Harriers of the Month and Chair’s Blog – December 2024

I hope everyone is having a brilliant festive break! It’s been a busy month despite our sessions pausing for Christmas – read on below…

Congratulations to our Harriers of the Month for December 2024:

  • Paul Sawyer (multiple nominations):
    • Thank you so much Paul for not only organising another fantastic party for the club this year, but for really going above and beyond sourcing a replacement food vendor last minute! We really really appreciate all your continued dedicated efforts to social events at the club. Thank you!
    • Paul went well above the call of duty to organise the Christmas party – not only did he do all the usual hard work, but he then dealt brilliantly with the original caterer being unavailable, finding a fantastic alternative and corralling orders from half the club in incredible time. Paul deserves all the kudos for a mammoth effort for the benefit of HPH!
    • Yet again, Paul has organised the best Christmas party, with some significant hurdles along the way too!
  • Naomi Adkins (multiple nominations):
    • Naomi put a huge amount of effort into making our PECO-hosting at Middleton went smoothly – really appreciated!
    • She did a fantastic job of race directing for the Middleton Peco. The volunteers knew exactly what to do and where to go, the races went really well and clear-up was like clockwork. I know it’s a team effort, but Naomi made it happen and was the fantastic face of  Hyde Park Harriers.

Well done to all our nominees, copied below:

  • Amy Ramsden-Young – Thanks to Amy for organising a great trip round the Roundhay Rudolph route! A lovely way to get in the festive spirit with a fantastic mix of Harriers and friends!
  • Anne Akers – For organising a fab trip to panto!
  • Beth Chambers – For being so sensible in managing her stress fracture the last six months, and coming back super strong with a swift parkrun
  • Frazer Carr – Frazer ran brilliantly at Valencia Marathon, earning an awesome new PB!
  • Grace Roberts – Consistently inclusive and organised in promoting new leaders, a lift to Ponte PECO after a hellish day of train travel, and awesome vegan gingerbread.
  • Kevin Longmate – He is always willing to lead sessions or step in to lead. He’s also a greater joiner-inner, turning up as Santa (how he ran with that sack full of pressies is a mystery!) and lit up like a Christmas tree for Light Night. And he’s not even first claim with us!
  • Lee Taylor (multiple nominations)
    • For achieving a full set of PBs across 2024
    • Lee has completed ‘The power off ten’ with new PBs is all categories.
  • Nicki Watkinson – New to club and bringing awesome vegan brownies to PECO
  • Sam Townson – It’s great to have Sam back with HPH after time travelling, and he’s running better than ever! His race at the Middleton PECO was spectacular – well done mate!

THANK YOU!

A huge thank you to all our leaders this month – Adam L, Amy R-Y, Ben H, Callum S, Clare E, Daisy W, Dan D, Ed S, Ellie W, George A, Hannah L, Honor B, Joe L, Jonathan S, Kevin L, Michael G, Mike G, Naomi A, Richard C, Richard G, Richard K, Sarah J, Sharron N, Steve P and Victoria S!

Thanks also to those who led the North Running Club runs from Springwell!

If you’d like to give leading a go, speak to any of our existing leaders or committee members and we’ll give you all the support and help you need.

HIGHLIGHTS OF DECEMBER 2024

  • We had another brilliant turnout for the second race of the PECO season at Pontefract – old-school cross-country round the racecourse! Relatively short, relatively flat but hard work nevertheless – well done everyone!
  • Valencia Marathon is a perennial HPH favourite – we had a few Harriers returning to it this year, including Frazer who ran a brilliant new PB!
  • HPH’s German correspondent Pete Norén ran a fantastic race at the Ratzeburger Adventslauf, smashing his previous best and generating a classic race face along the way – we expect nothing less…
  • The Bah Humbug 10K saw 13 Harriers taking on a cross-country route around Middleton Park – shout-out to Tom M and Rich S, who finished second and third respectively!
  • December’s headtorch run saw a group of seven of us explore the Chevin woods, with spectacular views over Otley as a reward.
  • Despite some hiccups with catering (huge thanks to Paul S for his efforts in finding a short-notice replacement!), the HPH Christmas party was a brilliant night, with more than 100 Harriers joining in the festive fun at Springwell!
  • The third PECO race of the season was at Middleton, which was co-hosted by Rothwell Harriers and HPH. Naomi A did a sterling job as race director, assisted by lots of helpful Harriers – thanks again to everyone who volunteered, and well done to everyone who ran!
  • We finished our Tuesday night sessions for the year with all groups convening for a club photo at the Christmas tree on the uni campus – great to have so many folks join us, and some fantastic festive-themed outfits!
  • Continuing the festive theme, Amy led a fun trip round the Roundhay Rudolph route – great to run with a mix of new and veteran Harriers, plus friends and family!
  • Always a popular race, the Chevin Chase saw many (possibly slightly hungover) Harriers take on the hilly, muddy course on Boxing Day – some brilliant runs, but most importantly lots of fun was had!
  • To round off the year, a few Harriers braved the Auld Lang Syne fell race on New Year’s Eve, seeing 2024 off in style!

Thank you to everyone involved with HPH for another fantastic year of our run club – already looking forward to what 2025 will bring!