Time has been ideal so far for the athletics season for the Harriers of Richmond and Zetland
Benedict Simpson-Alexander participated in Derby in the U20 and seniors’ championships in 800m at the end of June.
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Benedict won his round in the U20m race in a time of 1m 58s (PB) and finished 5th in the final in 2m, then in the final of the 1500m, he finished 5th in 4m 03s.
The third match of the NEMAA League series at the Monkton Stadium in Jarrow saw Nicola Simpson finished the second F50 in 3000m in 12m 50.
Pauline Whittaker was second F55 of the javelin with 16.74m, second F55 in 100m in 17S and second F55 in the 400m in 1m 21S.
Benedict Simpson-Alexander at the U20 and Seniors Championships in Derby (Image: supplied)
Pauline then competitored the fourth match two weeks later and in the weight throwing, she was the first F55 with a 7m 03 launch, third F55 in 200m in 36.15s and second F55 in 57.85.
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Jonathan Simpson faced DR30 DR30 (31.7 km), the first weekend in July.
The race was never going to be easy with the route starting in Muker and rising nearly 3,000 feet to Tan Hill, taking a spectacular swaledal landscape and a section along the Pennine before returning for the arrival in Muker.
Jonathan finished 36th in total in 3h50m 10s.
There was also the shorter swinner swagger option (15.5 km) which is the second half of the D30 Route Longer.
Nearly 10,000 runners gathered in Newcastle on July 6 for AJ Bell Great North 10k, the largest 10 km race in the Northeast, the starting route of the new departure line of Great North Road before browsing the targeting of the city center and crossing the Tyne bridge twice.
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Paul Simpson had a good race on a test route finishing 256th in 39m 43, Nicola Simpson supported the Kerry girl who was running in her very first 10 km race, finishing in 54m 57s.
Ken Harker participated in the 5K Sternland Harriers on the evening of July 10, finishing 31st in total in 19m 48.
The following week saw three races in the evening.
There have been impressive times from the Harriers, Dan Spencer finished 19th in total in 17m 40, Mark Forrest 35th in 18m 28, Paul Ellis 40th in 18m 43s and Jonathan Simpson 59th in 19m 51.
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It was also the last race for the Harrogate District Summer Race League (HDSRL) – the Norman Smith handicap race – which was animated and well organized by the Wetherby runners.
This fun event stops the main series, with runners who finished at least two championship races receiving an hour at the function of their performance, so that the slower runners begin earlier and, if the handicap system works perfectly, everyone ends at the same time.
The competitors were triggered at 30 second intervals with a very hilly and difficult track of just under 6 miles from and finished in the village of Sicklinghall.
Rebecca Smith was the first Harrier in 46th place (handicap position) in 44m 43, Paul Simpson 51st in 39m 49S, Nicola Simpson 130th 43m 51S, Gail Smith 133rd in 53m 51s and Pauline Whittaker 274e in 56m 03, the race was followed by food and the end of the presentation of the league.
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The next day, the Durham City Run 10k and 5K events, admiring the historic monuments of the city.
The new members Peter Bird and his wife Grace participated in the 5K race with Peter finishing 7th in total in a superb period of 17m 21 and Grace finished 77th in total in 23m 02.
At the distance of 10 km, Rob Scott was a magnificent time of 31m 51s and was 3rd in the general classification and Sammy Bell 283rd in total in 48m 09.
The Harriers have, as usual, their solution on Saturday morning 5K participating in parkruns both locally and further.
And finally a special mention and thank you to Moody Construction which donated £ 500 to the racing club, each year, the company chose another group to which a donation, the employee Scott Wardman and his children are members of Richmond and Zetland Harriers.
Further information on the club and training evenings can be found on the website www.richmondzetlandharriers.co.uk.
