortunately, injury then struck and he had to pull out after the first lap.
The senior ladies managed to put out five runners, including Natty Pineau who was not only running her first national cross country but her first race in what was a ‘baptism of fire’ or rather mud, if ever there was one!
Helen Berry maintained her position as the club’s premier ladies cross country runner, finishing 61st in a field of 546 in 34.05. She was followed by Julia Johnson (245th in 39.18), Lesley Ewart (258th in 39.52), Barbara Hinchliffe (340th in 42.07) and Natty Pineau (450th in 46.46).
As usual the last to run were the senior men, who competed over three large laps (12k) on what was by now a real quagmire of a course.
First home was Alistair Langron, one of only two non-vets in the men’s team (455th out of 1,455 finishers in 49.11). He was closely followed by John Ewart (obviously refreshed after his nap!), who was 518th in 50.06, Matthew Dewhirst (715th in 52.55), Kevin Yewlett (760th in 53.32), Chris Beadle (813th in 54.21), Rob Kersey (820th in 54.29), Brandon Holroyd (974th in 57.03), Damien Wilde (991st in 57.17), Dayn Wilkins (1346th in 65.57) and Steve White (1,391st in 69.18).
