A Harrogate man who only took up running three years ago beat nearly 10,000 runners to win the Brighton half marathon on Sunday.

Cal Mills, 22, completed the 13.1-mile course in one hour, six minutes and 37 seconds, which was faster than the world record time until 1965, when Britain’s Ron Hill ran one hour, five minutes and 44 seconds.

Ugandan Jacob Kiplimo’s current world record is 57 minutes and 31 seconds and Mo Farah’s British record for the distance is 59 minutes and 32 seconds.

What’s even more remarkable is that former Harrogate Grammar School student Cal only started running at the age of 19 and is virtually unknown in the sport.

He won his first event, the Guy Fawkes 10k organised by Nidd Valley Road Runners, in 2021 and followed that up by winning the Harrogate 10k last year.

Leading the field in last year’s Harrogate 10k.

After finishing 10th in this year’s Manchester half marathon, he turned up in Brighton hoping for a decent time and ended up smoking everyone, being cheered to victory by thousands of people on his way to the finish line. He said:

“It’s absolutely mad. It was the craziest atmosphere I have ever run in. I have never felt like that before when I crossed the line.”

Cal, who is in his final year studying history at the University of Leeds and runs for Leeds City Athletic Club, wasn’t into running at school and only got into the sport seriously during lockdown.

In the space of three years he has gone from Stray jogger to elite distance runner. The Brighton half marathon, which was being held for the 33rd time, is a major event on the British road running circuit.

Celebrating in Brighton on Sunday

Cal’s next event will be the London marathon in April and despite his achievements he isn’t putting any pressure on himself.

“It’s been a surreal journey. Nobody knew my name at Brighton. If I had started when I was younger, who knows where I could have taken it.

“But I just want to enjoy it. If I end up being a high standard club runner that’s fine by me.”

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Ripon Together has unveiled its FunFest programme of free summer activities and events for the city’s children and young people.

It is working in partnership with Ripon Business Improvement District on the initiative.

Details about the activities, ranging from river dipping in the River Skell to an exhibition wheelchair rugby match at Ripon Grammar School, can be found by clicking here.

The programme, which runs from Saturday August 6 until Thursday August 18, is inclusive and open to people of all abilities at venues with good accessibility.

Simon Hewitt, of Ripon Together, told the Stray Ferret:

“We have built on what we learned from running the post-covid lockdown Summer of Fun 2021 and focused on events that proved popular last year, while adding new activities.”

Ripon Spa Croquet Club, whose lawns are located at Studley Royal Cricket Club (pictured below) is offering the opportunity for young people to try their hand at the sport and child-sized mallets will be available.

The huge natural amphitheatre with its clubhouse, is the principal FunFest venue for events and activities on August 15, 16 and 18, including junior cricket and athletics coaching, an inflatable obstacle course, air rifle shooting and archery and a free hog roast and ice cream, supported by Morrisons supermarket.

Steve Harris, a trustee at the cricket club, said:

“We are very pleased to work alongside Ripon Together, Ripon BID and croquet club members, to support these community activities, which will benefit children and their families.”

The FunFest programme starts on Saturday August 6, with Friends of Hell Wath running forest schools at the nature reserve, funded by the Skell Valley Project.

There will also be a drumming workshop and family groups are invited to see what they can discover about doing some river dipping.

Swimming, climbing and Lego

Ripon Disability Forum in liaison with GB Wheelchair Rugby, has organised and exhibition match between Featherstone’s Yorkshire Lions and County Durham’s North East Bulls at Ripon Grammar School on August 13.

The school on Clotherholme Road will also be offering accessible swimming, a climbing wall and giant board games on that day while, in the city centre, Ripon Library will be the venue for a bicycle MOT, Lego event and sports and information roadshow.

David Ingham of Ripon Together said:

“We hope that as many children, young people and families as possible come to enjoy the free activities and we have made arrangements with YorBus for them to provide free travel to venues.

“This service can be accessed via the YorBus app and bookings for participation in the various activities that we have arranged can be made via the Ripon Together website.”

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A school in Harrogate is to honour a former pupil who became the first woman to run a mile in under five minutes.

Diane Leather, who attended Harrogate Ladies’ College, made history on May 29 1954 in Birmingham when she ran a mile in 4 minutes and 59.6 seconds.

She only received a fraction of the acclaim given to Roger Bannister when he ran the first sub-four-minute mile 23 days earlier.

Her former school plans to establish an award for promising female runners in recognition of her extraordinary feat.

Sylvia Brett, the principal of the college, said:

“Diane was a pioneer and an amazing athlete. We’re determined her legacy for female athletes won’t be forgotten, and we hope the new award will help others achieve their dreams.”

The school intends to establish the award for athletes as part of its annual Speech Day.

Inspired by the Olympics

Staffordshire-born Diane attended Harrogate Ladies’ College between 1943 and 1951 and enjoyed all sports, particularly netball and lacrosse, but her running ability marked her out from a young age.

She trained as a chemist and joined her local athletics club, Birchfield Harriers, after watching the Helsinki Olympics in 1952.

The following year she set a women’s ‘best’ for running a mile in 5 minutes and 2.6 seconds. After she broke the record she recorded another two sub-five-minute miles by running 4 minutes 50.8 seconds and 4 minutes 45 second.

It wasn’t for another 13 years until after she set the ‘best’ time that the International Amateur Athletics Federation, now known as World Athletics, recognised women’s world records for the mile. Unfounded medical concerns meant women were banned from the Olympic marathon until 1984 and only began ski jumping at the Winter Olympics in 2014.