30th March 2019. Yorkshire Road Relay Championships

24th March 2019. Spenborough Spring Open
The first outdoor athletics track meeting of the season got underway at Spenborough in blustery and cold conditions. Top club performers on the day were U13 Ella Bickerdyke (80m 3rd 11.8, Highjump 1st 1.25m, long jump 1st 3.78m), Tilly Simms (Shot Putt 3rd 5.42m). U/15 Ellie Fedzin (100m 1st 13.7, highjump 2nd 1.45m), Amy Hunt (Pole vault 1st 3.00m, long jump 1st 4.79m), Erin Hunt (Pole vault 2nd 2.40m), Ben Smith U15 boys (200m 3rd 26.3) and from the senior ladies we had Lucy Holmes having a busy day with 1st shot putt 11.93m, 2nd 100m 12.8 and 2nd 200m 27.2 along with Gabrielle Dyson 1st polevault 3.10m. U/11 boys we had Dalisio Mwaba (600m 2nd 2.03, long jump 1st 3.03m), U/13 Ewan Bailey (80m 3rd 12.0, 150m 3rd 22.4), Cole McAndrew (1200m 1st 4.19.2, long jump 1st 3.75m, shot putt 3rd 5.75m, Oliver Bostwick (pole vault 1st 1.60m). U/15 Alex Bostwick (200m 2nd 26.2, shot putt 2nd 9.32m) and Matthew Wardell (800m 1st 2.35.4). U17 George Lowrie (100m 2nd 12.1, 200m 2nd 24.4), Alfie Edwards (Pole Vault 1st 3.70m, long jump 1st 5.92m), James Simms (pole vault 2nd 3.40m, long jump 5.41m).
Results Link.

24th March 2019. Wakefield Hospice 10k
Incorporating Wakefield Harriers 10k Road Championships

23rd March 2019. National Primary Year 7 Cross Country Final
Prestwold Hall, Loughborough was again the setting for this year’s National Primary and Year 7 cross country final where over 1600 young athletes competed. Following local and district trials, 4 of our Wakefield Harriers qualified to represent West & North Yorkshire at the prestigious Schools event. In the Year 7 boys race, Ben Shackleton had another strong run finishing 27th and first West Yorkshire runner home. Running in Year 6 Girls race was Jessica Watson who had a great run to finish in 33rd and 4th West Yorkshire runner back, helping the West Yorkshire team to Gold. Making their county debuts in the Year 5 girls race, Rosie Thistlewood had her best run of the season to finish 13th and first North Yorkshire runner home followed in 30th by Libby Cree who was 4th West Yorkshire runner back. Running independently for the Harriers in the Year 7 girls race was Millie Powell finishing a respectable 137th . Results can be found at www.stuweb.co.uk

17th March 2019. Pontefract Open
At the recent Pontefract open meeting held at Thornes Park Stadium we had a large number of Harriers turning out in preparation for the forthcoming outdoor season starting this weekend. Ellis Cayre U/11 had a busy day gaining 1st position in the shot putt, Highjump and 50m sprint with Oliver Gorbutt performing well in the longjump with 3.07m. Ewan Bailey was our leading athlete in the U/13 boys sprint with 7.8s with Cole McAndrew Highjump 1.30m, Oliver Bostwick 50m hurdles 11.9s and Danny Kerins 6.68m shot putt. Alexander Bostwick U/15 boys sprint 7.3s and shot putt 9.11m. In the under 17 boys we had Alfie Edwards leaping to a 6.03 m longjump performance, Louis Hargreaves and Liam Greaves 6.6s Pb in the 50m sprint and James Simms 8.28m in the shot putt. We had one senior athlete competing and that was Chris Harris with a solid 6.42 Pb in the longjump. In the girls competition we had Ella Bickerdyke 1st in the U/13 longjump 3.89m and Courtney Newsome storming to a fast 7.3s, Amy Hunt U/15 4.84m longjump and 50m sprint 7.3s. Fast improving Chloe Kaye was close to her Pb with 1.40m in the highjump.
Results Link.

