The Harriers were in action at the Midland Counties Championships, held at Wollaton Park Nottingham which was very wet in places due to recent heavy rain, and there were some standout performances with Emily Williams securing a silver medal in the U17 Women’s race, and the U20 Women secured a fantastic team Bronze medal.
The U17W race over 5k was first race off, and the Harriers got off to a perfect start with 15 year old double county champion Emily Williams who is unbeaten this year. Williams started brilliantly and immediately opened up a gap along with Mansfield Harrier Libby Coleman in tow. The gap for the pair continued to grow throughout the opening lap, and with Coleman pushing the pace in the Hilly section of the course where she opened a small gap on Williams who was unable to respond and close the gap. Williams held on to secure a superb silver medal in 19:06, her first over the country in a Midland Championship, and show she is coming into form nicely leading up to the National Championships in a month or so. The only other Harrier competing on the day was Harriett Jolly, who now back to full training is getting stronger by the race, Jolley ran a strong race to finish in 48th place in 23:20.
Emily Williams with a superb race to win a Silver Medal in the U17W race
The U15 Boys with Dylan Bowley leading the charge were next in action over the 4km course, and Bowley also got a superb start sitting in behind Early leader Liam Rawlings, by the time Bowley had moved into the boggy park of the course he had lost some ground to the leading pack which he struggled to make up, but finishing the race strongly Bowley finished in a fine 7th place in 14:12. Bottom year Ollie Read didn’t get a great start against many of the older/ stronger athletes, but he made terrific progress on the second lap taking through to the line with a very respectable 43rd place in 15:28, with Josh Clutton & Ryan Raylia, both still not fully fit after recent viruses, completing the team scoring in 85th place & 87th place respectively to secure a respectable team position of 9th.
The U13 Girls were next off over the 3km course, and with Harriett Round & Lauren Hewitt having both ran at a school race a day earlier their preparation was not ideal & there were some tired legs during the race. Round was top finisher with a highly credible 16th place in 12:57 which in the circumstances in more than admirable as a bottom year athlete. Hewitt ran a strong race to finish in 61st place (14:08), with Izzy Brockway & Niamh Sinnott both tasting action at regional standard for the first time both running well for 105th & 116th place respectively. The team finished in 12th place overall.
The U13 Boys missing some of their best athletes showed their strength in depth by finishing in a superb 8th place despite them all being bottom age athletes. Jacob Asher-Relf was top scorer with a fine individual placing of 16th in 12:11 over the 3km course. Ernie Jack was next Harrier home with a very strong run to finish in 33rd (12:42), with the fast finishing Dylan White just 11 seconds adrift in 38th place & George Separovic finding the conditions tough in 73rd.
In the U17 Men’s race Morgan Potter was top finisher with a strong run over the tough 6km course in 24:02 in a fine 46th place with Josh Cannell in 57th place next Harrier home, and Jack Watson a few places behind in 61st place. It was a difficult afternoon for the dependable Edward Cannell in the U20 race over 8km when he fell victim to the worsening conditions losing one, then both spikes in the ankle deep mud. Cannell battled on regardless & still managed his trademark finish to complete the course in 33:30 in 32nd place.
The U20 Women were the only other medallist of the day securing a superb Bronze team medal with Claudia Nevett running a superb race over the 6km course to finish in an individual 12th place in 26:06. Nevett was supported well with Bethan Lewis & Amy Robinson, who both run solid races to finish in 25th & 28th respectively to secure the team medals.
Fantastic team Bronze for U20W Bethan Lewis, Claudia Nevette & Amy Robinson
Elaine Fairbrother led the Senior Womens team home over the 8km course in a fine 101st place (40:20), with Karen Albery enjoying a fine run in 145th, and Trudi Pike in 191st & Evelyn Clawson 197th completing the team score for a respectable 26th place, with Paula Sinnot final Harrier in action in 228th.
In the senior men’s race Tom Shepherd was top scorer in a weakened team in 161st over the 12km course in 52:30, with Martin Allinson 189th, Andrew Clawson 335th, Steve Sinnott 342nd and Paul Young putting a Spritely performance as a vet 60 athlete in a fine 429th place. Sadly the Harriers were one short of a team on the day.
Well done to all who ran.
Next on the calendar is the Anglian Trophy, which is an opportunity for the younger squad members at school to earn selection for English schools.