2024 Club News January - March
31st Mar 2024. Wakefield Harriers Annual Membership Due for Renewal.
This is a reminder that Wakefield Harriers annual membership is due for renewal on the 1st April.
All members will receive an email from England Athletics, which will have a link to make the membership payment.
The annual membership fees for 2024/25 season are:- First Claim* (over 18) £55, Young Athletes* (aged 11-17) £45,
Junior Jets (aged 8-10) £25, Lifetime* £20, Second Claim £15, Social/Volunteer Free.
* indicates that this includes your England Athletic Registration fee.
Note that, for young athletes, the membership fee you pay is based on your age on the 31st April 2025.
Please all make this process as smooth as possible, by renewing ASAP, then you'll be registered to compete in this season's events.
If you have any questions please email the Membership Secretary at membership@wakefieldharriers.org.uk
28th Mar 2024. Former Club Administrator Geoff Clarke Passes Away.
Wakefield Harriers are very sorry to hear of the sad news of the passing of Geoff Clarke,
one of the club's most distinguished former members, at the age of 96.
Geoff was a leading member of Wakefield Harriers in the 1950s, and was an accomplished 800m runner who
ran for Yorkshire, before becoming a Committee Member.
He then embarked on a very long and distinguished career in athletics administration, including Secretary
of Yorkshire AAA for over 25 years, and England AAA Treasurer.
The club sends its condolances to his wife Freda, and the rest of his family.
Geoff's funeral will be held on Wednesday 17th April at 1.40pm, at Pontefract Crematorium.
24th Mar 2024. Wakefield Hospice 10Km Road Race.
Our 2024 Club 10Km Champions Lucy Robinson & Adam Peers
There was a strong turnout of Wakefield Harriers in the Wakefield Hospice 10Km Road Race, with 5 runners finishing in the top 10.
In 10th place and winning the Ladies prize for the 2nd year in succession was Lucy Robinson. Unfortunately she was denied an accurate
time, as most of the first 28 runners were misdirected by a marshal, and so missed out part of the course, but it shouldn't detract
from another great run. She was followed home in the ladies finishers by Libby Greatorex 4th in 38:31, Nicky Steel 5th & 1st F45 in 39:55,
Helen Beck 6th and 1st F40 in 40:26, Katie Peers 7th in 40:44 and Angela Hall 9th & 2nd F45 in 41:13.
For the Men, Adam Peers had his first 10Km race for 9 years, and was first Harrier home in 4th place, just a few seconds ahead of
Robert Brailsford in 5th. Jake Worton also had a good run to finish 8th, and Stewart Knowles 16th and Mark Mills 21st also did well.
Unfortunately all their times won't count, but once the runners were back on track, we also had the following runners under the
40 minutes barrier.
Jamie Lindley was 29th in 38:05, Ben Read made a welcome return to competition 35th in 38:23, and Philip Ambler was 41st & 1st M55
in a New M55 Club 10Km Record of 38:53.
It was a nice surprise to see the Club Half Marathon Record Holder Adam Cooper back in a very old Harriers vest,
coming 2nd in the M60 category, and Peter Gooding was 3rd in the M70 category.
The race incorporated the Wakefield Harriers 10k Road Championships, and Adam Peers wins the title of Club 10k Road
Champion for the first time. He was followed home in the men's race by Robert Brailsford and Jake Worton.
Lucy Robinson becomes Ladies Club Champion for the second time, ahead of Libby Greatorex and Nicky Steel.
Trophies for the winners and medals for the first three will be presented at the Club Prizegiving Evening in December.
Results Link.
24th Mar 2024. Yorkshire Veterans' Athletic Association Cross Country Championships.
There were no Harriers competing this year, because of the clash with the Wakefield Hospice 10k, but here are the results.
Link to results of all races.
23rd Mar 2024. Wakefield Harriers Indoor Open Series Meeting 2.
At the second meeting of the Wakefield Harriers Indoor Open Series there were some excellent performances, including two club records!
