It was a busy cross country weekend in the mud for the Halifax Harriers. On Saturday, at a very wet Roundhay Park in Leeds, Katrina Oddy represented her country at the 36th British and Irish Masters Cross Country International. Katrina earned her debut England team selection at the qualifying XC trails in Betley, Crewe and was proud to run for the W60 team. On a 3 lap muddy course which suited her, she was 4th in her age group and 2nd counter home in the V60 team, helping them secure a Silver medal.
On Sunday, in much drier conditions at Thornes Park in Wakefield, Round 2 of the West Yorkshire XC league was held. The conditions were muddy and made for heavy going on the hilly course. Halifax Harriers had 38 athletes competing over all the age groups. There were top 10 finishes for Autumn Good, Harry Smith, Ellie Smith, James Neil, Isaac Male, Kitty Harrison-Sargent, Sam Keighley, Eli Cattermole and Ben Slow in their respective age group races. The U17 Men took the 1st Team place again and look on target to take the overall U17M league title.
In the senior races, Nia Harrison-Sargent was 3rd U20W and Sarah Cumber 3rd F50, with Angela Clarke making a welcome return to the league, and Lucia Cattermole completing the Ladies' team.
Ben Crowther was 1st M35 and James Franklin 3rd M45 in the men's race and the team finished 6th overall.
Eleven Harriers took on the most recent race in our Fell and Trail League. The 10 mile race at Bolton Abbey took runners around the Abbey grounds and estate with a mix of paths, gravel tracks and muddy woodland trail. With over 500 metres of elevation gain, the course made for a challenging, but beautiful, race with plenty of lung-busting climbs along the way.
James O'Rourke led the Harriers home in a time of 1:23:40, finishing in ninth place overall and first in his age category (M50). The club's first female finisher was Amy Radford, who completed the course in 1:29:55. Amy was the third woman to finish in 17th overall.
Jenny Hopkinson won her age category (F55). Paul Hopkinson was second M65 and Andrea Ackroyd was third F55.
Other runners flying the blue and yellow flag were Sharon Cousen, Nigel Jamieson, Chris Standish, Jane Hobson, Margaret Deacon and Martin Ellis.
As a result, Amy has moved into first position in the Women's section of the club's League. Jane Hobson and Stef Dickinson lie in second and third respectively. James O'Rourke leads the Men's section pursued by David Ingle (Senior) and Chris Standish.
The next race in the League is the always popular Auld Lang Syne Fell Race near Haworth on New Year's Eve. Entries are open and there are no entries on the day.