IT was an extremely busy period for Richmond and Zetland Harriers over the Christmas period taking in the Jolly Holly Jog, New Year Cross Country Relays at York, the Captain Cooks race, the Nine Standards Fell Race, the Yorkshire Cross Country Championships, the Lakes Half Marathon, the Northern Road Race Championships at the Ribble Valley 10k and huge number of parkruns over the holiday period.

A select team of 5 of the best of Richmond and Zetlands finest went off to the Ribble Valley 10K in Clitheroe which also doubles up as the Northern Road Race Championships. Marc Scott defending his title from last year held off fellow Team GB athlete Jonathan Brownlee to retain his title (29:37), he was followed home by brother Rob in 44th (33:46), Tony Lambert was next and the 2nd V45 in 71st (35:06), followed by Steve Sadler in 224th and the 11th V50 runner (40:26) and Matthew Lambert in 359th and the 9th junior runner (43:48). These excellent results gave the team 3rd overall in the team race. The relay team of Jo Adams, Rosie Adams and Ken Harker ran the cross country relays at York and carried off the top honours. Shannon Robinson also ran but was a member of a composite club team after illness affected her actual team members. Also run was the Jolly Holly Jog held at Ripon, with Mike Jefferies first home for the club in 7th place, followed by Steve Middleton in 12th, Simon Withers in 90th, Isabel Starkey in 103rd, Robert Haw in 192nd, Pauline Whittaker in 266th, Ian Hepworth in 387th, Nicki Buckett in 421st, Deb Pennick in 427th, Jane Bond in 548th and Kevin Bond in 549th. Joe Reeve on his club debut finished an excellent 2nd in Captain Cooks trail race in the U13 age group. Mark Forrest was out on the fells and hills in the Nine Standards Fell Race finishing strongly in 9th place and the top V50 runner. Liam Rabjohn took the long trip to the North Lakes half marathon to make his debut over that distance and finished a fantastic 4th (1:18:20). The Yorkshire cross country championships were held at Lightwater Valley and Simon Withers was 193rd in the senior mens race. In the U20 mens race Harry Robson was 14th. Jake Stephenson was our first athlete home in the U17 race in 21st place, another very good run from Lewis Moore in 31st and Sam Kettlewell just behind in 34th, giving them 6th in the team event. Kyle Rabjohn had another good run to finish 9th in the U15 boys race, with Charlie Stephenson and Daniel Francis also with good runs in 16th and 17th places. This gave them the 3rd in the team race. The U13 boys race had Joshua Hammett in another good run in 12th and Tom O’Mahoney not far behind in 21st. Jo Adams was a very good 18th in the senior mens race, Jacqueline Keavney was 51st, Pauline Whittaker was 98th, Nicki Buckett was 111th, Kiska Wilson unfortunately was directed the wrong way and ended up running with the U17 girls due to her youthful looks. This gave the senior ladies team 11th overall. Chloe Dalton was 23rd in the U17 girls race. Emily Francis was 48th in the U15 girls race. Alana Teasdale was 23rd in the U13 girls, Holly McCowie was just behind in 27th and Shannon Robinson in 30th. This gave the girls team 7th overall.

At Catterick parkrun just before Christmas, Daniel Francis was 3rd (17:59), Dave Hack was 4th (18:50), Steve Sadler was 8th (19:50), Tom O’Mahoney was 10th (20:14), Pauline Whittaker was 38th (24:35), Ian Hepworth was 57th (26:49), Nicki Buckett was 67th (28:33) and Jane Bond was 75th (29:49). On Christmas day Rob Scott was 1st across the line (17:32), Daniel Francis was 3rd (18:37), Steve Sadler was 6th (19:50), Ronnie Corbett was 7th (20:27) and Lucy Goundry 43rd with dog (27:27). Last week Tony Lambert was 1st (17:29), followed by Matthew Lambert in 2nd (18:02), Dave Hack in 3rd (18:13), Ronnie Corbett in 5th (19:33), Steve Sadler in 7th (19:39), Ian Hepworth in 36th (25:19), Jane Bond in a new pb was 69th (29:06, pb) and Tracey Lambert in 89th place (33:21). Steve Middleton was 3rd just before Christmas (20:27), on Christmas day, Steve took 1st place (19:04), Ian Christon was 2nd (19:23), Ken Harker was 3rd (19:35), Katie Middleton was 41st (31:51) and Shona Fletcher in 42nd (31:52). Shona Fletcher was 1st past the post at Northallerton parkrun (20:26) last week. Ken Harker was 4th at Darlington parkrun before Christmas (18:31), on New Years Day, Shona Fletcher was 5th and the 1st lady (18:11), Andy Buckley was 8th (18:20), Ken Harker was 12th (18:36), David Hack was 13th (18:54), Ian Christon was 15th (19:04), Tom O’Mahoney was 19th in a new pb (19:36, pb), Pauline Whittaker in 178th (26:51), Diane Adkins in 236th (28:44), Nicki Buckett in 265th (29:41) and Jane Bond in 315th (31:32). Liam Rabjohn was 1st (16:48) and Kyle Rabjohn 6th (18:42) at Skipton parkrun on Christmas Day. Mike Jefferies was 1st at Albert Park (17:30) and Deb Pennick in 160th (26:34). Last week Greg MacDonald was 5th (18:01) and Diane Adkins in a big new pb in 98th (26:13, pb). Just before Christmas Rachel Ross Russell was 23rd and the 1st lady at Fountains Abbey (20:17). Ken Harker was 6th (18:54) last week. On the same day Ronnie Corbett was at Troon where he finished 6th (19:37) and Lucy Goundry was 18th and the 2nd female runner (23:10). Ian Christon was at Cannon Park parkrun in Birmingham and finished in 13th (18:03). Diane Adkins was 130th (27:50) at Sedgefield parkrun and on New Years day Ian Christon was 4th (19:06), Pauline Whittaker in 153rd (28:03), Nicki Buckett was 171st (29:01), Diane Adkins in 188th (29:57), Jane Bond in 229th (32:30), Mark Forrest was 9th at Hackney Marshes (17:55).

Further information on the club and training nights can be found on the website www.richmondzetlandharriers