16th/17th March 2019.  U17 English Athletics Combined Events Championships
Two of our multi-talented athletes were in action at the all England Championships in Sheffield, which also incorporating the Northern Championships. Alfie Edwards first year under 17 excelled during the indoor heptathlon event gaining personal best performances in the 60m, 1000m, Hurdles, High Jump and Shot Putt finishing in an outstanding 12th position overall in the UK championships, and gaining a silver medal in the Northern championships with a personal best points score of 3677. Team mate and fast developing training partner James Simms also had a successful championships finishing 15th overall and who excelled in gaining new PBs in the 60m, 1000m, Hurdles, High Jump, Pole Vault and Shot Putt, scoring an admirable 3410 points personal best from the two days of disciplines.

16th March 2019.  English Schools Cross Country Championships
Temple Newsam Leeds was the venue for this years premier cross country event for school and college students from years 8 through to 13. Wakefield Harriers were well represented with 7 running for West Yorkshire after qualifying in the local and follow up district trials. Storm Gareth was persistent all day which added to the difficulty to the already testing course. This didn’t phase any of our athletes with junior boy Tristan Wright first to go, working his way through from the the back of the pack to a very good 160th. Junior girl Paige Watson had a very strong run finishing 167th out of a field of over 350 starters. Bailey Mann made his 3rd successive appearance at the schools, finishing 266th for the intermediate boys. Emily Plimmer did well to finish 283rd for the intermediate girls despite having disrupted build up due to niggles and illness. Matthew Hill ran bravely in the pack at the front of the senior boys race and had an eye on a top 8 finish to qualify him for England at the SIAB schools international in Dublin next weekend. It was not to be on this occasion, dropping off the pace over the last mile finishing a very good 47th. For the senior girls, Lucie Hall, starting to show a return to form finishing a strong 139th and Emma Preston made her debut in a county vest and finished 294th.
Results Link.

January. Leonie Ashmeade Lowers U20 60m Club Record 3 Times
6 Jan 2019 Birmingham Midlands Open - U20 60 metres 7.63 New club record.
12 Jan 2019 Northern indoor U20 60 metres 7.60 new club record.
23 Jan 2019 England Age Group U20 60 metres 7.59 new club record.

9th Mar 2019.  CAU Inter Counties Cross Country Championships
A very windy Loughborough made for a successful day for Yorkshire at the CAU Inter Counties Cross Country Championships. Four Wakefield Harriers gained Yorkshire vests and helped the County team to the Best Overall Team for 2019. First out and continuing his good form was Matthew Hill, finishing 32nd and 4th Yorkshire runner back, helping the U20s team bring home Gold. U13 Ben Shackleton in his first year produced a good run to leave the pen as last counter and work his way through the field to 126th and 5th runner home from Yorkshire. Having another strong performance in the Senior Women’s race was Julie Briscoe, finishing in 41st place and 4th Yorkshire runner back, and helping the County to another team Gold. Poppy Thorpe made her County debut for the U20 Women’s team, finishing a respectable 141st despite a disrupted build up due to injuries.

23rd & 24th Feb 2019.  England Athletics Age Group Championships
Results from 23rd/24th Feb. Wakefield had two medal winners Amy Hunt winning bronze in U15 pole vault with a vault of 3.10 and Leonie Ashmeade Bronze in the U20 60m with time of 7.59. There were several others athletes competing Erin Hunt finished 8th in U15 pole vault with a vault of 2.65 Alfie Edwards finishing 9th in U17 long jump with 6.04 jump. Ellie Fedzin U15 High Jump 4th with 1.55m. Aran Thomas U20 Shot 7th with throw of 13.39. Others competing on the track included Olivia Roe U17 60m/200m, Ben Smith U15 60m, Terrell Williams and Louis Hargreaves both U17 60m.

