Distance League Updates
04.04.25 - 06.04.25
Bluebell 10 Trail Race
The road runners 2025 distance league is currently in full swing with many of our senior road runners racing at various events to gain points and compete to be this years champion. This weekend saw the Blubell 10 trail race take place and Paul Gilbert finished in 23rd place and 4th in his age category (1:22.21) and Claire Ramsden finished 7th lady and first in her age category (1:32.53). Both gained valuble points towards league standings.
Rothwell Canal Series Race 1
On a beautiful Tuesday evening Wakefield had 11 runners including 2 juniors competing in the Rothwell Harriers Canal Series Race 1. Simon Midwood had a great run to finish 2nd overall and first in his age category. He was followed by Daniel Jones (junior) in 9th place (18:15), Paul Gilbert continued his good form off the back of Bluebell 10 in 12th place (18:23), Phil Ambler was not far behind and continued his great form to finish 12th and first in his age category (18:37). Next was Francis Mwaba in 33rd (20:12), Harry Beck (junior) in 39th (20:48), David Foster in 45th (21:24), Julie Greenwood was our first lady and first in her age category in 46th place (21:36), followed by Helen Beck in 49th (21:55), Angela Dales in 51st place (21:58) and Claire Ramsden who ran well on the back of Bluebell 10 in 58th place in (22:43).
Currently the top 5 are:
1 - Paul Gilbert = 4960
2 - Francis Mwaba = 3178
3 - David Foster = 2824
4 - Angela Hall = 2619
5 - Simon Midwood = 2575.
Some great runs by everyone and we look forward to seeing how the competion heats up over the next few months. Keep an eye on our facebook and distance league pages for results and upcoming distance league events.
Distance League Page
MARATHON WEEKEND
26.04.25 - 27.04.25
Tommy Hastings wins the London Mini Marathon
26.04.25
Report by Chris Mitchell
After his recent good form during the winter cross-country and road season, Tommy was selected to compete alongside five other athletes from Yorkshire and Humberside against the best athletes from 12 other regional teams from England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. The competition, celebrating its 40th year, also incorporates the British Athletics Road Championships and is run over the final 2.6 km of the full London Marathon course, passing Buckingham Palace and finishing on the Mall.
After what Tommy described as the hardest start he had ever experienced, the young Wakefield Harrier managed to get his breathing back under control towards the end of Birdcage Walk and settled in with the leading pack in around 6th place. After gathering his thoughts towards winning the biggest race of his running career, he started to make his move up Constitution Hill, to set himself up for a big finish. Turning into The Mall, he could sense victory and felt strong. Containing his emotions in front of the large crowds, he made the sensible decision to control his pace, reserving some energy to respond to any late surges from his competitors. Eventually, he cruised over the line to take the victory in a superb 8 minutes and 16 seconds - the biggest win of his fledgling career. He also enjoyed a full post-race winner's experience, including his first televised interview, taking photographs, signing the winner's wall, and attending the awards presentation to collect his trophy.
Reflecting on the race, Tommy said, “I have just been training really consistently, and finally I’ve got my reward. I’m just going to enjoy waking up tomorrow with a smile on my face, knowing I won and that all the hard work was worth it.”
Results Link
TCS London Marathon and the Adidas Manchester Marathon
26.04.25
On the Sunday two marathons took place, the TCS London Marathon and the Adidas Manchester Marathon. The club had a number of runners across both events. Some who were competing in their first marathon and some who are an experienced hand over the gruelling 26.2mile distance.
In tough conditions and with little cloud our runners produced some amazing times,
TCS LONDON MARATHON
Katie Peers 3:15:23
Emma Feeney 3:23:57
Angela Hall 3:24:05
Alison Downey 4:15:16
Francis Mwaba 4:24:59
Nicola Shires 4:26:38
ADIDAS MANCHESTER MARATHON
Daz Kay-Hewitt 3:00:11
Adam Heppenstall 3:13:08
Thomas Sellers 3:23:55
Rachel Rowe 3:53:37
Annette Hayward 4:55:06
Congratulations to everyone who completed the distance, and to those who didn’t manage to get to the finish this time, the club will be there to support you on your next attempt or whatever other running challenges await!
YORK 5K & A NEW CLUB RECORD!
11.04.25
On Friday 11th of April several Wakefield athletes competed over 5k at the University of York Sport Village Cycle Circuit. There were some stand out performances on the night none more so than Phil Ambler who finished in 18:38 in a new M55 club record and 3rd in his age category! Robert Brailsford who was the first Harrier across the line in 15:23 finished 5th overall. Tommy Hastings finished in an impressive 16:51 and 3rd in his age category, Isabella Tutt finished in 18:15 and 1st in her age category. Also putting in impressive performances were Scott Eaglen (17:14), Sydney Swan (18:08) & Paige Watson (19:00).
