THIRSK and Sowerby Harriers are proud that their Chairman and Club Coach has recently been awarded the Major Bell Trophy from Thirsk Athletic Club.

This is an annual award, given to a member of one of TAC's sections for services to that section and Rob Burn is a deserved recipient.

His contribution to the Harriers is immeasurable, both as only the second chairman in the club's 40 year history and very much as the head coach.

His enthusiasm and energy are boundless and his love of running has never diminished over 40 odd years.

The only time he's absent from the club is when he's away, say in Iceland or Africa, or if the grandchildren call! Even when he's injured, he'll be instructing and encouraging everyone else from the sidelines. Well deserved, Rob!

Needless to say, he was part of the 29 team of members at Knaresborough for the latest, and final HDSRL fixture, a well organised race out and back along the Beryl Burton Cycleway, with a steep section out but then a nice downhill towards the finish. Cameron Choules was first club finisher, 31st out of 408 in37.18, with Stephan Tomaszewski once again magnificent, 46th in 38.20, Charlotte Wilton, flying just now, 113th and 2nd F40, in 42.28, an ever improving Mike Lowther 126th in 43.02, just ahead of Rob Burn, belying his 60+ years, 127th in 43.05, Sonja van der Westhuisen, showing something like her true form, 191st in 45.58, Dave Baker 212th in 47.11, Peter Richardson 216th in 47.33, Phillip Craig, who just can't stop improving, 241st in 49.07, David Tervitt, coming on in leaps and bounds, 284th in 51.17, Jill Libby 294th in 51.49, just pipping Geoff Bullock 295th in 51.51, Andy Butcher (doing a fantastic job with the club's Beginners Group), 304th in 52.14, Nicola Booth 318th in 53.11, not far ahead of husband Steve Booth 327th in 54.15, Heather Bell 332nd in 54.43, Tracey Lowther 334th in 54.45, Alison Butcher 344th in 55.27, Sara Langstaff 349th in 56.09, Chris Wordsworth 350th in 56.18, Hannah Fletcher 367th in 58.19, Liz Wordsworth 373rd in 59.10, Christine Burn 389th in 62.06, Tracy Holden 391st in 62.43, Cath Lumb 397th in 64.36, Gillian Crane 399th in 65.47, Ian Codling 406th in 71.09, Liz Stephenson 407th in 71.57 and Marian Codling 408th in 78.52. This has been a superb and well supported series and is finished apart from the end of season handicap in July. Congratulations to the organising committee and to all the clubs who have hosted the races.

The following evening the Whorlton Run took place, a race in the Dave Parry Fell Racing series, with 9 members among the field of 109 on a fine evening for running. Bryan Miller was first club finisher, 26th in 53.07, Gavin Coventry 40th in 55.38, Lorraine Hiles 71st in 61.23, Hilary Coventry 76th in 63.11, Helen Ashworth 84th in 66.26, Fran Jeffery 89th in 68.24, Pat Kirby 95th, and 1st F65, in 73.18, Faith Coy 100th in 75.23 and veteran Alan Wikeley 107th in 87.54. The ladies were 3rd in the Team competition.

Seven members were among the 178 finishers of the Staveley Stampede 10k, a lovely local run taking in the nature reserve at Staveley, and Richard Harry was 26th in 43.28, Alan Simpson 46th in 46.51, Heather Bell 113th in 56.52, Hannah Fletcher 140th in 61.45, Tracy Hayden 164th in 68.32, Ian Codling 167th in 74.31 and Marian Codling 178th in 80.43.

There was the usual smattering of parkrunners, with Lorraine Hiles being the sole representative at Fountains Abbey, 39th out of 319 in 23.10.

Northallerton celebrated its 100th event with a field of 139, and Rob Burn 6th in 21.37, Phillip Craig 49th in 26.10, Christine Burn 91st in 31.40 and Tracy Hayden 96th in 32.29.

Bryan Miller was at the Strathclyde event, 10th out of 238 in PB 19.06, and Peter Richardson was among the more manageable field of 355 for the second Catterick event, coming 167th in 23.44.

At Dalby Forest, Charlotte Wilton was 13th out of 139, and 1st lady, in 21.14.

Over in Queensland, Helen Goacher came 53rd out of 253 in PB 25.42 at the Riverway event.

n For those former members and friends who are interested in finding out about the club's 40th Anniversary Gala Dinner on Sept 30th, the email address should have read ThirskSowerby1977@yahoo.com Aplogies for the previous error.