23rd Feb 2019.  National Cross Country Championships
The National Cross-Country Championships at Harewood House/Leeds Harewood House was the setting for this years National Cross-Country Championships. In idyllic surroundings with near perfect conditions, 20 of our athletes across all age groups competed alongside over 5000 athletes on one of the toughest cross-country courses on the circuit. The standout performance came from the U13’s boys team, who continued their cross-country success finishing in an excellent 19th place. Leading the way for the team and having his best performance of the season was Euan Gaskin 83rd, backed up strongly by Ben Shackleton 113th, Zachary Rayner 123rd and Matthew Wardell 216th. In the Senior Men’s race, over 2000 athletes lined up with Ben Butler finishing 296th and Chris Ward 604th. Our Senior Women’s team finished 54th, another strong performance for Helen Beck 236th supported well by Hayley Newbound 404th, Joanne Biltcliffe 456th and Rosie Boughton 536th. In the U17’s Men’s race an improving Zach Frankish finished 191st, Joshua Dawson 198th and Callum Gaunt 225th. Whilst in the U17’s Women race Lucie Hall led the way in 97th followed by Millie Hinchcliffe 165th. In the U15’s girls race the team of Emily Plimmer 117th, Suzanne Brooke 182nd, Holly Walker 243rd and Eleanor Rayner 310th finished a respectable 28th. U13 Paige Watson, finishing 126th out of a field of over 400 athletes.

9th Feb 2019. New Ladies 3000m Club Rrecord for Amy-Eloise Neale.
There was a new senior club record, as USA based club member Amy-Eloise Neale finished 3rd in the Indoor British Championships Women's 3000m. Her outstanding time of 8 mins 59.86 secs breaks Charlene Thomas’s previous club record, and it is also a qualifying time for the forthcoming European Indoor Championships.

2nd Feb 2019.  West Yorkshire Schools Cross Country Championships
Matthew Hill and Ben Shackleton both won West Yorkshire Schools Cross Country Championship titles. Wakefield Harriers were well represented with 24 athletes turning out for Wakefield District and other Schools areas, in the West Yorkshire Schools Cross Country Championships at Leeds Grammar School. Eight of them took full advantage of their recent good form by finishing in the top eight of their respective races to gain qualification to run for West Yorkshire at the English Schools cross country Championships at Temple Newsam, Leeds on the 16th March. First out in the dry, bright and frosty conditions were the Senior girls, with Abbey Brooke and Lucy Hall gaining selection with a good 3rd and 5th respectively. Backed up by Emma Preston 9th and Poppy Thorpe 11th. Next up was the Senior Boys, with Matthew Hill winning the race for the third year in succession with a very well executed run, crossing the line after making a break from 400 meters out on the final lap of the 6.7km course. Ben Shackleton continued his good form by winning the Year 7 race with a well-judged run. After taking up the lead on the first lap he ran unchallenged for the rest of the race to take 1st place to qualify for the year 7 finals at Prestwold Hall in Leicestershire on March 23rd. In the Junior Girls race, Paige Watson continued her recent good form by taking 7th place in her first schools race, ensuring she will be pulling on the vest for the West Yorkshire Team. The Junior Boys packed well with under 15 Tristan Wright gaining his first vest finishing 8th, backed up well with strong running from under 13s Zach Rayner 12th, Daniel George 13th, Matthew Wardell 15th, Ben Hall 16th, Ewan Gaskin 17th and James McKinley-Smith 21st. For the Intermediate Girl’s race, Emily Plimmer showed her class by moving carefully through the field to find herself finishing an excellent 2nd, with team mates Suzie Brooke having a solid run in 13th, backed by the fast improving Harriett Metcalfe and Millie Hinchcliffe in 19th and 22nd respectively. Jessika Pearson and Sophie Hall ran well to finish 25th and 28th overall. Last up were the Intermediate Boys, with Bailey Mann having his best run of the season to finish a good 5th making the West Yorkshire squad for the third year in succession, well supported by Josh Dawson 11th, Sam Langley 15th and Callum Gaunt 23rd.