Well done to all Harriers who competed!
Results Link
Road Club Records Link
A WEEKEND ROUND UP FOR WAKEFIELD HARRIERS
29.03.25 - 30.03.25
VALE OF YORK 10 MILE & 5 MILE
In gusty conditions at Rufforth, the next round of the clubs distance league took place. Six athletes battled the windy conditions in the 10 mile race with Simon Midwood first Harrier home in 9th place overall. Following Simon home were Paul Gilbert (33rd), Daz Hewitt (44th), Nicola Steel (57th & 5th female overall) & Nicola Horodczuk (407th). In the 5 mile race David Foster finished (36th). Fantastic efforts by everyone.
Results Link
NORTHERN 5K ROAD CHAMPIONSHIPS
In similar windy conditions our clubs younger athletes competed in the Northern 5k Road Championships. In the U17 races Rosie Thistlewood finished in a brilliant 3rd place overall in 19:35 with Sylvie Ellis coming 11th in 21:45. In the U15 race Isabella Tutt was also on the podium finishing 3rd with a new PB of 18:44!
Amazing efforts by all athletes in challenging racing conditions.
A BUSY WEEKEND FOR WAKEFIELD HARRIERS
15.03.25 - 16.03.25
PODIUM 5K FESTIVAL
It was a busy weekend of road racing with Wakefield Harriers racing in four different races.
First up on Saturday 15th was Podium 5k Festival in Leicester. Abbey Brooke competed in the elite Female A race and finished in a fantastic time of 16:53 finishing 61st in a stacked race! In the elite Male B race Euan Gaskin finished 63rd in a great time of 15:04. In the open race we had Paige & Jessica Watson competing. Paige finished in 18:38 & Jessica in 19:45. Finishing 18th & 71st respectively.
Results Link
UNITED AIRLINES NYC HALF MARATHON
Next up our international athlete Amy Eloise Neale competed in the United Airlines NYC half finishing in a time of 68:12 and 5th lady beating her previous club record by 3 minutes!
Results Link
WAKEFIELD 10K & 5K (CLUB CHAMPIONSHIPS)
On the same day the Wakefield Hospice 10k Road race took place which the club also counts as our 10k club championship (first claim runners only) first, second and third places count. The weather was ideal for some quick times and we had an amazing 29 runners competing out of the 2500 strong field. The race was won by Mark Bostock who is now a second claim athlete in a new course record of 30:35, rather impressive after going sub 14 minutes the night before at podium 5k! Adam Peers claimed the Mens championship for the second successive year with a great time of 32:37, he finished 4th place overall and continues his recent fine form. Jake Worton was the next harrier to finish in 33:36 (6th) Mark Mills was the 3rd Harrier to finish in 36:02 (13th). Angela Hall Claimed the Womens championship with a time of 39:58 (5th) closely followed by Katie Peers 40:22 (6th) and Paige Watson was the third Harrier to finish in 41:04 (10th). Well done to every runner who took part!
10K Results Link
At the same time the Wakefield Hospice 5k was taking place and there was a stand out performance by Bella Tutt who finished 10th overall and was first lady back in a great time of 19:12. A fantastic effort.
5K Results Link
RETFORD HALF MARATHON
And finally for the road runners we had three athletes competing in the Retford half each one achieving a PB. Robert Brailsford in his debut at this distance finished in an amazing time of 01:10:54 and placed 5th overall out of 677. Scott Eaglen finished in 50th place in a time of 1:20:17. Alison Downey finished 461 in a fantastic time of 1:54:57.
Results Link
ENGLISH SCHOOLS CROSS COUNTRY
Moving from road back to cross country.
Wakefield Harriers had three athletes representing their counties at the English Schools Cross Country in Ardingly, West Sussex.
Bringing together the top runners from school years 8 to 13 from each of the 46 counties in England. The club’s highest finisher was the in form Thomas Hastings running for West Yorkshire. He finished in 58th position out of 334 starters, a strong run given that he is still a first year athlete. Bella Tutt had a great run for West Yorkshire, in the intermediate girls race coming home in 97th place. Rosie Thistlewood finished a good 192nd for North Yorkshire out of the 328 starters also in the intermediate girls race.
Results Link
What a great weekend of racing from all Wakefield Harriers, well done to everyone who competed!
Forthcoming Club & Championship Events
Bradford Millennium Way Relay 2025 - Sunday 8th June 2025
The club will be entering the Bradford Millennium Way Relay. We are looking for club runners to join our teams. If you are interested please contact our team captains.
Race Link.
ISABELLA TUTT
