It was a successful day for the Harriers with the Northants County Mile Championships held during the Chairman’s Cup with a decent return of medals in the various age groups. In the U20 Men there was a spectacular clean sweep with Jack Hope taking gold in fantastic style and winning the race outright with 4:35.3 with the Hayes Twins taking silver & Bronze for the Harriers.
Lewis Hayes back for a short break from his successful completion of one of the world toughest special forces inductions into the Royal Marines was out to prove to twin Jed that he still had what it takes and he sat in on Jack shoulder throughout the race, with both athletes edging out a small gap between themselves and the following pack. With 200m to go Jack put in a terrific surge to blast away from Lewis, which was always a Lewis trade mark, on this occasion Lewis was unable to change pace but he stayed strong to come in in a fine 2nd place with 4:38.8 showing his fitness levels were still in fine shape, all credit to the Royal Marines! Twin Jed slightly off the pace due to a wedding bash the night before was in third place with a respectable 4:41.9 to take bronze and French Visitor and new Harriers member Guilliaume Morand was in 4th place in a rarely run event in his home country with a fine 4:42.9.
In the U17 Age group Ethan Mehmet also won Gold with a fine race with 4:57.1, with a Vet Gold for Stephen Thompson in 5:12.1, a vet Bronze for Andy King (5:29.1) and Senior Silver for Anthony Poncia (6;14.2) completing the men’s medal haul. U15 Fynn Batkin just missed out on a medal in 4th place with a fine 5:02.6, and Edward Cannell running well with 5:11.6
For the women there was also a useful return with the U17 women winning a Gold & Bronze medal. Claudia Nevett was in good form to win the U17 women’s race with a very respectable 5:31.9 with Hannah Winstone winning a bronze medal with a solid run with 5:54.1. Danielle Gaskell was also in fine form finishing second overall in the women’s race and the U15 Girls category behind R&N Amy Walker with an excellent 5:31.3, and Jennifer Robinson grabbing a Bronze in the U15 girls race with 5:56.1 and sister Amy Robinson just missing out on a medal with 4th place in the U17 age group with 5:56.9. U17 Sophie Moss & Chloe Hearne also ran well with 6:05.4 & 6:08.2 respectively. There were Gold medals also for Vet Trudi Pike (6:15.1) & senior Wendy Duke (7:03.9) and a vet silver for Barbara Fulton (6:48.5)
U20 (& Overal race) medalists Jack Hope Gold (centre) & Hayes twins Lewis (Silver) & Jed Bronze) from right to left
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