Indoor Track and Field
Congratulations to our master athletes Craig Pounder and Yvette Alexander, who both competed in the British Masters Indoor Pentathlon Championships on Sunday at EIS Sheffield.
Yvette, who only returned to athletics in May last year, finished in a very respectable 4th place, narrowly missing out on a bronze medal. She achieved over 40’s PB’s in each of her 5 events, knocking 16 seconds off her 800m time from September. Yvette moves to the over 45’s category in May and is looking forward to a successful season ahead.
Craig won the V50+ age group by almost 800 points, winning the first 4 events outright. It was a solid return to action after a year of injury niggles and his sixth consecutive first place finish in UK masters competitions stretching back to 2017.
Cross Country Racing
The 2024 senior club athletes of the year, Angus McMillan and Katy Wood, were quick to lay down a marker for 2025 as Angus won the gold and Katy the bronze medal in the North of England Cross Country Championships that were held at the superb Tatton Park near Manchester which had lovely scenic views across the lake and parkland.
Angus McMillan went one better than last year as he won the senior men’s title as he pulled away from Hallamshire’s Tommy Power on the last lap of three to win by around 30 metres. Mark Bolland-Cage was next home from the club as he came 79th which was a massive 182 places improvement on his last attempt at this race in 2019. Katy Wood broke clear of Leeds City’s Jenny Walsh at around the halfway to claim bronze with the first two runners being well clear. Chrissie Dover, the club female masters athlete of the year, came 57th and was 3rd vet 45. Other seniors that ran were Therese Jansson in 104th, Phil Richardson in 321st and Mike Raynes in 332nd.
In the junior races Beth Lewis in her first North of England Cross Country Championships came 4th in the under 15 girls race as she led home a team of Hannah Lovett (31st), Lucy Davey (57th) and Bea Thompson (102nd). Lottie Langan ran well to come 6th in the under 20 women’s race about a minute ahead of Jessica Robertson-Dover who was 13th. Other juniors to run were James Bastow (34th) and Oskar Walker (70th) in the under 15 boys and Sam Dickinson (42nd) and Louis Richardson (57th) in the under 17 men.
Road Racing
Dave Lancaster was 1st over 65 in the tough Meltham 10k in 45.56. For good measure Dave also beat all the over 60s as well.
Parkrun
A quieter week for the club’s runners at parkrun. William Keens returned to winning ways at Easingwold with 17.50 whilst Wilson Moisey-Smith gained his first win at Dalby Forest in 20.03. India Ibbotson came 3rd at Concord in Sheffield with 22.52. There were veteran age group wins for Jon Blake and Dave Lancaster.