Hope springs eternal as Harrier Danny shines on Emerald Isle

Horwich Harrier Danny Hope took on the tough Westport Sea to Summit Adventure Race, and put in a fine display to finish eighth out of more than 2,000 entrants.

A combined running and cycling race starting from the west coast of Ireland to the top of the holy Croagh Patrick hill, the route has an ascent of more than 2,400 feet and Hope competed well.

Closer to home, Jonathan Jenkins produced a fine run at the Tatton Park half-marathon in Knutsford with a time of 1hr 36mins 38secs.

Cross-country saw both international appearances and the Manchester League on the agenda. Toby Middleton ran a 10K PB in the USA, clocking up a superb 31:30 in the Midwest Region Division Two races. On more local terrain, it was Round Two of the Manchester Area Cross Country League where Louis Yates led home the under-11s, coming 15th out of 121 runners, followed by Archie Fletcher, Oliver Hughes and Jennifer Irving. Four U13s took part, Kitty Crossland finishing 15th out of 148, followed by Maya Gosh, Florence Simm and Abigail Taylor resulting in the team being 13th out of 21.

Harry Yates was the fastest of the U15s, coming in 20th out of 100 with Finlay Mann close behind, while Charlie Cowburn, Olivia Taylor, Sophie Orrell, Gracie Sherbourne, Amelia Shan and Holly Turner rounded off that age group. Mark Titmuss led the four U17s over the line, followed by Aidan McKenna, Grace Mort and Tia Harris.

The senior men’s team’s first six of Luke Foley, Isaac Battye, Sam Fairhurst, Ryan Snee, Nick Leigh and Julian Goudge pulled out an excellent sixth out of 61 teams, while James Titmuss, Adam McDonald, Michael Wilkinson and David Barnes also raced. The women’s team’s first four of Lindsey Brindle, Charlotte Wilkinson, Stephanie McKee and Milly Lever took 12th out of 72 teams with Helen McDonald, Alison Mort and Emma Bradley all competing.

At parkrun, Richard Pollitt travelled the furthest, going to Bushy Parkrun, in Dublin, and finished in first in 19:25. Andrew Crickmore ran at Bolton in 21:44 to finish sixth, Brendan Bolland went to Keswick and broke 30 minutes, coming home in 29:33, while six Harriers took on Haigh Woodland, with Mary White being fastest V70 in 27:33. Andrew Storey stopped the clock in 28:09, Paul Lewis ran 28:40, Jeanette Lewis was half-a-minute behind in 29:06, Gail Maxfield just beat 30 minutes in 29:54 and Gillian Smith was first V75 in 35:54.

Four other Harriers went to Peel where Rob Jackson was quickest in 18:35, while Maria Lowe continued her return to action with 20:50, Sean McMyler was close behind with 21:11 and evergreen Tony Hesketh did 28:03. The Middletons went to Stretford, with Jason completing the course in 25:24 and Janet coming home in 31:40.

Luke Hutchinson went to Mallards Pike, in Gloucestershire, and ran 32:03, and Richard O’Reilly went to Worden and clocked 20:30.