Ilkley Harriers make a splash at the infamous ‘Winter Beast’

THERE were more great results from Ilkley’s runners at the weekend, with the pick being a second-placed finish for Ruth Kitchen in the St Aidan’s ‘Winter Beast’.

Aptly covering 6.66 miles, the Beast is described as ‘not flat and not easy’ and includes a wade through a sluice crossing. Located in the St Aidan’s RSPB nature reserve to the south east of Leeds the race attracted 219 runners.

Kitchen finished the race in a time of 49.12. There was also an excellent run from Diane Kitchen to finish in a time of 1hr 07.38 and bag 3rd FV60. 

Also appropriately named was the Windy Hill fell race in which several Harriers made the trip over to Saddleworth Moor to take part in. All were successful, with Kate Archer being 3rd female and 1st FV45, Nick Kealey finishing 17th and 1st MV45, Dave Robson was 23rd and 3rd MV50 and Harriers second-claimer Martin Peace 37th and 1st MV55.

The race itself was a particularly exotic sounding affair in the ‘bleakest part of the Pennines’ with four crossings of the M62 motorway. Starting and finishing at the Rams Head pub and covering 12 miles and over 2,000 feet of ascent, this was a challenging but reportedly rewarding and recommended event enjoyed by 243 runners. It was won by Doni Clarke of Todmorden and with the legendary Antonio Cardinale bringing up the rear.

Back on this side of the Pennines, Ilkley’s endurance specialist Petra Bijsterfeld took part in the 35-mile-long epic ‘Harrogate Hustle’ on Saturday. Another very muddy and wet event as was the general theme of this weekend’s running, this event run by ‘Punk Panther’ encircles the North Yorkshire town, following trails including the Nidd Gorge and the Knaresborough Round.

Bijsterfeld finished in a time of 7hr 54 in 44th place and was 1st FV60.

Also performing impressively in an endurance event was Kate Prior who came home as 3rd female in the Saltburn trail marathon, which is part of the Hardmoors series. Coming 23rd overall in a time of 5hr 40, Kate was the only Ilkley athlete at this event last weekend which attracted 122 finishers in total.

At the parkrun 5K events on Saturday there were more excellent times from Ilkley Harriers. At Hackney Marshes in London, Oli Murphy was first finisher in a time of 16.46. At Lister Park Esme Stoney just pipped Alison Bennett by 1 second while they finished 3rd and 4th females. Jonathan Turner was 4th at Horton Park. Peter Roll decided to attend an event that kind of rhymed with his surname and finished 18th of 236 participants at Mole Valley.

Meanwhile at Roberts Park, Ilkley provided the first male and female finisher with Alex Foyn (17.58) (who just pipped clubmate Alexander Wolfenden) and Rachel Carter (21.31) both impressing. Other members of the Carter family had great runs with Robert showing whose park it is by finishing 5th and his dad Julian a little further back but still in a very respectable 47th. Lisa McDonell, Clare Boyle and Vince Gibbons all continued their streak of PB’s.

Finally at a muddy Harrogate James Horrex finished 3rd, while Jean Sullivan had the coincidental experience of being 9th lady for the third time in three attempts at this particular parkrun.