Guiseley Gallop – April 2019 – Hyde Park Harriers

Easter Sunday and the club Off Road Championship kicked off with the ever popular Guiseley Gallop. The course is 2 laps totalling 10k with a few good hills thrown in. The weather was much better this year and 29 Harriers were taking part.

This year we have 2 divisions rather than 3 with the premier division now having 30 people in it. We also have bonus points to the top 3 finishers.

First Harrier home in a storming 5th overall was reigning off road champion Michael Vargas in a time of 38.14. A great start to the season for him “It took absolutely everything to keep away from Kirkstall’s Jonathan Young, so a really tough day out and a top 5 is always nice”.

2nd home was runner up last year Jack Rose in a time of 44.08 while 3rd home and meaning all 3 bonus points went to premier division runners was Jonathan Spain in 44.45.

13 seconds further back and taking top points in the 1st division was Colin Tranter. 2nd in the 1st division was John Pratt and 3rd was Lee Taylor.

All 3 bonus points also went to the premier division runners in the ladies championship. Amy Young came home an excellent 5th lady in a time of 45.31.

Nichola Moreland was 2nd home in 52.51 while Claudia Bauer 3rd home.

In the 1st division Tami Bond took top points “Lovely day, lovely people, woodlands were nice. The flat hot bits were roasting. Still long way to go for me but my uphill and downhill skills have imrpved 200%”.

Zeni Bellwood takes 2nd place points and Robyn Johnson 3rd place.

It was great to see some new faces out and also returning after a long lay off through injury was James Vickers.

Other comments –

Clare Evans – Great run, thanks to Lizzie and Clare M for keeping me in check until the final hill.

Paul Farmery – Really enjoyed it. Not quite acclimatised to the heat yet this year. Some fun technical bits in the woods. Road section tough with no breeze.

Liz Jones – How on earth was the wide, smooth path worse than the hilly, narrow rutted ones.

Paul Sawyer – Good run especially with the heat after demolition derby of 1st downhill section. Probably started to far back but helped confidence overtaking quite a few in later sections.

Curtis Broadhead – It went well, walked bit more than I wanted to as some will were challenging for me today but I powered through for a course PB.

Richard Edwards – Just happy to be back. Way to much walking but thanks to Chris Jones for keeping me company.

Lizzie Coombes – Really enjoyed local race with amazing support. Loved running with a posse and over the line holding hands with Clare Maxwell.

Mark Haddrill – Was tough out there and my legs really didn’t feel like racing but still fairly happy with my time.

Paul Dickens – Really enjoyable start to the HPH season. I hit it pretty hard at the start but couldn’t keep up with Paul S. Felt I was overtaking plenty on the rough bits but couldn’t stride out on the flats without overheating. Good 3 mins off previous course bets.

Kay Jefferies – A long over due return to the GG for me and I was chuffed to bits to come 2nd…..from last.

Everyone commented on the brilliant support that was on the event. It was great to see loads of Harriers and local running friends out cheering on the course. Many thanks to Nick, Steve and Rolf for the brilliant photos.

Next up in the Off Road Championship is the Apperley Bridge Canter.

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