Leeds 5k Series – April – Hyde Park Harriers

April was the first chance for runners to post a time at the Brownlee track in the 5k series to get points in the club road championship. As with last year we will be taking the runners best time from April through to the end of the year to score points for round 1.

As with the Off Road championship we have changed the division structure this year and now have 2 divisions rather than 3 with the premier division now including 30 runners. Alongside the normal divisions we are running an age graded championship as well which is one division all in.

13 Harriers took the chance to get an early time on the board (8 men and 5 ladies). As is the normal they are split over two races on the night and plenty of support on the bridge.

Fastest harrier on the night in a time of 16.48 and 6th overall was last years 1st division winner Michael Vargas. “I was never going to match the efforts of last time. Pretty windy, no battery in the mp3. Not a bad effort but lacking a bit of get up and go”.

Rupert Jordan was next home in a time of 17.00 and is the leading 1st division runner at this stage. Andrew Carrier was 3rd in a time of 17.33 and 2nd 1st division runner.

Reigning Premier division champion Philip Goose was 4th home and 2nd in the premier with a time of 17.56.

Into the ladies and Harriers were 2nd and 3rd overall with a couple of great times posted.

1st Division’s Clare Slorach was fastest on the night with a time of 19.04 with Amy Young starting her premier division campaign with a time of 19.21.

The age grading was fairly similar to the results on the night.

6th – Michael Vargas – 16.48 78.5% Premier
9th – Rupert Jordan – 17.00 78.0% 1st
19th – Andrew Carrier – 17.33 73.8% 1st
28th – Philip Goose – 17.56 72.4% Premier
47th – Scott Watson – 18.06 72.0% Premier
49th – Clare Slorach – 19.04 77.3% 1st
59th – Jonathan Spain – 19.18 67.2% Premier
60th – Amy Young – 19.21 76.2% Premier
64th – John Pratt – 19.26 68.4% 1st
125th – Paul Ramsden – 22.33 62.3% 1st
156th – Nicola Forwood – 24.40 60.2% 1st
162nd – Zeni Bellwood – 25.24 58.1% 1st
184th – Robyn Johnson – 28.33 51.8% 1st

Other comments on the night –

Zeni B – Big improvement on last month. Massive breakthrough for me both physically and psychologically tonight. I feel like I’m finally making improvements and getting back to where I was last summer.