Tadcaster Harriers Running Club

Dawn to Dusk Challenge (Duncombe Park)

Author: Lianne Dayson   |  Sep 10, 2019

Sunday the 8th of September saw Cara and I taking on Grim up Norths, Dawn to Dusk Challenge as a duo. It was an early 4am wake up call to get to a very picturesque and hilly Duncombe park for a 6am start. 

We went into it as a training run for our ultra in October and really only needed 18 miles each. However our strategy of running the 3 mile route at under 30 mins each time so that we could tag the other in straight after to run worked really well and we ended up doing 27 miles each bringing our total to 54 miles in 8hrs 39mins. Cara had to rein me in as I was going to go again! 

It was also great that Andy Mason, Paul Storr and Ian Saynor were all there running the event. Ian doing a solo run and doing 24 miles in total after having no sleep camping in very cold conditions the night before. 

Cara and I came 1st female pair and 2nd overall only being beaten by our fellow Tadcaster Harriers..... Andy and Paul who did a combined total of 72 miles. 

The event was absolutely fantastic, the route was tough but so enjoyable with stunning views. The organisers went above and beyond with all the food, drink and support. Great event that we will be doing again next year. 

Lianne

Club Handicap Champion 2019

Author: Mark Swinden   |  Sep 5, 2019

The Joe Knowles 5.1 mile handicap which took place last week, and was won by Sally Polkey, was the last handicap of the current series. Each race is a separate event and the final race has its own trophy dedicated to Joe which will be awarded to Sally at the dinner in November.

The results of each race (after handicap adjustments) are aggregated over the year and an overall winner is declared. We are pleased to announce that the overall winner is Paul Dykes, with Denise Robinson a very close second and Ian Ward third. They will each receive a trophy at the club dinner. The results are based on handicap position in the best 7 races out of the 9 each year. Congratulations to all the trophy winners. 

Here is a link to the results: Handicap Championship Results 

Once again, huge thanks again to Mike Smith for timing and results, Mark Swinden for organising all of the races and to everyone else who has contributed by marshalling, timing, etc.

Look forward to seeing you all on Sunday 22rd September for the start of the 2019/20 competition - the Old Street Loop (start and finish at Lawtons)

Aberfeldy Middle Distance Triathlon

Author: Mark Swinden   |  Aug 24, 2019

Congratulations to Glen Johnson who achieved a fantastic bronze medal in the British age group middle distance triathlon Championships which were held in Aberfeldy, on 17th August.

Set in the beautiful Highland Perthshire region, this 'Middle Distance' race (1900m Swim, 90km Bike, 21km Run) takes in the cool, clear waters of Loch Tay, challenging roads over the shoulder of Schiehallion, a circumnavigation of the wild Loch Rannoch, and the grounds of the spectacular Taymouth Castle.

Glen completed the race in 5hours 19mins 38secs to take 3rd place in his age category.

Full results can be seen here

The photo shows Glen on the finishing straight.

Claire's Triathlon Challenge

Author: Mark Swinden   |  Jul 25, 2019

Congratulations to Claire Tucker who completed her series of 3 Triathlons over the Summer with an age group category win at the tough  Castle Howard event.

Here she is on the podium. Claire has also completed triathlons in Leeds and York and raised £3000 for Parkinson's UK.

Read Claire's story

Sally Polkey - Guide Runner

Author: Mark Swinden   |  Jul 17, 2019

We have all seen the record breaking runs that Sally Polkey has recorded since she joined the Harriers in May this year but did you know she is a registered guide runner as well? Here she tells us all about it.

“ I completed a one day Guide Running Course through England Athletics in March this year. The course involved some theory and practice and I am now a registered guide runner with the England Athletics. We learnt about the different types of visual impairment, how to run and communicate with runners and to consider health and safety issues which as sighted persons we take for granted.

The reason I wanted to become a guide runner was because I enjoy running so much and wanted to enable people with visual impairment the opportunity to run who would otherwise be unable to run on their own. It is my wish to run a half or full marathon as a guide one day.

I have not actually run as a guide yet and would welcome an opportunity to practice with any runner from Tadcaster Harriers.”

If you can help Sally , please e-mail her on sallypolkey@gmail.com.

Endure 24 2019

Author: Dave Mullaney   |  Jul 1, 2019

Endure: verb 1. Experience (pain or hardship), bear patiently. 2. Tolerate. 3. Remain in existence, last.

The above definition of Endure from the Oxford Dictionary sums up the Endure 24 event over the weekend of the 29th / 30th June.

When we first entered this type of event two years ago, we hoped to get a team of eight runners, but managed to get two teams. Last year we had an excellent weekend with two teams of eight, a faster team of eight ladies, a fast team of five males, and one solo runner. We came away with two trophies (2nd Ladies and 3rd Male teams).

This year exceeded all expectations with three teams of eight (mixed), a fast team of eight ladies, a fast team of eight males, two solo runners, and another member running as part of a pair.

At an event like this where you are there for the whole weekend, there is quite a bit of socialising, as well as the running. Getting the best conditions for both is almost impossible. The weather last weekend was ideal for socialising, but probably the worst you could get (for most of us) for running, with temperatures of around 30 degrees during the day on Saturday! I am sure there were many of us who would have been happy to call it a day after the first lap! However, true to the definition of the event name, you have to tolerate the conditions, experience the pain, remain a member of the team and get up at all hours of the day and run a lap! Being a member of a team of eight, this is nothing compared to the solo runners who kept on dragging themselves (literally in some cases) for lap after lap.

There was a sign after one of the marshall points that stated ‘ You are a stronger runner than you think you are’. I am sure there are runners in our club that realise this after some excellent performances in all the teams.

The ethos of the event for Tadcastor Harriers is for us to go out and have an enjoyable weekend. Coming away with any trophies is secondary, but the fact that we did is testament to the strength in depth of the club at the moment. We didn’t select teams from the fastest in the club, but selected a ladies and men’s team that we felt would be competitive from the members who had wanted to run at the weekend. To come away with podium places then is a fantastic achievement.

Solo Males:

Jon Steele completed 20 laps (160kM) in a time of 24:22

Shannon Naylor completed 13 laps (104kM) in a time of 19:51

Male Pairs:

Dave Baxter was part of a pairs team that completed 30 laps (240kM) in 24:22

Ladies team of 6-8

Ladies that Lunge (Jo Millican. Sue Tindall, Emma Dunn, Liz Mould, Laura Macaulay, Suzanne Marshall, Abigail Carter, Lisa Sharpe) came second completing 34 laps (272kM) in 24:21

Male team of 6-8

Kipchoge’s Old Fogeys (Glen Johnson, Dave Rowe, Ian Saynor, Paul Dykes, Lui Ryan, John Netherway, Gary Cowler and Jim Brayshaw) came third, completing 38 laps (304kM) in 24:18

  Mixed Teams of 6-8

Rapid Thigh Movement (Angela Wray, Ian Ward, Becky McGuinness, Amanda Apperley, Gail Jamieson, Sarah Collier, Mark Hobson, and Celia McRoyall) completed 30 laps (240kM) in 24:1

Scrambled Legs, we’re toast (Keith Smith, Andy Lee, Adam Smith, Elaine Kavanagh, Sue Jannatti, Carolyn Jolley, Sally Beckett and Andy Mason) completed 30 laps (240km) in 24:38 

Better at Running up a Tab (Dave Mullaney, Shirley Steele, Emma Triffit, John Ryder, Denise Robinson, Sarah Cairns, Mark Swinden and Alex Wilson) completed 29 laps (232kM) in 24:24

Next years event is on the 4th-5th July.