Harborough set to crown Athletes of the Year
Certain strong performances by members of Harborough Athletic Club (HAC) at recent competitions could earn them recognition to be nominated for the Club's End of the Year awards night scheduled to take place at Market Harborough Rugby Union Football Club on 15 November 2024.
The award ceremony coincides with the Club's 40th anniversary with the attendance of a sporting celebrity and athletics pundit Paula Radcliffe (MBE) who will grace the ocassion and present trophies to the winning athletes.
A squad of 24 runners made up for the upcoming celebratory function and competed at the Leicester Festival Run which incorporated a half marathon and 10k road race.
The two festival running events which started and finished at Victoria Park attracted a combined record entry of around 3 400 competitors.
Amanda Pearce and Chris Burrell posted the best results in the half marathon recording personal best times and finishing top 10 in their age groups.
Pearce placed 7th in 1:28:48 and 136th overall in the women senior category. Burrell’s sterling effort earned him second place in the men’s 50 age group with a time of 1:22:48 and 52nd overall.
The other runners weighed in with commendable results. Isaac Hudson finished 76th in the senior men's race in 1:27:45. Stephan Lawrenson – 83rd in a PB of 1:28:24, Rich Hudson – 23rd M50 in 1:35:03, Alison Herring 41st W40 in 1:55:13, Ade Eastwood 160th M50 in 1:59:44, Bill Kerr 11th M70 in 2:08:30, Henry Gorman 898th MS in 2:17:03, Lisa Gorman 111th W50 in 2:33:18.
Lewis Parker was the top performer in the men’s 10k race. He finished 7th in the M40 with a PB of 39:11. Young Amelia Iles scored a PB as well finishing 4th in the women under 18 age group in 54:10.
Graham Dickens had a PB in 42:46 placing 13th in the M40 category. Freya Wingfield-Dobbs – a PB in 53:19 and 33rd in the women’s senior race. Gerrard McCreesh 24th M60 in 55:15, Mike Edwards 3rd M70 in 54:59, Claire Bryden 26th W50 in 57:58, James Lawrence 68th M50 in 1:04:31, Catherine Cook 62nd W50 in 1:04:32, Natalie Rowland 43rd W50 in 1:03:65, Becky King 89th W40 with a PB 1:07.19 and visually impaired runner VanesaTailby Bates guided by Amanda King 68th W60 in 1:15:24.
During the same weekend - the opening leg of the North Midlands Cross Country League series was held at Markeaton Park in Corby.
HAC had a representation of nine runners.
Imogen Noone-Broughton, a winner of several club awards, continued to shine winning the Under 11 girl’s event. Her performances since last year and this year will work in her favour to win an award next month. Her team-mate Jessicca Snow finished 7th in the same race.
Jacquie Hamner, a former winner of the Hillary Johnson Endurance award won the women’s 55 age group title. Madeline Stevens 9th women under 20, her mum Ursula Stevens 6th W50, Sonia White 9th W50, Graeme Rolfe 6th M60, Alfie Boulton 135th men senior and Adrian Hall 193rd men senior.