Lily Keeler had an excellent day, running a New U13G 50m Club Record of 7.4s, as well as winning the High Jump with 1.35m and
the Long Jump with 4.18m.
Our other record breaker was Benjamin Jackson, who ran a New U15B 50m Club Record of 6.8s not once, but twice, as well as
winning the High Jump with 1.45m.
Other Harriers winning events were
Timothy Akintolu (U11B LJ & HJ), Arthur Simpson (U11B 50m),
Ethan Ford (U13B 50m & LJ), Matilda Shaw (U11G 50m) and Romy Fagan (U15G HJ).
Many thanks to all the officials and helpers who made today's indoor meeting a success.
Link to series results and points scores.
17th Mar 2024. South Yorkshire Athletics Indoor Series Fixture 4.
There was another good turnout of young athletes at the fourth fixture of the South Yorkshire Athletics Indoor Series at the Sheffield EIS.
There were good wins for
Matilda Shaw (U11 Girls 150m 22.44s & 600m 2m 00.40s),
Lily Keeler (U13 Girls HJ 1.37m),
and two good 2nd places for Ethan Ford (U13 Boys 150m 20.76s & HJ 1.32m).
Results Link.
17th Mar 2024. Road Racing Weekend Roundup.
At the North Lincolnshire Half Marathon Libby Greatorex made an impressive debut over the distance, as she finished 11th lady in
the excellent time of 1 hr 24:00, which places her 8th on the club all-time list. Ryan Williams improved his PB to 1 hr 20:36.
Results Link.
In the Vale of York 10 Mile Road Race Nicky Steel improved her PB to 66:05, as she finished 5th lady overall and 1st in the F45 category.
Results Link.
Iain Yates and Stewart Knowles finished just 3 seconds apart in the Thirsk 10 Mile Road Race, as they finished 29th & 30th in
times of 60:13 & 60:16 respectively.
Results Link.
16th Mar 2024. Podium 5Km Festival at Leicester.
The English 5Km Road Championships were incorporated into the Podium 5Km Festival at Leicester, and there were several
Wakefield Harriers competing. They all did well, recording the following times in their respective races :-
Bobby Brailsford 16:04, Abbey Brooke 16:34, Suzie Brooke 17:48 and Julie Briscoe running a New F45 5Km Club Record of 17:53.
Results Link.
16th Mar 2024. Three Harriers Compete in English Schools Cross Country Championships.
Three young athletes from Wakefield Harriers were selected to run for their county schools teams in the
English Schools Cross Country Championships, held at Pontefract Racecourse.
In the Senior Boys race Euan Gaskin was 164th and 4th finisher for the West Yorkshire Schools team,
whilst in the Senior Girls event Paige Watson was 8th West Yorkshire finisher in 242nd place.
Rosie Thistlewood was competing for the North Yorkshire Schools team, and finished 82nd in the Intermediate Girls race.
Congratulations to all three runners on their county schools selections, and for competing so well.
Athletes had come from the length and breadth of England to compete in the Wakefield District, and Wakefield Harriers
were pleased to be able to set up and marshal a substantial part of the course for the English Schools Athletics Association.
Wakefield Harriers also had officials helping out recording the finishers.
Results Link to all the races.
10th Mar 2024. Road Racing Weekend Roundup.
There were some good times recorded at the Retford Half Marathon.
Ben Butler finished 12th overall and 2nd in the M40 category in a time of 1 hr 14:06, and he was chased home by James Coulman,
who was just two places behind in a new PB of 1 hr 14:26.
In 25th place in 1 hr 16:52 was Simon Midwood, and Chris Hunter and Mark Mills finished in times of 1 hr 21:57 and 1 hr 26:51 respectively.
Results Link.
In the Chester 10k Helen Beck finished 19th lady and 4th in the F40 category in a time of 40:35.
Results Link.
9th Mar 2024. Five Harriers Compete in Inter County Cross Country Championships.
