THIS week, harriers were out running at Whixley, Darlington, Hexham, Wistow, The Hardmoors, Ibiza and Long Eaton.

Richmond took two teams of highly experienced and talented runners to the British Masters Cross Country relays at Long Eaton, Nottingham.

The championship was held in very wintery conditions and with record numbers taking part it was always going to be competitive. The young gun squad of the Veteran 45’s of Tony Lambert on the lead lead (10:25), brought the team into 5th place, he was followed by Mark Crawford who maintained the position while running the 3rd quickest on this leg (10:49), Ken Harker followed with another high quality run to move the team up to 4th (11:12), Mark Forrest took on the baton again running a great leg maintaining the 4th place (11:13) and Simon Withers anchoring the team home but unfortunately was caught in the last few hundred metres bringing the team home in an excellent 5th (12:36) from 14 teams which included the big teams of Leeds, Salford and Coventry Godiva. Next to the start line was the Veteran 55 team who again were up against 12 teams that included the much vaunted Sheffield, Hull and Warringon. Ian Scott led the line and brought the team back in a great 5th place on the first leg (12:15), he was followed by Mark Fayers another to produce a quick leg again maintaining 5th (12:13), Graeme Ewart produced a fantastic run of the 3rd fastest on this leg moving up a place in the process (12:31) and the last leg was taken by the flying Shaun Purkiss-McEndoo who used all his guile and experience to maintain the 4th place but was reeling in the 3rd position but ran out of road in the end (12:09). Another superb run from the “older” masters. Tom O’Mahoney ran the Darlington 5km trail race (which included head torches) and had another great finish in 3rd (19:40). The slightly warmer climate of Ibiza was Sam Kettlewells outing for the European Aquathlon Championships and he produced a fine performance in 8th in the U20 race. Whixley was the setting for the 5km which Nicki Buckett ran and was just outside the top 10 in 11th (30:33), there was also a 10km held at the same venue with Pauline Whittaker in 60th and the 13th lady (50:26) and Jane Bond in 124th (64:22). Kimberley Reeve took on the 6.2 miles Hardmoors Fryup night race and another with a great finish as the 3rd lady and the top V40 runner (1:13:17). Another to run in an evening was Tom O’Mahoney running at the Darlington 5km Halloween run with another great finish to take the victory (20:54). Zabi Dashwood took the trip to Hexham for the not so flat 10km and having another great run (59:14). Rob Scott defended his Wistow 10km this week and did it in style, taking the win, but also just outside his pb (32:49) and Elly Robertson improving with every run was the 38th female and produced a new pb by over 2 minutes (51:13, pb). At Albert park parkrun Rob Lickley was 30th (20:10), Alastair Wilkin was the 9th finisher at Northallerton parkrun (22:38) and Lucy Verrill was 11th and the 1st lady (23:00). At Darlington parkrun Jane Bond was 143rd (29:12). Carl Loughney was the 4th finisher at Catterick parkrun (19:03), Ronnie Corbett in 10th (20:50), Robert Dashwood in 15th (21:25), Garry Malton in 19th (22:12), Thomas Greer in 40th (24:49), Pauline Whittaker in 45th (25:06), Ryan Greer in 46th (25:09), Ian Hepworth in 65th (26:55), Karen Greer in 97th (30:24) and Nicki Buckett in 107th (31:28). At Northallerton junior parkrun Olivia Jackson-Bowers was 3rd and the 1st girl (09:32) and Kiki Fletcher was in 21st and the 11th girl (11:04).

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