HPH Chair’s Update and Harrier of the Month for January

January is never dull in the running calendar. We started off with lots of Harriers out at TNT running 10 muddy miles around the Temple Newsam estate. The saw the Brass Monkey half and then another bought of PECO – where the ladies team finished first in their league for the first time in history.

Over the next few months, we will see the culmination of PECO; look out for the return of the Leeds and York race series, the Dewsbury 10km, entries to our relay teams opening up and early bird HPH memberships is open from March 1st. You can get yourself membership for the bargain price of £21, as opposed to £26 after April 1st! If you’re joining for the first time, that’s £41 to include your vest. We will also be announcing our competition and competition formats for the 2022/2023 year – look out on your emails for that when you renew your membership.

This month’s winners of HOTM are Jane Prust and Mike Vargas!

Mike was nominated for not just being an amazing PECO captain, but for his win at the Kirkstall Calverley Cutter race by nearly 30 seconds! He made it look like a total breeze in winds strong enough to take Dorothy to Oz. Well done Mike, another great win for HPH.

Mike in his natural habitat

Jane was nominated several times! It’s clear her performance has not gone unnoticed. Jane has consistently taken seconds off of her parkrun time and absolutely blown away all of the competition every week on the parkrun roundup, with great age grading % results. Ladies – look out for Jane in the parkrun championships starting in April – we’ve got a challenge to beat her!

Jane, showing the ladies how it’s done at the water jump at TN PECO.

Other nominations this month were:

  • Muyang Hu – for committing so much to her running for making loads of progress and for seemingly enjoying every minute. Muyang really does have a great big grin on her face every time I see her, and her passion for running and for life really shows in the results. Not only is she a fabulous runner making loads of progress, but she also volunteers on a really regular basis at parkrun and always contributes to HPH events with gusto. Thanks for being so amazing and can’t wait to see what 2022 brings for you.
  • Danni Bryant – for coming back from a nasty injury to run really close to a PB time at Brass Monkey half marathon. Amazing dedication and grit!
  • Karly Stringer – for consistently improving her running recently, making it back up to group 3 and achieving PBs weekly at parkrun. She also smashed Temple Newsam Ten! Karly also really showed true HPH spirit by turning up early to West Park PECO to assist with gazebo carrying and setting up when one of the captains asked for a volunteer to step in. Legend, thanks Karly!
  • Ken Fox – for getting his python out every week without fail to deliver us new of HPH parkrun shenanigans. Ken always includes fantastic fun facts which makes these reports even more interesting to read and a great writeup for the blog content. Thanks Ken.
  • Kevin Longmate – for leading almost every single Thursday hills session since they started. Kevin is first claim at Kirkstall Harriers and second claim for HPH but consistently leads from the front by demonstrating his amazing leading skills and being so reliable. It’s people like Kevin who really make the club what it is – so thank you so much.
  • The ladies PECO team – for making club history and being the first HPH side to claim a win at a PECO round. A great achievement.
  • The PECO captains – for making this PECO the most fun, supportive and most informative cross country season. Not to mention the fact that HPH are smashing it in terms of point scoring too. The metrics that Mike provides are brilliant, the support Laura gives is amazing and Anne’s enthusiasm really brings the team together to achieve amazing things.

As always, keep an eye out on the weekly bulletin emails and in the Facebook group for more information about races, discounts, sessions and club activity. If you have any ideas for sessions, any feedback or want to organise a social or event, please get in touch with the committee by emailing hello@hydeparkharriers.co.uk or messaging one of us directly on Facebook. You know who we are. But if you don’t, you can find out here. Our next meeting is February 6th at 6pm – make sure you send us anything for discussion before then.

Don’t forget you can submit any future HPH of the Month nominations at any time of the month/year at this link.