Leeds Golden Mile

Round 7 of the club Road championship for this year was something a little different.  Ok so it wasn’t really road but a track mile was to be a challenge that 17 Harriers (14 men, 3 ladies) took the chance to try out, with a total entry of 91.  All 17 also scored 5 points in the Club competitor championship.

The event was split into heats based on your estimated time and was just over 4 laps.  A mile is not a distance many run but for some of the Harriers it was a chance to go faster than our own Summer mile,  for some it was the first time on a track.

There was 12 heats in total and it was the 2nd heat that saw the first two Harriers. Richard Edwards kept his 100 % record at this years Road championship the only person who has, came home in 6.51.3 while it was great to see Laura Arendsen back out in HPH colours and she managed an excellent 6.54.5.

Heat 4 and the only Harrier was Lois Gardner who clocked a time of 6.34.6 to claim top points in the ladies 2nd division ahead of Laura.  This was her 3rd top score of the year and now has a nice lead in the championship.

There was 3 Harriers in heat 5, new to club Curtis Broadhead, John Hayes and Lucy Rider.  Lucy clocked 6.28.2 to claim top Harrier lady and maximum points in the 1st division.  This was her 4th top score and now has a healthy lead in the championship.  There was no premier division ladies taking part so that is unchanged with Sarah Farnell still leading.

Curtis and John were both scoring points in the mens 2nd division with Curtis getting a time of 5.58.9 and John 6.48.6.

Heat 6 and it was Matthew Armstrong who was out in the HPH vest and looking to score good division 2 points.  He had a time of 5.55.4 to lead at this stage.

Heat 7 and Dan Donnelly was back from holiday to try his luck and he managed a 5.56.0 and scored some excellent points for the 1st division.

Heat 8 saw Chris Jones taking on the mile and he came home in 5.57.2 and got faster each lap bagging good premier division points.

Heat 9 saw Chris Smith and John Blatherwick take to the track.  John got a 5.59.0 scoring decent 1st division points but couldn’t beat Dan.  Chris put in a strong performance to clock 5.33.0 and jump to the top of the charts at this point which will help his lead at the top of the premier division.

Heat 10 and it was Jimmy Sheldon on track and he went ahead of Matthew in the 2nd division points chase with a 5.34.2.  This was good enough to extend his lead in the division but John Hayes is hot on his tail.

Heat 11 and 1st division leader Scott Watson took the chance to extend his lead with his 4th maximum points haul and a time of 5.08.8 which was fastest at this point.

The final heat was also the one with the most Harriers in. Philip Goose from the premier division and George Anderson, Alec Francis and Michael Vargas from the 2nd division.  As well as going for times the heat was going to be very tactical.

Michael was a late entry having made it back from winning a wineathlon and Phil was trying out new spikes but it was Alec who went to the front at first.  Phil didn’t have his best tactical run and came home in 5.05.5 but it was his 5th top premier division score from the 5 rounds he has entered.  He is going to take some beating in the remaining events.

The race hotted up and 3rd Harrier home went to Michael in a time of 4.53.7 and 5th overall.  George really ramped it up at the end leaving Alec 2nd Harrier and 4th overall in 4.52.2 but 2nd place overall, 1st Harrier and top 2nd division points went to George in an excellent 4.45.8.  He has only entered two rounds so far but took top points in both.

Next up in the road championship is the Bradford City runs 10k on the 30th October then the very popular and fast Abbey Dash on the 6th November.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1dB3lQ_5hn5ePdej54o1tZnKjMXEHrith49X1l-PTmDs/edit?usp=sharing

Position	Name	Time	Division		Position	Name	Time	Division
2nd	George Anderson	4.45.8	2nd		60th	Lucy Rider	6.28.2	1st
4th	Alec Francis	4.52.2	2nd		64th	Lois Gardner	6.34.6	2nd
5th	Michael Vargas	4.53.7	2nd		77th	Laura Arendsen	6.54.5	2nd
9th	Philip Goose	5.05.5	Prem
11th	Scott Watson	5.08.8	1st
25th	Chris Smith	5.33.0	Prem
26th	Jimmy Sheldon	5.34.2	2nd
44th	Matthew Armstrong	5.55.4	2nd
45th	Dan Donnelly	5.56.0	1st
46th	Chris Jones	5.57.2	Prem
48th	Curtis Broadhead	5.58.9	2nd
49th	John Blatherwick	5.59.0	1st
73rd	John Hayes	6.48.6	2nd
75th	Richard Edwards	6.51.3	Prem