Halifax Harriers were represented by eighteen young athletes at the Yorkshire Cross Country Championships at Lightwater Valley in Ripon on 7th January. In the under-13 girls' race Kitty Harrison Sargent won the bronze medal, and along with teammates Alesha and Lily Atkinson (who finished 14th and 22nd respectively), earned the girls a well-deserved silver team medal. The under-13 boys were awarded a team bronze, with Sam Keighley 10th, Joe Stone 11th and Beau Clark 24th. The under-13 boys B team of Tom Wright, Albert and Ralf Jones finished in 7th position.
In a tough field the under-15 boys' team finished 5th, Ben Slow 22nd, Chester Gately 23rd and Eli Cattermole 28th.
Halifax Harriers had a good turnout, making up more than 20% of the field, at the Giant's Tooth Fell Race on 1st January to start 2023. The short course of just under three miles, with over 400' ascent, charges from the car park at Ogden down to the reservoir and up to the Giant's Tooth. Then across the bogs, dropping back down to the reservoir before the last climb to the finish. Short, fast and brutal with plenty of mud to contend with this year!
Ned Hughes was the first home of the 15 Harriers in third place overall in 19:36 closely followed by junior Will Cattermole in fifth place (19:52) whose slight navigation error towards the end cost him second place. Brother Eli was eighth in 20:20 just ahead of Fred Carver in ninth place in 20:38.
There was another tussle between Lee Cattermole in 19th place in 21:49 followed by Will Carver in 20th (21:56) with Tom Paget and James O'Rourke in 21st (22:28) and 22nd (22:53) respectively, both having completed the New Year's Day Parkrun earlier.
Simon Gelsthorpe took first MV60 in 23:49 with Phil Grimes second MV60 (24:10) and Mark Crabtree third MV60 in 24:30. Junior Jayde McGregor was next home in 24:54 and finished a very impressive sixth lady overall. Hazel Berrett was first FV60 in 27:44 just pipping Andrea Ackroyd who got first FV50 (28:04). Kirsty Carver finished in 35:46, a day after achieving her 100th Parkrun.
Fifteen Harriers took on the challenge of this year's Coley Canter; an excellent trail race organised by Northowram Pumas. The hilly 7.7 mile course takes in a total climb of nearly 900' and includes a good dose of mud and a stream crossing. The route starts in Northowram before taking in Norwood Green, Judy Woods and a circuit around Coley. Highly recommended for anyone who fancies racing off-road but not necessarily wanting the big hills.
Gareth Burrell was the first Harrier home in 17th place in 1:01:37. Lee Cattermole was close behind, finishing 20th in 1:02:27 and was second M45. James O'Rourke was third in the same age category in 1:05:33.
April Caufield led the Harriers women home, finishing third female overall in 1:06:00. Hazel Berrett won the prize for the F60s in 1:19:39. Jane Hobson was third F50 in the same time as she and Hazel crossed the line together. Andrea Ackroyd completed the female quartet, coming home in 1:22:02.
Other Harriers results: Will Carver (1:03:52), Tom Paget (1:04:41), Will Stewart (1:06:04), Ken Montgomery (1:06:31), Mark Crabtree (1:11:22), Simon Gelsthorpe (1:11:27), Martin Ellis (1:28:14), Chris Burrell (1:29:13).