26th Jan 2019.  Northern Cross Country Championships
Pontefract Race Course was the venue for this year’s Northern Cross-Country Championships. In dry but breezy conditions, 32 of our athletes turned out for the club, competing across all age groups. The standout performance came from the U13 boys team who continued their cross-country medal haul by bringing home Bronze medals. Zachary Rayner and Ben Shackleton had outstanding runs to finish 22nd and 24th respectively, and superb runs by Ben Hall 45th and Daniel George 47th meant the boys were only 2 points off Silver medals. They were backed up with strong runs from Euan Gaskin 72nd, Matthew Wardell 76th and James McKinlay-Smith 104th.
In the Senior Men’s race, out of a field of over 700 runners, the team of Simon Midwood 150th, Benjamin Khan 155th, Chris Ward 242nd & Andrew Cartwright 254th finished 26th team, backed up by Michael Walker 366th and Phil Ambler 543rd.
In a field of over 350, our Senior Women had 3 runners competing, with Helen Beck 117th, Hayley Newbound 139th and Joanne Biltcliffe 176th. In the U20’s Men’s race, Mathew Hill continued his fine form coming home in 13th & Poppy Thorpe in the U20’s Women’s race came 47th. In the U17’s Men’s race the team of Bailey Mann 87th, Joshua Dawson 90th, Callum Gaunt 111th and Zach Frankish 127th finished 11th, whilst in the U17’s Women race the team of Abbey Brooke, starting to show a return to form, came 15th, Lucie Hall 54th, Emma Preston 67th and Millie Hinchcliffe 76th came 7th team. Sam Langley finished 102nd in the U15 boys race whilst in the U15’s girls race the team of Emily Plimmer 45th, Suzanne Brooke 109th, Harriet Metcalfe 127th and Holly Walker 133rd finished 12th. U13 Paige Watson had her best run to date, finishing 30th out of a field of over 200 athletes.
A big thankyou to Peter Young and the team who represented the club by helping set-up and marshall the course, ensuring another successful Northern Cross-Country Championship.

13th Jan 2019. Brass Monkey Half Marathon
At the Brass Monkey Half Marathon, starting & finishing at York Racecourse, the presence of strong cross winds didn’t stop the Harriers from recording some fast times. 1st home for the Harriers was Ben Butler in a fast time of 1:13:44, gaining a prize for the 3rd in the V35 category. Following up soon after was Danny Franks, with a new PB in a time of 1:14:15. New club members Phil Ambler & Angie Dales recorded great times of 1:37:03 & 1:42:33.

12th Jan 2019. Great Stirling Cross Country
Wakefield Harrier Mathew Hill represented the North of England in the Great Stirling Cross Country at the weekend. Competing in good running conditions, against a top-class field of senior athletes, Mathew finished an excellent 33rd overall and 10th in the U20s category.

12th/13th Jan 2019. Northern Athletics U17/U20/Senior Indoor Championships
The club was well represented at the Northern Athletics U17/U20/Senior Indoor Championships, and there was an impressive New Club U20 60m Record of 7.12s from Thomas Wood, knocking over a tenth of a second off the previous record of 7.23s held by Alfie West. Other outstanding performances on the day were a Gold and Bronze medals won by Leonie Ashmeade & Tamara Miller.
Meeting Results.

5th Jan 2019. Yorkshire County Cross Country Championships
There was a competitive turnout in the senior men’s race which saw Jonathan Brownlee in the field again. The team finished 12th overall and our first runner home, in an impressive 34th place, was Danny Franks. He was followed by new member Simon Midwood (56th) and closely followed by Ben Khan (60th) and Steve Tilford (72nd). There was a bit of a gap then to Chris Ward (116th), Daz Hewitt (243rd) and Phil Ambler (264th). In the Junior Men's race Matty Hill continued his great form to come 2nd. In a strong ladies field Julie Briscoe ran well to lead home the ladies team, finishing in 7th position. She was followed by Sarah Bostwick 69th, Joanne Biltcliffe 94th, Angie Dales (making her cross country debut) 104th, and Hayley Newbound 112th, as the team finished in 13th place overall. Poppy Thorpe ran in the under 20’s finishing in 11th place.