HARTSHEAD athlete Abby-Mae Parkinson is an English Schools fell racing champion.
The 11-year-old won the Year 7 event when the championships were hosted by Sedbergh School.
The 1.98k race was held on the famous Winder Fell and offered one of the toughest routes available.
Running for her school, Bradford Grammar, Abby overtook the leading girl on the final climb and was first to reach the summit.
After a fall on the descent, Abby held onto her lead to win in a time of 21min 25sec, beating the current British champion into second place.
“It was a really tough race,” explained Abby. “The descent was almost as hard as the climb. I was going so fast that I had to fall to stop myself going head over heels!
“Someone shouted ‘make like an aeroplane’ so I stuck out my arms and carried on.”
It has been a fantastic sporting year for Abby, who competes in running, swimming and triathlon.
She is the Yorkshire and North East of England age-group swimming champion, Yorkshire cross country champion and also won the Yorkshire and Humberside Triathlon Series.
HOLMFIRTH Harriers’ Matthew Pierson could well challenge Otley’s Ian Fisher for the title in Sunday’s Holmfirth 15k.
Last year’s winner Dave Turnbull is not running as he has just got married, so the way is open for Pierson from the host club and runner-up 12 months ago, and Fisher, who is also a past winner of the event.
It is still not clear whether Holmfirth’s Dave Watson is running as he has not yet declared his intention.
Organisers are expecting well over 200 runners and entries will be accepted on the day to qualify for prizes in all categories, while all finishers receive a souvenir worth £10 and there are 50 spot prizes donated by Up & Running, who are also providing running numbers and hydration drinks at the finish.
The race also incorporates the Yorkshire Championship and the Yorkshire Veterans Championship.
The ladies race appears to be wide open and Jackie France from Holmfirth could be in there as she prepares for her marathon training.
