Tarmac, Trail and Towpath: BeckBusters 10k Race Report
A glorious late-September morning provided a perfect setting for a strong collective, and individual, showing from the 36 Thirsk and Sowerby Harriers competing in the BeckBusters 10k race. TaSH provided a fifth of all the runners to cross the finish line in Bishop Monkton with 6 Harriers finishing in the top 50. The first female Harrier home was Kirsty Naylor (51:13), closely followed by Helen Ashworth and Laura Pearce, both of whom recorded sub-56-minute times. Gary Dunn took the honours for the men (38:40) with Paul Peacock and Ashley Dodgson recording sub-40 minute times in second and third place. 10 Harriers were placed in the age group competitions with Christine Burn, Ruth Pollard, Gary Dunn and Paul Peacock securing first place in their categories, while Ashley Dodgson, Charles Lamb and Hugh Jenyns achieved second places and Julia Harland, Paul Atkinson, and Rob Burn finished third in their respective categories.
With a route that starts in the picturesque village of Bishop Monkton before heading out into some lovely countryside, the BeckBusters race offers an interesting mix of tarmac, trail and towpath running and is a favourite race for many Harriers. As a first-time runner I really enjoyed the variety of surfaces including the famous watersplash near to the end of the race. BeckBusters is a fundraiser for the Bishop Monkton Primary School and the local community turns out in force to cheer on all the runners and the Race Marshalls are equally encouraging. Tarmac, trail and towpath, sunshine and scenery, and a small, but perfectly formed, crowd cheering you on in the final kilometre – running bliss!
Mike Sanders
