Parlauf Finals 2008

Tuesday 3 rd of June saw the final of the Holmfirth Harriers Parlauf Race with 8 pairs contesting the final. Despite a heavy down pour all day that had left a lot of the field under water a reasonably dry course was found and laid out. All eight pairs ran really well with no team completing less than 14 laps (3km) in the allotted ten minutes with the two leading teams completing over 15 laps.

As the race settled down it developed into a duel between Mathew Spriggs running with Mathew Bell and Mathew Pierson with his partner, the youngest in the race and first time entrant Kiara Ellis. The Spriggs and Bell combination led all the way until the 9minute whistle when a tactical slow down by Mathew Pierson allowed him to retain the baton for the full final minute and this proved decisive as he gained vital ground in the 30seconds before the last whistle signalled that the runner with the baton had to retain it and he passed Mathew Spriggs with 15 seconds to go and went on to win by ten metres. Steve Rimmer was a close up third running with George Brook and a special mention to the youngest pair of Daniel Bell and Aaron Arthur who ran very well to come fifth.

Result

• 1st Mathew Pierson and Kiara Ellis
• 2 nd Mathew Spriggs and Mathew Bell
• 3 rd Steve Rimmer and George Brook
• Also qualified and ran in the final, Richard Smith and Alice Batt, Ben Heslop and Marcus Batt, Daniel Bell and Aaron Arthur, Athena Mellor and Joe Williams, Ellie Folger and Alannah Booth.