The 2025 Graham Ellis Club 10 (10 mile handicapped road race) was held on a Tuesday 8th July with a new route starting and finishing in Farnley Tyas. The previous route which had been in use for many years was becoming more difficult to marshal with major road crossings and narrow pavements putting runners at risk. The new course is on much quieter roads and is familiar to many Harriers from training runs, the old Club 6 and the Joe Percy.
This year the race was renamed in honour of Graham Ellis, a former club member who passed away in June 2024. Graham joined the club as a junior in 1967 and was made Honorary Life Member following his incredible senior international career. He was undoubtedly one of the club’s most successful athletes and was Club Captain from 1977/78 to 1978/79 . His 10 mile PB was 47:20, a fact that was mentioned by Helen just before the prizegiving. We were honoured and delighted to have been joined by Christine, Graham’s widow, as well as other members of the family and former HHAC members who had come along to pay their respects.
The race set off in two waves, the first at 18:30 and the second at 19:00, from the start on Moor Lane. After negotiating some roadworks that definitely were not there when the route was recced a week ago, runners turned left through Farnley Tyas and followed an anticlockwise loop through Thurstonland, Halstead Lane, the roller-coaster and Farnley Road. After the second lap, runners finished on Moor Lane where they started.
24 runners started the race and one withdrew after the first lap due to injury (minor, but he decided not to risk the second lap).
Once all the runners had finished, their times were compared with handicaps and prizes were presented by Christine Ellis at the finish line.
- 1st on handicap and the Beaumont Rose Bowl – Dave Milton (minus 0:02:20)
- 2nd on handicap – Bob Dickinson (minus 0:01:05)
- 3rd on handicap – Helen Haigh (minus 0:00:14)
- Fastest Lady – Helen Haigh (1:08:31)
- Fastest Man – Ben Jarvis (0:57:28)
A full set of results are here.
The organisers would like to thank all the runners, the volunteers (handicappers, timekeepers, signage, tail-runner, marshals) for helping to make the race a safe and enjoyable event, and Christine and other members of the family for supporting and presenting the prizes.
Lets do it all again next year !
