A BUSY weekend saw five Thirsk and Sowerby Harriers among the 1,400-plus finishers of the popular Brass Monkey Half Marathon at York on a fine morning for running.

With a fast field over a level course, more than 100 runners broke a 1.18 finish time, with Tom Levi among them, 80th in PB 1.16.27. New member, Jamie Bentley ran a creditable 1.24.22 to come 246th, with Matt Jones doing a PB of 1.26.10 to come 295th, Adrian Elsworth 711th in 1.42.01, also a PB, and Tim Waistell 1,269th in 2.10.26.

The previous very cold weekend, the Dave Parry Winter Fell Race Series continued with race five, the Commondale Clart. It certainly lived up to its name, and there were plenty of trips, stumbles and falls. Not a day for records.

Ken Wood was fastest for Harriers, 60th out of a field of 127 in 50.55, Marc Davies not far behind, 66th in 52.00, Duncan Fothergill 98th in 60.47, Hilary Coventry 100th in 61.32, closely followed by Helen Ashworth, 101st in 61.48. Hilary and Helen both got age-group prizes.

There was the usual turnout of park runners, and Alan Simpson got a PB at Fountains Abbey, 17th out of 304 in 20.44. Others at Fountains were Adrian Saunders, Paul Adams, Kimberli Werner and Diana Williams. Among the 97 at Northallerton were Lorraine Hiles, third lady, in 24.02, Gary Wilkinson, new member Nick Swatton, Paul Atkinson, Ellen Brookes, and Phillip Craig. Andrew and Ruth Pollard made the journey to the Dalby Forest Park Run, and Katie Wadsworth was among the 90 at Conyngham Hall.

Meanwhile, preparations continue for the Thirsk 10, a flat ten-mile road race for beginners and experienced runners alike, on March 13, 10am start. The wheelchair race starts at 9.50am and there is also an untimed, off road, Fun Run. See www.thirskandsowerbyharriers.co.uk/thirsk-10 to enter