THE Christmas period wasn’t a quiet one for the athletes of Richmond and Zetland Harriers with the Yorkshire cross country championships, trail marathons, half marathons, 5kms, five-milers and even a few 10kms for good luck.

The local and world famous Brass Monkey half marathon is known for its fast flat course and with good mild conditions can be a great pb course and this year was no exception with Carl Jones leading the charge in 13th overall and the top V45 with another big new pb in the process (70:07, pb), Josh Lincoln also ran (1:22:58), Jeremy Pattison coming back into form was 358th (1:29:24) and Garry Malton another in big pb shape was 523rd (1:35, pb).

Tom O’Mahoney was 4th (29:20) and Steve Middleton took on the Steel River five-mile and finished in 5th place (29:40). Ronnie Corbett was 7th overall and the 1st V50 (1:52:06) and Lucy Goundry ran the Hamsterley Winter half marathon and finished in an excellent 9th female and the 3rd V40 (2:22:33).

Kimberley Reeve took on the Hardmoors 15 miler trail race and finished as the 2nd lady overall.

It was also the Jolly Holly jog at Ripon. Carl Loughney was 65th (44:48), Garry Malton was 127th (48:23), Alex Reeve was 128th (48:36), Rob Lickley was 131st (48:39), Kimberley Reeve was 134th (48:49), Kevin Bond was 147th (49:25), Pauline Whittaker (53:37), Ian Hepworth was 403rd (1:00:52), Jane Bond was 703rd (1:16:57) and Nicki Buckett was 704th (1:16:59).

The Ribble Valley 10km has been a good hunting ground of recent years for our members and this year was no exception with Rob Scott in 38th (31:32) and Ellie Robertson taking a big chunk off her pb (48:27, pb).

The race was also won by Rob’s brother Marc in a new pb and the title of Northern 10km champion. Dan Upton continues in great form with wins at the North Wales Regional Indoor Championships 1st in the shot put (11:99m), 1st in the 60m hurdles and 3rd in the long jump (4:10).

Steve Sadler was also on the half marathon routes with 23rd overall and the 2nd V55 in the central Lancashire half marathon (1:28:02).

It was also the Yorkshire cross country championships held at Lightwater Valley near Ripon with a strong squad assembled hopes were high of some good performances and the club wasn’t disappointed either.

Out on the course first were the U13 boys with Ollie Middleton first home in 43rd, followed by Ollie Rogerson just behind in 45th, then Jack Vasey in 50th, Thomas Carter in 51st, Rhys Robinson in 63rd and Riley Harrison-Deighton in 72nd.

These fantastic set of results gave the boys team 12th overall. Olivia Jackson-Bowers was 52nd and Phoebe Haw was 53rd in the U13 girls race. In the U15 girls race Shannon Robinson was 15th overall and Alana Teasdale was 35th.

The U15 boys had some fantastic results with Tom O’Mahoney coming home in 7th, with Josh Hammett just behind in 9th and Joe Reeve in 12th gave the boys the win and the title of Yorkshire Champions in cross country.

Charlie Stephenson also had a great run in the U17 boys finishing in 7th and Daniel Francis in 33rd.

In the U20 mens race Matthew Lambert was 18th. Jo Adams was our top finisher in the senior ladies in 30th, with Nicola Simpson next in 62nd, Rebecca Smith in 72nd, Stephanie Stephenson in 88th giving the A team, 11th overall. Kimberley Reeve was 96th, Fiona Wilson in 126th, Pauline Whittaker in 133rd, Elly Robertson in 135th, Nicki Buckett in 166th and Michelle Sprent-Broadwith in 171st.

These set of results gave the squad 26th overall. Rob Scott had a great run in the senior men’s finishing in 25th, Leon Reeve was 136th, Paul Simpson was 209th and Liam Fletcher was 218th.

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