Team win’s for Harriers U17's

The U17 Men & Women led the way with a brilliant performances to finish first in the team category to spearhead the performances from the Harriers at the 2^nd North Midland League, held at Wicksteed park, meanwhile Alice Bates part of the U17W team continued her great form to secure the only individual win on the day.

There was a large contingent of athletes competing for the Harriers in all the age groups with may further great performances on the day including four 2^nd place teams finishes (U11B, U13B, Vet men’s, & U13G’s) and three further 2^nd place individual placings for U11G, V35W & U17M with dominant display on our home fixture. Conditions were great with light winds, and a firm course which were all slightly over distance due to essential course changes.

In the U17M race Rio Carr enjoyed a fantastic race immediately getting into the leading pack, a position he held throughout the race finishing the 6km course in 23.13 in a brilliant 2^nd place, 30 seconds ahead of team mate Lucas Mansell, who had a great race to finish in 3^rd (23:48) after missing training in the week due to a virus, with Lucas Rogers who is really coming back into form finishing in 4^th (24.15) to easily win the team event from a strong Derby team. Ben Brooker finished in a fine 15^th place (26:13), with George Separovic & Ellis Johnson in 18^th & 20^th respectively showing the strength in depth in this AG.

U17 Rio Carr, fantastic individual 2nd place leading the team to a 1st place finish

The U17W saw the only individual win on the day with Alice Bates sitting in for the 1^st km, then pushing into the lead to comfortably win the 5km race by nearly a minute in 18:55, it was another great performance by Bates who is enjoying a fine start to her winter programme. Demi Locker who is also coming into great form following her transfer to KTH in September finished in a fine 3^rd place closing down Derby’s Annabelle Ita right to the line to finish in 19:51 just 4 seconds off 2^nd place, with Julia Buzuk in 27^th (30.21) completing the scoring and secure a team win from PANV AC.

Alice Bates the only Harrier with an individual win setting the team up for 1st place

In the U11 AG there were two fine performances with the Harriers securing second place finishes for the individual race, with Bella Lamb running a fine race, in third for most of the race she made a concerted effort on the final 300m to go into second place in the downhill section of the course to finish the 2km course in 8.29 5 seconds ahead of third place. Rafferty Davey also had a great race, perhaps running the first 1.5km a little conservatively, he was closing in the leader down all the way to the line to finish in 7.00, together with Harris Ellwood who ran a solid race for 16^th place (7:58) they secured a team finish in 2^nd place.

U11 Rafferty Davey fine individual 2nd place

The U13 AG also two fine 2^nd place team finishes for the Harriers with the boys packing well in the mid table, George Sharp top scoring in 9^th place over the 3k course in 14.31, with Finlay Brooker, Harlee Hooker & Finn Currie packing well and finishing in 12th, 13^th & 14^th respectively completing the scoring, with Zac Scott having a solid run in 17^th place and Ollie smith in 21^st. For the girls over the same 3k course the fast improving Iona Ellwood enjoyed perhaps her best race in the Harriers colours with a terrific third place finish in 13:05, with great races from Tiggy Guthrie-Brown & Peyton Almond battling each other throughout the race in 7^th & 8^th respectively completing the scoring, and Clara Booth also running very well in 11^th place. Had Jess Lamb, still recovering from a virus, not had to pull out the Harriers would almost have certainly won the team event.

Iona Ellwood with her best p[erformance for the Harriers in 3rd place for the U13G

The U15 girls fared well with a fine 5^th place team finish with Evie Brooker top scoring with a run full of determination to finish in 13^th place in 15.53, with Chelsie Locker in 17^th (16.07) running well & Ellie Separovic completing the scoring in 25^th. In the corresponding U15 boys race over the longer 5k distance, Dylan Ransom had a great race to finish in 8^th place in 18.44 to spearhead the teams 3^rd place finish, with Evan Willis finishing in 18^th place and James Clutton final scorer in 23^rd place.

Dylan Ransom fine run for 8th place in the U15B race

In the Senior & Vet women’s race over 6km, Steph Lawrie who is in great form produced another brilliant run to finish in 6^th place in 26.00, with Natasha Martin running superb race to finish 2^nd in the v35 category (18^th overall) and Claire Brooker 61^st completing the scoring to help the Harriers to a fine 7^th place team finish. Lisa Rungose in 68^th, Karen Albery 87^th & Val Nix 88^th helped the vet team to a 5^th place finish.

Steph Lawrie brilliant run for 6th place in the Senior & Vet Womens race

The Senior men’s team fared slightly better with a fine 4^th place finish (2^nd in the vets team) with GB triathlete Finn Batkin top scoring with an individual 8^th place in 35.34 over the 10k distance with a superb run, Jack Chennell also running a great race finished in 29^th (37.39) with Dylan Bowley in 50^th (10^th U20), Josh Cannell 53^rd running well. Dave Locker making his XC debut for the Harriers run a fantastic race to finish 63^rd (4^th v45) & Mark Weatherby 81^st (7^th v40) completing the scoring. Phil West 84^th, Dominic Specchio 91st, Tony James 104^th, Ross Brown 116^th , Paul Wildman 123^rd, Rafal Bozuk 130^th, Alex McMurtrie 168^th, Ian corns 171^st, Caleb Pardoe 178^th, Bill Robinson 183^rd & Matt Pollard 203^rd completed the huge Harriers line up.