ERRA 12 & 6 Stage + 5k Road Championships. Report by Ken Smith
Saturday 6th April was dry and bright at Sutton Park but as predicted, the wind was strong and gusty, so much so, that the decision was made to not erect the start / finish gantry, before any athletes had arrived.
Under 17 5K Men.
The first of the four 5k races turned out to be a real battle between Wells City and Rotherham, with 1 second between them. Tom Webb, Wells City Harriers was timed at 15:30 with the Rotherham Harrier Jonson Hughes given 15:31. Third was some 40 seconds behind. Other Northern athletes were Rueben Jago Sale Harriers 6th 16:47 and Jack Williams Rotherham Harriers 10th 17:51
Under 17 5k Women.
This proved to be another team success for Warriors Pentathlon. Their team of 3, Megumi Hoshiko, 3rd 18:53, Sarah Smith, 5th 20:00, and Evie Smith, 6th, 20:02, was enough to win the team gold medals. Sale Harrier Sophie Armitage finished 7th 20:41
Under 15 5K Boy.
Just the one Northern Athlete in this event with Freddie Palmer, Tyne Bridge Harriers in the silver medal position with the time of 17:03
Under 15 Girls.
An outstanding run from Warriors Pentathlon’s Isia Pastor 18:42 gave her the silver medal. There were two further Northern athletes in this race, Matilda Holmes, Rotherham finished 6th 19:30, and Ruby Cleaver, Rossendale, was 11th in 21:33.
Women’s 6 stage Road Relay.
2 legs @ 5.38 Miles: 4 legs @ 3.165 Miles
Northern clubs did well with double silver and bronze medals, but after Sale in third place the next Northern club was Rotherham in 17th then Salford surprisingly down in 19th. The top 3 clubs were presented with both the ERRA medals and UK medals.
45 clubs on the start line, but it was Thames Valley Harriers who were away to a flier with the Yvie Lock on leg 1 producing the fastest time of the day 29.36. They remained at the front for the duration of the event winning every leg, but Sarah Potter for Leeds City on the last leg, reduced the winning lead to 15 seconds on a dramatic last leg.
Leeds moved slowly up from their initial finishing place of 8th to 3rd at the start of the last leg. Sarah Potter’s 3rd fastest time of the day, 17:27 was enough to take her past Sale, but although she reduced the deficit behind TVH, she was unable to catch them and Leeds had the Silver medals. Meantime Sale were in third place for the first 3 legs, second for legs 4 and 5, and finishing 3rd on that last leg with Lucy Armitage finishing 13 seconds behind Leeds, but over 2 minutes ahead of the 4th team Belgrave.
Lucy also had the fastest under 20 time on the short leg and as she already had the qualifying time, she booked that automatic spot in the Under 20 England team to compete in the Cardiff 5k.
Men’s 12 Stage Road Relay
6 legs @ 5.38Miles: 6 legs@ 3.165 Miles.
Leeds City women won silver, but the men were determined to be the first team across the finishing line, and Team manager Mike Burrett had expertly prepared his strong team just for that purpose.
8th after the first leg they moved up into 2nd on lap 2 and Graham Rush moved them up into the lead on the 5th long leg. After that Leeds were never going to be caught. Especially with Richard Allen and Phil Sesemann, fastest long leg of the day 25:27, to follow on the next two long legs. They ran to plan and won by the 3 minutes 32 seconds from Bristol & West, with Highgate 3rd.
All the top 3 teams were awarded both the ERRA and Uk medals.
Other top 20 Northern team finishers were the red vests of Salford Harriers, 14th, Liverpool Harriers 19th, and Hallamshire 20th. Amazingly the Leeds B team finished in 21st.
Relay Results for Northern Teams
Women
2nd Leeds City 2hours 13 mins 01 seconds
3rd Sale Harriers Manchester 2 hours 13 minutes 14 seconds
Men
1st Leeds City 4 hours 11 mins 28seconds.
Photos with thanks to Eileen Ingham
Full 5k Results
Full 6 Stage Results
Full 12 Stage Results
