Ilkley Trail Race

Bank Holiday Monday saw 11 Harriers (6 men, 5 ladies) take on the Ilkley Trail race which was round 2 of the Off Road Championship.

The 6.9 mile out-and-back route takes in tracks through woodland, fields and moors, interspersed with some short road sections. Virtually all of the climb is on the way out, but runners will be reinvigorated by the views over the Wharfe Valley and across to Ilkley Moor when they hit the moorland on the top, for a very fast second half of the race.

Scott Watson was first home in 23rd place “I went out hard then almost collapsed at the top of the hill.  The first hill, only about 1/4 mile in.  Had to keep going as I had a speedy youngster called Tom P on my heels.  Tough but enjoyable challenging race”.

The hills seemed to be a common theme when talking to the runners, but as Scott said a speedy Tom Pollard was next home in 39th place, when asked for his thoughts on the race “There’s a bloody great hill in the way.  Great views once you get to the top though, but that hill…”.

3rd home was Colin Tranter in 52nd who scored top points in the premier division “Its a great race, well organised easy to get to and brilliant views once we got to the top of the hill.  It was pretty close to a fell race in some places”.

James Vickers was next getting 2nd place points in the premier division and taking an early lead in the championship.  Chris Jones was running injured after a game of football but got good points as did John Blatherwick who came home 3rd in the 1st division meaning the top 3 there was the same as round 1.  No one scored in the 2nd division.

Monica Padilla went nearly 3 minutes faster than last year to come home as first Harrier lady in 96th and take an early lead in the championship.  Robin Culshaw was next scoring 2nd place premier points and continuing her good start to the championship.

Honor Baldry was 3rd Harrier lady home but made it 2 wins from 2 in the 2nd division, while Maika Ohno wasn’t to far behind and still getting Yorkshire lessons from Anne Akers “Although the first half of the course was uphill and it was draughty around the houses and nippy sometimes I enjoyed running on the moor”.

Emma Amor took maximum points in the 1st division giving her a very strong start to the year.

Next up is the Apperley Bridge Canter where we are expecting over 30 entries.

Photos thanks to Andrew Thrippleton and Philip Bland.

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