Saturday 7th January 2023 – Lightwater Valley
On Saturday 7th January, the Harriers braved the weather and headed over to Lightwater Valley to take part in a very muddy Yorkshire Cross Country Championship. It was worth the trip, with the women’s team winning silver medals and two runners qualifying for their Yorkshire vest; Isabel Richardson and Katie Walshaw.
We had two U13 boys taking part, doing one medium lap of the course (2,500m). Alex Haigh came back in 25th (10.55) and Bobby Morris 38th (11.39) not far behind.
The U13 girls just had one Harrier running; Florence Gibbs 42nd (13.27) who ran the same distance as the U13 boys.
We had two U17 men running the two medium laps of the course (6,350m). Jack Sunderland coming back in 23rd (27,09) and Harry Gilligan 33rd (29,11). Both boys had a fantastic run amongst tough competition.
The Harriers had one U20 woman running the 3 medium lap course (6,350m). Isabel Richardson had a strong run and came back in 4th (27,54) gaining her Yorkshire vest, unfortunately Elena Inch was ill and unable to compete, but is hoping for a discretionary place to represent Yorkshire alongside Isabel at the Inter Counties Cross Country Championships in Loughborough on 11th March.
Holmfirth Harriers Senior ladies had a strong team out again in a field of 108 athletes, slightly down on previous years. Even with some runners having to pull out due to illness, we still managed to win a silver team medal! The senior ladies did 4 medium laps (8,250m). Counting for the team was Katie who came back in 5th (33.50) gaining her Yorkshire vest, second was Lucy Byram who had a fantastic run finishing 7th (34.13) and Erica Byram 9th (35.12) both hoping for a discretionary place in the Yorkshire team. Fourth counter for the team was Helena Croft 34th (39.08). The team was also supported by Helen Haigh 50th (40.59) who had a good run even tho she had just come back from injury and had a niggle towards the end of her race and finally Sophie Cromwell who finished in 70th (44.25)
The Senior men had four runners taking part, running the 5 very muddy laps (10,150m) in a field of 182 athletes. First back was Adam Sunderland in position 114th (48.41) with James Washington having a good fight with Adam coming back in 115th (48.48) 7 seconds behind. Chris Beadle our cross country secretary finished 166th (56.12) and Jason Haigh running well all the way round finishing 179th.
