Harriers at the Hooded Horse

On a fine dry morning, 118 runners, almost 25% of whom were Thirsk and Sowerby members, gathered at the foot of the White Horse for the start of the difficult but popular Hooded Horse 10k.  The race was started a few years ago in the memory of Ben Campbell, an enthusiastic and talented runner, who died too soon at the age of 36.  The tough Club Championship race takes in the White Horse and Hood Hill, hence its name, and involves some difficult climbs and descents, not to mention mud!  Matt Jones was first club finisher in 7th place in a time of 52.04, with the unstoppable Esther Harrison next, 13th, and 1st lady, in 54.29.  Dan Garthwaite, 15th, took 54.44, Walter Busuttil 21st in 58.42, birthday boy, Adrian Elsworth, 26th in 60.02, in form Gary Wilkinson 33rd in 61.58, Kirsty Naylor 35th in 63.30 and Mike Lowther 36th in 63.38.  Duncan Fothergill was next, 43rd in 66.30, knocking a whopping 5 minutes off his time for the run last year, Pedro Carrasco 46th in 67.57, Hilary Coventry 51st in 69.35, David Tervit 73.31, Lindsey Collins 63rd in 75.06, just pipping Rosie Gatenby, 64th in 75.07.  Geoff Bullock took 77.17, Lucy Sillars 77.31, Will Jagger 79th in 79.53, Trish Radford 82.30, Chris Wordsworth 86.16, Tracey Lowther 86.34, Louise McVay 88.42, Sara Armitage 89.43, Liz Wordsworth 90.33, Beth Haggath 92.35, Craig Atherton and Allison Whiteley, running together and supporting one another, 92.40 and 92.41 respectively, Hugh Jenyns 93.09, Christine and Rob Burn, also running together, 100.23 and 100.24, and resolute Denise Gandy 111.45.  Elated but exhausted runners collected at the end to compare their experiences!

  The previous day, members took part in various park runs, some perhaps using it as a warm up for the Hooded Horse.  One such was Esther Harrison, who came 21st out of 403 at Fountains Abbey 3rd lady, in 20.05, though Ben Morgan was first club finisher, 14th in 19.21.  Nicholas Webster did a PB time, 21.36, and others at Fountains were Nigel Morgan, Gillian Crane, Kerry Morgan, a reluctant park runner at first but now completing her 25th park run taking PB 39.20, and Ian and Marian Codling.  Gary Wilkinson at York – yes, he really is flying just now – came 27th out of 561 in PB 19.54, and at Millfield, Bronwyn Mayo was 14th, and 2nd lady, in 22.12, with Thomas Gwillam again having a good run to take 22.58 in 18th place along with Andy Butcher, Clare Gwillam, Craig Atherton and Allison Whiteley, (two more Hooded Horse entrants), and Rob Lickley.  Pete Jackson and Diana Williams were among the 112 at Northallerton and Anna Whitham at Cusworth Hall finished 20th, and 3rd lady, out of 119.