Runners tackle Yorkshireman marathon and half-marathon

Runners from Stainland Lions and Queensbury RC tackled the annual Yorkshireman marathon and half-marathon last weekend.
Steve Boyer and Angela Lee in the mixed pairs category at the full marathon (photo Moira Alderson)Steve Boyer and Angela Lee in the mixed pairs category at the full marathon (photo Moira Alderson)
Steve Boyer and Angela Lee in the mixed pairs category at the full marathon (photo Moira Alderson)

After a distinct lack of racing in recent months, local runners were delighted with the news that the popular and long-established Yorkshireman marathon and half-marathon were on.

A few lucky Lions secured places for Sunday’s event, and it proved to be a glorious day in Haworth, with perfect running conditions.

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Race organisers ensured that all the usual Covid security features were in place, including staggered start times to spread the runners out from one another along the route.

Martin O'Brien, 1st Lion at the Yorkshireman Half (photo Philip Bland)Martin O'Brien, 1st Lion at the Yorkshireman Half (photo Philip Bland)
Martin O'Brien, 1st Lion at the Yorkshireman Half (photo Philip Bland)

The full marathon was won by Ed Hyland, a stalwart of the Lions team on the road and in cross country races but on this occasion running for Calder Valley Fell Runners.

First Lion back was Rachel Lumb, and there were age category placings for the improving Sandy Gee and the unstoppable Aileen Baldwin.

Genevieve Thompson was thrilled to take over half an hour off her 2019 time. Also going the full distance was Steve Boyer, who was making his marathon debut after many years of running.

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Results (marathon): Rachel Lumb 5:35:50, Sandy Gee 5:43:44 (3rd M60), Aileen Baldwin 5:50:23 (1st F60), Genevieve Thompson 5:52:07, Steve Boyer and Angela Lee (running as a pair) 5:59:19

Despite being billed as a half marathon, the Yorkshireman half measures a whopping 14.5 miles.

Sandy Gee on the uphill cobbles near the finish of the Yorkshireman Half (photo Jim Harris)Sandy Gee on the uphill cobbles near the finish of the Yorkshireman Half (photo Jim Harris)
Sandy Gee on the uphill cobbles near the finish of the Yorkshireman Half (photo Jim Harris)

Martin O’Brien was first Lion and 2nd M60, John Bassinder was 3rd M60, and Tim Walker had a great run and just dipped below the three hour mark. 
Queensbury RC’s results were:

Marathon: 20th Carl Heron 4:27:28 (1stMV50)
Half Marathon: 24th Simon Brady 2:13:42 (3rdMV50), 91st Zoe Hipwell 3:00:38, 97th Pauline Naylor 3:01:36, 127th Vikki Bean.
Also on Sunday, Queensbury RC’s Stephen Brook ran the Tatton Park 10k road race in Cheshire in 50.55 and was 1st vet 70.
There were 700 runners in the race and Stephen finished 290th. Due to Corvid restrictions spectators were advised not to attend. The race was held entirely in the grounds of the lovely Tatton Park in Cheshire.