Thomas Hastings, Paige Watson, Abbey Brooke & Rosie Thistlewood
Wakefield Harriers had five athletes selected to run for Yorkshire in the United Kingdom Inter County Cross Country Championships
at Wollaton Park, Nottingham, and they all ran well.
The in-form Abbey Brooke had an excellent run to finish 25th in the Senior Women's race. She was the 2nd counter for Yorkshire, as the county
team packed well to finish 2nd.
In the U20 Men's race Euan Gaskin was 98th and 6th finisher for the county, helping Yorkshire to finish 2nd team,
whilst in the U20 Ladies race Paige Watson finished 127th and 6th Yorkshire finisher on her county debut.
Also competing for the first time for Yorkshire was Thomas Hastings in the U13 Boys race, and he did well to finish 81st and
4th counter as the Yorkshire team finished 6th.
Rosie Thistlewood was 7th home for Yorkshire, finishing in 93rd position in the U15 Girls race.
Congratulations to all five on their Yorkshire selections, and for competing so well.
Results Link to all the races.
4th Mar 2024. February Athletes of the Month - Paige Watson & Thomas Hastings.
For gaining selection to run for Yorkshire for the first time,
Paige Watson & Thomas Hastings have been chosen by the Club Committee as the Wakefield Harriers Athletes of the Month for February.
Well done Paige & Thomas!
3rd Mar 2024. National Primary and Year 7 Cross Country Finals.
The club had a few young athletes competing at the National Primary and Year 7 Cross Country Finals at Prestwold Hall, Leicestershire.
In the Year 7 race Sidney Swan and Thomas Hastings were competing for Team West Yorkshire, and finished 30th & 42nd respectively,
and Daniel Jones was 94th.
In the Year 3 race Sedric Swan had an outstanding run to finish 7th, and in the Year 6 event Oliver Hastings was 188th.
Website Link.
3rd Mar 2024. Road Racing Weekend Roundup.
Abbey Brooke was selected to run for the North of England in an inter-area competition, incorporated in the Trafford 10k road race.
On the fast course she had a great run against a top class field to record an excellent new PB time of 34:23, which moves her up to 5th
in the club all-time list.
Results Link.
Several Harriers tackled the tough Liversedge Half Marathon, and came away with some excellent results.
Adam Peers had his first race for some time, and did very well to finish 2nd in 1 hr 15:17, good running on the very hilly course.
Craig Davidson also had a good run and finished 26th in 1 hr 28:53.
Angela Hall had perhaps her greatest success to date, winning the ladies prize in 1 hr 32:13,
and also doing well and making a welcome return to competition was Katie Peers, finishing 4th lady in 1 hr 35:02.
Results Link.
After an absence of 10 years Nathan Elliott made a welcome return to competition, and recorded an encouraging time of 1 hr 16:39
when finishing 5th in the Anglesey Half Marathon, in his first attempt at the distance.
Results Link.
17th/18th Feb 2024. British Masters Indoor Championships at London.
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Wakefield Harriers had just two Master’s Athletes competing at this year’s British Masters Indoor Championship at Lee Valley-London over the weekend.
The highlight was Richard Higson-Blythe, who won silver in an epic M45 60m final. He qualified from the heats with a season's best 7.70secs and later in a close final bettered that with 7.64secs to take 2nd place, where only 0.07 seconds split 2nd and 4th. This was Richard’s fastest 60m time in 10 years in his final season as an M45.
Richard also competed in the 200m indoors on the Saturday and recorded another season’s best to finish 5th overall. These performances complimented the M45 Gold Richard also collected in the British Masters Indoor Pentathlon on the 28th January at Sheffield Institute of Sport.
Stephen Thorpe finished a commendable 4th in the M50 Triple Jump with a jump of 10.24m, which is an indoor personal best for Stephen in a highly competitive field, Stephen also did well to qualify for the M50 60m final the following day.
Meeting Results Link.
