The Round Ripon Ultra Relays took place at the weekend on a 35 mile circular route starting and finishing in Studley Roger. Thirsk and Sowerby had 7 individuals who ran the whole lot, and three relay teams, 21 members in all. It was another very successful event for Paul Peacock who has won the race twice in the last 3 years. (In 2022 he was 2nd!) He took an amazing 4.48.59 to cover the course over trails, woods and moorland in Nidderdale to come 1st out of 104, with Josh Cooper 10th, and 3rd M30, in 6.06.05. Kim Wilkinson came 19th, and 3rd lady, in 6.24.34 and Richard Grant was 34th in 6.46.04. He had been running with Josh until he got cramp, but managed to persevere to the end. Anna Whitham came 57th in 7.11.30, Andy Butcher 89th in 8.51.24 and Simon Spence 91st in 8.57.42.
Paul Peacock with his Winner's Medal
Josh Cooper and Richard Grant running together early on
In the relay event, the club had three teams with runners completing an average of 8 miles each, and the Happy Harriers: Will Jagger, Trish Radford, and Lucy Sillars, came 9th in a
total time of 6.48.34. Sowerby Superstars: Alan Docherty, Beth Haggath, Kelly Grieve, David Tervit and Tess Grant, were 10th in 6.57.34 and Thirsk Thunderers: Tracey Docherty, Sara Armitage, Sharon Keegan, and Adam Harper-Walker 11th in 7.14.15. All in all, a very happy, (hard) and successful occasion, with plenty of vocal support from those on their resting legs.
Thirsk and Sowerby Club teams
Gary Wilkinson had to do it all himself when he tackled the Richmond Castle 10k on Sunday over a very hilly course around Richmond, starting in the Batts and finishing near the castle. Another very good race for Gary saw him finish 9th out of 316, 1st M50, in 41.24 over a very testing course.
19 members were at parkruns, mainly fairly local, with Jason McLaughlin at University Parks, Oxford, and Bronwyn Mayo much further afield at the Umhlanga event in South Africa where she finished 16th out of 332, 2nd lady, in 22.53. Wherever you go you can find a parkrun!