About 900 people will see out the year by taking part in Ripon Runners‘ Jolly Holly Jog 10k tomorrow.
The event, which is being held for the 35th time, is the club’s biggest of the year.
Usually held on a Sunday between Christmas and New Year, it attracts a mixture of seasoned club athletes and casual joggers.
Race director Anneke Imeson said:
“Whether you’re aiming for a personal best or just want to have a scenic jog out, it’s a fab time of year to run off the Christmas excess and prepare for the forthcoming New Year festivities.
“We’re extremely lucky as a club to have the support of the National Trust who are delighted every year to welcome so many runners to run around their stunning deer park as part of our 10k course.”
Starting at Hell Wath Nature Reserve, runners complete a multi-terrain loop through Mackershaw Woods and Studley Royal Deer Park, passing Monty’s bench, which is named in memory of Ripon Runners’ club co-founder and former club president. They then return via Mackershaw with a short section through Hell Wath woods, before approaching the finish line.
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The race fills up fast and this year’s 925 capacity has been reached.
The event raises funds for Upper Nidderdale Food Bank, which is based at St Cuthberts’ Church in Pateley Bridge and entrants are offered the chance to plant a tree. Over 400 saplings were planted last year.
Ripon Runners, which was founded in 1985, hosts various races throughout the year including the Burn Valley Half Marathon, which is a road event in Masham, the Ripon 10 Mile around Studley’s seven bridges, The Round Ripon Ultra, which is a 35-mile solo or team event and the festive Jolly Holly Jog 10k.
Ms Imeson said:
“We’re especially pleased this year as in May we sadly had to cancel our Ripon 10 event which had struggled to get back to regular race numbers post-covid. Many local races suffered and those that did go ahead saw significantly reduced numbers with increased expenses. That said it’s fantastic to see such a high entry this Christmas.
“Without such a positive response from Ripon Runners who step up to marshal, such a hugely successful race would not be possible, so huge kudos to our own club members.”
Harrogate athlete Cal Mills wins at Yorkshire Marathon Festival
Elite Harrogate runner Cal Mills won the 10-mile race at yesterday’s Yorkshire Marathon Festival in a blistering 50 minutes and 18 seconds.
Over 10,000 people took part in the festival, which was part of the Run For All series of events established by Leeds fundraiser Jane Tomlinson. The series has now raised more than £10 million.
Cal, 23, led more than 2,500 entrants home in the 10-mile competition, finishing nine seconds ahead of second place and just three seconds off the course record.
He is no stranger to winning big races, having finished first at the Brighton half marathon in February.
Cal takes the winner’s spot in the middle of the podium.
Yesterday’s event, which took place in and around York, marked the 10th anniversary of the Yorkshire Marathon Festival. It featured a marathon, marathon relay and 10-mile races.
Serious runners were joined by fun runners and famous faces, including British rugby league coach and former professional player Jamie Jones Buchanan and comedians Rob Deering and Paul Tonkinson.
Harvey Gration, son of late BBC Yorkshire broadcaster Harry Gration, started the marathon and then took part in the 26.2-mile marathon.
The fastest male in the marathon was Joe Sagar in 2:24:10 and the first woman home was Melissah Gibson who clocked 02:40:41.
Mike Tomlinson, chief executive of not-for-profit events company Run For All, said it was “a truly spectacular day and an amazing atmosphere from start to finish”.
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Knaresborough hosts main running race of year
More than 200 runners took part in the Knaresborough Crag Rat Run yesterday.
The five-mile race around the town is the primary event organised each year by running club Knaresborough Striders.
Harrogate Harriers provided the top female athlete, Davina Ellis, who finished the mixed terrain course in 32 mins 11 seconds.
The men’s race was won by Mark Holden, of Dewsbury Road Runners, who blitzed around in 28 mins 27 seconds.
Gareth Somerville, of Harrogate Harriers, was the second male and Jack Brierley, of Nidd Valley Road Runners, was third.
The race, organised annually by Knaresborough Striders since 2016, started and finished at Knaresborough Cricket Club. A total of 217 runners took part.
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Female champion Davina Ellis
Men’s winner Mark Houlden
About a thousand runners will take part in the Harrogate 10K on Sunday.
The event, organised by running club Harrogate Harriers, starts and finishes at Harrogate Sports and Fitness Club on Hookstone Road.
Olympic triathlon champion Jonny Brownlee will present medals to the winners of the adult races, which starts at 10am.
The adult event will be preceded by a fun run for children, which includes a 1.3 km route for children in school years 2-5 will and a 2.5 km course for those in years 6-9.
The event, sponsored again by Knaresborough renewable energy firm Harmony Energy, takes runners on around Crimple Valley, finishing with the notorious Crimple killer last uphill kilometre.
A total of 486 adults and 70 children took part last year. This year, more than 800 adults have already registered.
However, local running star Cal Mills, who set a men’s record of 33 minutes and 13 seconds last year, won’t be defending his title.
Cal Mills (green vest) on his way to victory last year.