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18th Feb 2024. Amy-Eloise Neale 5th in 3000m at UK Indoor Championships.
Amy-Eloise Neale was the only athlete from the club competing this year at the UK Athletics Indoor Championships at Birmingham.
In a tactical 3000m race she raised the pace at halfway, but couldn't cope with the impressive turn of speed in the later stages
by British record holder Laura Muir, and finally finished 5th in 9m 09.09s.
Results Link.
Two weeks earlier she had run a much quicker time of 8m 48.79s at the World Athletics Indoor Tour meeting at Metz in France.
Results Link.
18th Feb 2024. Ben Butler 3rd M40 in Snake Lane 10 Mile Race.
Ben Butler finished 18th overall and 3rd in the M40 category in the Snake Lane 10 mile road race from Pocklington, in a time of 56:47.
Simon Midwood was also inside the hour with his time of 59:13.
Results Link.
17th Feb 2024. Wakefield Harriers Indoor Open Series Meeting 1.
Wakefield Harriers held the first meeting of the new Indoor Open Series, and welcomed 100 young athletes from local clubs.
Club members winning events were
Timothy Akintolu (U11B LJ & SP), Arthur Simpson (U11B 50m),
Ethan Ford (U13B 50m, 50mH & LJ),
Benjamin Jackson (U15B 50m & LJ),
Matilda Shaw (U11G 50m & SP) and
Lily Keeler (U13G SP, LJ & 50mH).
Link to series results and points scores.
10th/11th Feb 2024. Joshua Akintolu Wins England U15 Indoor Title with Record Leap.
At the England U20, U17 and U15 Indoor Championships at the EIS in Sheffield Joshua Akintolu was one of the star
performers, winning the U15 Boys High Jump title with an outstanding clearance of 1.93m, at the third attempt.
His leap is a New Club U15 Boys High Jump Record, and is also a New English U15 Boys High Jump Indoor Record.
Only Scot Kenny McKeown has jumped higher indoors in this age group, and Joshua is now 2nd on the
UK All-Time List.
He did have three attempts at the British best of 1.95m.
Joshua also showed his versatility by finishing 5th in the Long Jump with a leap of 5.62m.
Ella Bickerdyke ran in the heats of the U20W sprints and recorded 8.03s in the 60m, and 25.92 in the 200m.
Meeting results link,
and Report from UK Athletics.
9th/11th Feb 2024. Road Racing Weekend Roundup.
Daniel Franks had a good win in the Even Splits York 5K Series at York, running close to his best with his winning time of 15:12.
The fast improving Robert Brailsford was just a second outside his best as he finished 9th in 16:10.
Results Link.
Julie Briscoe continued her fine form in the Barcelona Half Marathon, where she finished 4th in the F45 category,
and set a new F45 Half Marathon Club Record of 1 hr 20 mins 06 secs, beating the previous record she set two years ago by over 2 minutes.
Results Link.
5th Feb 2024. January Athlete of the Month - Joshua Akintolu.
For his outstanding new U15 Boys High Jump Club Record of 1.91m, which puts him top of the UK rankings,
Joshua Akintolu has been chosen by the Club Committee as the Wakefield Harriers Athlete of the Month for January.
Well done Joshua!
4th Feb 2024. Northern Indoor U15 & U13 T&F Championships.
At the Northern Indoor U15 & U13 Track & Field Championships at the EIS in Sheffield there were some outstanding
performances from the young Harriers taking part, with 8 medals won, including 5 gold medals.
Britain's top U15 Boys High Jumper Joshua Akintolu won his main event with an excellent leap of 1.87m, which was
easily a new Championship Best Performance.
Joshua was also a clear winner in the Long Jump, with a new PB of 6.06m.
Another Long Jump winner was Ethan Ford in the U13 Boys event, with 4.36m, and he was also a double gold medallist after
winning the 200m in 28.71s.
We also won a gold medal in the U13 Girls Long Jump, where Lily Keeler was a clear winner with an excellent new PB of 4.43m.
