After months of hard speed training and dedication, Halifax Harriers’ James O’Rourke recorded his first sub-18-minute time at the Mid Cheshire 5k.

The hugely popular road race draws around 1,000 competitors from all around the country and O’Rourke made the most of the fast, flat course to record a personal best of 17:52.

Across the border in Lancashire, a couple of Harriers also registered impressive times as they enjoyed perfect conditions at the Lancashire Riverside 10 mile.

Stephen Rainbow finished in 66:35 to finish 13th overall while Sarah Louise Cumber clocked 67:05 to finish third woman and set a new V55 club record.

James Dix celebrated his 250th parkrun milestone at Fountains Abbey.

placeholder image — James Dix celebrated his 250th parkrun milestone at Fountains Abbey.

Harriers’ junior starlets shone bright at the Leeds Even Splits 5k, where Isobelle Crowther clocked 18:24 to finish first female and register a junior club record. Isobelle was closely followed by Gracie Timmins in 21.08.

April Stewart recorded her fastest 10k time of the year when she ran 44:06 at the Birchwood 10k. Alan Brady also competed for the Harriers.

It was a Jurassic Park-run for Harriers’ junior James Dix when he pulled on his T-Rex costume to complete his 250th parkrun at Fountains Abbey.

James has previously completed 275 junior parkruns and has gone on to finish another 250 of the full 5k events.

The Fountains Abbey Parkrun is the 100th different event that James has visited and completed, making him a very well-travelled parkrun tourist.

Elsewhere, Harrier Martin Haigh travelled to Worcestershire to compete in the 24-hour open water swim relay.

He was in a team of eight and, including the celebratory lap, each member swam for four hours.

Haigh was delighted to have drawn the midnight slot, which he said was magical; swimming in the pitch black. The event was held to raise money for Level Water, a charity established to teach disabled children to swim and the event raised £64,000.

The club’s Couch to 5k programme continues to be a great success and Harriers have seen many members taking on new challenges from hill reps to half marathons.