The women’s race last year saw Emily Gibbins, of Ilkley Harriers, destroy the female record by more than four minutes in a winning time of 38 minutes and 15 seconds.
Entry for the 10k race can be done here https://racebest.com/races/375cy
Online entries, which can be booked here, close at 10am tomorrow. If places remain, you can enter on the day.
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Rudding Park 10k race to return in spring
Rudding Park‘s 10k multi-terrain trail race is to return in May after a successful inaugural event last year.
Olympic triathlon gold medallist Jonny Brownlee started last year’s Rudding ParkRace, in which more than 300 runners navigated their way through 18th century parkland at the privately-owned Harrogate resort.
This year’s event, which will be held on May 9, will raise money in support of former Leeds Rhinos player Rob Burrow’s Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Appeal.
There are 450 places available and the entry fee is £25 for affiliated runners and £27 for non-affiliated runner.
Jonny Brownlee at last year’s event.
Nuno César de Sá, Rudding Park hotel manager, said the 2022 race had a “great vibe”, adding:
“Rudding House made the perfect backdrop for the finish line where the prize giving took place as guests enjoyed music, hog roast and refreshments as the sun set.
“We were thrilled to raise over £4,000 for the Queen’s Green Canopy and this year we are super excited to be supporting Rob Burrow and his family whose tireless campaign to raise awareness and funds to support families living with MND is inspiring.”
The start of last year’s race.
Last year’s winner was Nathan Edmonson from Ilkley Harriers, who recorded a time of 34 mins 25 secs. The fastest female was Charlotte Mason from City of York AC in a time of 41 mins 29 secs.
More information is available here.
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A Harrogate teenager has become the youngest competitor to complete a gruelling trail run in the French Alps.
Alex Fennah, 17, was given a special exemption to take part in the ITRA (International Trail Running Association) Trail Marathon Championship in Chamonix, which is usually only open to over 18s, because of his track record in other events.
Setting off from the village of Montroc, the race saw competitors complete a 15.8km section of the 42km Mont Blanc route, with Alex finishing in two hours and 40 seconds.
He said:
“It was really great taking part in the ITRA Trail Marathon Championship in Chamonix. Whilst it’s reserved for those aged between 18 and 22, I was given special permission to take part – and by doing so I have become the youngest person ever to finish it.
“I started running two years ago and trained with the Wetherby Runners, and like everything the more you train the easier it gets. I go out four times a week and will run a total distance of about 70km. I’ve previously run two 100km races back-to-back.
“When I start something I tend to become a bit obsessive, and that includes my running, and my ultimate goal is to complete an ‘iron man’ challenge.”
That ultimate aim — consisting of a 2.4 mile swim, 112m bike ride and 26.2m run — may not be on his calendar yet, but plenty of other events are.
The Ashville student is in training for the 35km Sierre-Zinal in Switzerland and the 66km OCC in Chamonix, both in the same week. He will also run the Double Sahara Marathon – 40km on consecutive days – in October.
Meanwhile, he’s hoping to study experimental psychology at Oxford once he has completed his A levels.
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1,400 runners set to take part in Harrogate Race for Life
About 1,400 runners are set to take part in the Race for Life on the Stray in Harrogate tomorrow.
Women, men and children will complete 3k, 5k and 10k events to raise money for Cancer Research UK.
There is also an option to take part in Pretty Muddy, a mud-splattered obstacle course. You can enter on the day.
Road closures will be in place on Oatlands Drive and Stray Rein.
The event, which raises funds for cancer research, begins at 9.30am with the 10k. The 5k and 3k start at 11am and the Pretty Muddy events follow.
It costs adults £14.99 to enter and £10 for children.
Molly Fuchs
Molly Fuchs, who is receiving palliative treatment for secondary breast cancer, is a veteran of many Race for Life events.
Although no longer able to take part, the Settle woman urging others to sign up for the event at the Stray.
“I cannot relive the past, only appreciate the things I did and the wonderful memories I still hold close.
“Whether running, jogging or walking, Race for Life could be your stepping stone to other things – go for it and while doing so raise money for a worthwhile cause.”
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Records broken at today’s Harrogate 10k
The men’s and women’s course records were both broken at today’s Run Harrogate 10k.
A total of 486 adults took part in the event, which was organised by Harrogate Harriers. Another 70 children participated in an inaugural kids’ fun run.
Winner Cal Mills, representing Leeds City AC, set a new men’s record of 33 minutes and 13 seconds to finish 32 seconds ahead of Harrogate Harriers’ Jack Kelly.
Emily Gibbins, of Ilkley Harriers, obliterated the female record by more than four minutes in winning in a time of 38 minutes and 15 seconds.
Harrogate Harriers won both the men’s and women’s team events.
Struggling up the ‘Crimple killer’ in the final kilometre of the race.
The race, which was sponsored by Knaresborough renewable energy firm Harmony Energy, started and finished at Harrogate Sports and Fitness Centre.and took runners around Crimple Valley.
Entrants enjoyed mercifully cool conditions over the multi-terrain course, which finished with the notorious uphill Crimple killer last kilometre.
In line with many running events this year, entries were down on last year. full results are available here.
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