Lily also won a silver in the Shot with her throw of 8.74m.
Other medallists were Romy Fagan (2nd U15G HJ 1.53m) and Ruby Morgan (3rd U13G LJ 3.86m).
Results from Power of 10, and
Download a Press Report from Northern Athletics.
4th Feb 2024. Great Turnout of Harriers at the Dewsbury 10Km Road Race.
There was a great turnout of over thirty Wakefield Harriers running in the popular Dewsbury 10Km Road Race, which attracted
a large field of around 2500 runners. Conditions were a bit breezy for really fast times, but there were nevertheless many fine performances
and PBs recorded.
Jake Worton was the first Harrier home in 34:09, and he was followed by Simon Midwood in 34:34, Ben Butler 34:51,
Ashley Crow 36:27, Darren Hewitt 36:56, Craig Davidson 37:05, Thomas Sellers 37:37 & Paul Gilbert 37:46.
Also dipping under 40 minutes were Liam Gascoigne with 39:00, Philip Ambler 39:24 & Ian Ogden 39:44.
Julie Briscoe was our first lady home in 37:21, the 11th fastest lady overall, and easily the first in the FV45 category.
Wakefield Harriers dominated the FV45 category, with our next two ladies home Nicky Steel and Angela Hall finishing 2nd & 3rd
in 39:40 & 40:09 respectively. Helen Beck was not far behind them, recording a solid 40:18, placing her 6th in the FV40 category.
New member Emma Feeney, making her first appearance in a Harriers vest, was also under 45 minutes with an encouraging time of 44:51.
Results Link.
3rd Feb 2024. West Yorkshire Schools' Cross Country Championships.
Several Harriers competed for their local schools athletics organisations at the West Yorkshire Schools' Cross Country Championships at Leeds,
and some of them have qualified for the English Schools' Cross Country Championships, which this year is at Pontefract Race Course
on 16th March.
Download Results in XL.
28ème Janvier 2024. Wakefield Ladies Win "La Ronde Givrée" Relay Race in France.
After an absence of four years, Wakefield Harriers were once again invited by our twin town Castres, in France, to take part in "La Ronde Givrée".
This popular event, which attracted 325 teams, is a long distance relay covering 60km over 4 challenging stages, going out to the beautiful countryside surrounding Castres.
A strong Ladies team of Helen Beck, Angela Dales, Hayley McAteer and 2nd claim member Treena Johnson came out victorious,
but it was a close race, as they only won by only 23 seconds after more than 4 hours of racing.
They actually came in with the Men's team of Ian Shipley, Phil Ambler, David Brooke & Stephen McAteer, after Stephen stopped to help Treena,
struggling with severe cramp, to complete the final stage.
We also had a Mixed team of Laura Sellers, Annette Hayward, Rohan Hayward & Tom Sellers, who weren't far behind, as all three teams did well
to finish in the top third of the field.
Results Link
28th Jan 2024. Lucy Robinson First Lady in Meltham 10K.
Lucy Robinson chose a tough hilly course for her first race of the year, the Meltham 10K, but was easily the first lady home in a time
of 38:48, a fine performance on that course.
Results Link.
27th Jan 2024. Northern Cross Country Championships at Sedgefield.
At the Northern Cross Country Championships at Sedgefield we just had a small number of athletes competing this year.
The U15 Girls team of Rosie Thistlewood 17th, Evie Tunney 57th, Ava Walsh 63rd & Sylvie Ellis 65th
all ran well to finish an excellent 6th team.
The U13 Boys team lost one of their runners through illness, so didn't complete a team,
but Thomas Hastings 35th, Harry Tolson 67th Archie Smith 88th all did well.
Results Link.
21st Jan 2024. South Yorkshire Athletics Indoor Series Fixture 3.
There was an excellent turnout of young athletes at the third fixture of the South Yorkshire Athletics Indoor Series.
After three fixtures Matilda Shaw leads the U11 Girls, Lily Keeler is 2nd in the U13 Girls and Ethan Ford 4th in the U13 Boys competition.
Results Link.
21st Jan 2024. Road Racing Weekend Roundup.
The popular Brass Monkey Half Marathon near York once again produced some fast times.
Daniel Franks continued his upward trajectory, finishing 9th in a PB time of 68:48,
which moves him up one place to 7th in the club all-time half marathon list.
James Coulman also had a good run with a PB time of 74:34, finishing 66th out of the large field of nearly 1700 runners,
and also doing well were M50 Darren Hewitt in 82:14 and F45 Nicky Steel in 86:49, finishing 2nd in her age category.
Results Link.
Scotland based Matthew O'Connor had a good run in the Nigel Barge Memorial 10K at Glasgow, finishing 3rd in a fast 32:35.
Results Link.
20th Jan 2024. New Women's 60m Club Record for Leonie Ashmeade.
Leonie Ashmeade competed in the Jablonec Indoor Meeting in the Czech Republic, and showed she is in great form by
running a New Women's 60m Club Record of 7.36 secs, breaking the previous record she set last year by
1/100th of a second.
Results from Power of 10.
13th/14th Jan 2024. Senior & U17 Northern Indoor T&F Championships.
There were some good performances at the Senior & U17 Northern Indoor T&F Championships at the EIS in Sheffield.
Club record holder Leonie Ashmeade won silver in the SW 60m in 7.44s, and she also won her 200m semi-final in 24.32s,
but didn't contest the final.
In her first year in the U20 age group, Ella Bickerdyke finished 5th in the U20W 60m final in a new PB of 7.90s,
and she also recorded a new indoor PB of 26.16s in the heats of the 200m.
Harry Pearcy ran an encouraging 24.42s in the heats of the U17M 200m.
Results Link.
8th Jan 2024. December Athlete of the Month - Libby Greatorex.
For her excellent series of runs in the West Yorkshire Cross Country League, and finishing 5th lady overall,
Libby Greatorex has been chosen by the Club Committee as the Wakefield Harriers Athlete of the Month for December.
Well done Libby!
7th Jan 2024. New Club U15 Boys High Jump Record for Joshua Akintolu.
Joshua Akintolu was competing in the Manchester Indoor Open Meeting at Sportcity, and got his year off to a
brilliant start by jumping a New Club U15 Boys High Jump Record of 1.91m.
This improved the previous record set 16 years ago by Thomas Leyshon by a massive 6cm, and is further than any U15 Boy
in the country jumped last year.
Leonie Ashmeade also started her year well with an encouraging win in the Ladies 60m in 7.49s.
Results Link.
6th Jan 2024. Yorkshire Cross Country Championships at Lightwater Valley.
The Yorkshire Cross Country Championships was held at Lightwater Valley once again, and there were a
number of Harriers competing, who all did very well.
There was a good team of Ladies from the club, led home by Abbey Brooke who finished 13th in a top quality field.
She was backed up by Nicola Steel in 40th, Helen Beck 48th, Angela Dales 59th and Natalie-Jade Harris 70th.
The Ladies finished 7th in the team standings.
U20 athletes Suzanne Brooke and Paige Watson did well to finish 8th and 11th respectively in their category.
Club Cross Country Champion Daniel Franks had another fine run, finishing 22nd in the Senior Men's race.
He was followed home by Chris Ward in 95th place, Thomas Sellers 112nd, Paul Gilbert 122nd and Philip Ambler 134th.
Euan Gaskin was 11th in the U20 category.
In the younger age groups competing well were
Rosie Thistlewood 7th & Sylvie Ellis 23rd in the U15 Girls race,
Thomas Hastings 7th, Sydney Swan 19th & Daniel Jones 20th in the U13 Boys race,
and Jessica Watson 21st in U17 Ladies event. The U13 Boys finished 3rd in the team standings.
Results link
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