Knaresborough Striders won the prize for the best team performance at the Harrogate 10K yesterday.
A total of 742 runners took part in the race — well up on last year’s 486.
It started and finished at Harrogate Sports and Fitness Club and took competitors around Crimple Valley, finishing with the dreaded ‘Crimple killer’ uphill final kilometre.
Organised by Harrogate Harriers, Olympic triathlon champion Jonny Brownlee was on hand to present trophies to the winners.
Ben Douglas, of Leeds City Athletic Club, claimed first place in the men’s race in 34 minutes and two seconds. The 33-year-old had won the Leeds 10K in May.
Jack Kelly, running for Knaresborough firm and race sponsors Harmony Energy, was runner-up for the second consecutive year.
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Rebecca Flaherty, of Bingley Harriers, took the women’s race in 37 minutes and 14 seconds — her mum Sarah was second.
Knaresborough Striders’ trio Tom Calvert, Dan Caven and James Ireland secured the Berwins team prize.
It went some way to alleviating the disappointment they felt at last month’s Great Knaresborough Bed Race, when they were part of the team who saw their hopes dashed when a wheel on their seized up.
A fun run for children preceded the adult event.
Here are some photos of the event.
Pictures by Richard O’Brien and Andrew Hawkes Photography
The winning Knaresborough Striders team
Mother and daughter Rebecca and Sarah Flaherty took first and second in the women’s race.
The men’s top three receive their prizes from Jonny Brownlee.
Still smiling despite the tough route.
Jonny Brownlee (left) and Peter Kavanagh, chief executive of race sponsors Harmony Energy.
About a thousand runners will take part in the Harrogate 10K on Sunday.
The event, organised by running club Harrogate Harriers, starts and finishes at Harrogate Sports and Fitness Club on Hookstone Road.
Olympic triathlon champion Jonny Brownlee will present medals to the winners of the adult races, which starts at 10am.
The adult event will be preceded by a fun run for children, which includes a 1.3 km route for children in school years 2-5 will and a 2.5 km course for those in years 6-9.
The event, sponsored again by Knaresborough renewable energy firm Harmony Energy, takes runners on around Crimple Valley, finishing with the notorious Crimple killer last uphill kilometre.
A total of 486 adults and 70 children took part last year. This year, more than 800 adults have already registered.
However, local running star Cal Mills, who set a men’s record of 33 minutes and 13 seconds last year, won’t be defending his title.
Cal Mills (green vest) on his way to victory last year.
The women’s race last year saw Emily Gibbins, of Ilkley Harriers, destroy the female record by more than four minutes in a winning time of 38 minutes and 15 seconds.
Entry for the 10k race can be done here https://racebest.com/races/375cy
Online entries, which can be booked here, close at 10am tomorrow. If places remain, you can enter on the day.
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Olympic gold medalist Jonny Brownlee to appear at Harrogate 10k
Olympic gold medalist Jonny Brownlee is set to appear at this year’s Harrogate 10k.
The annual event, which is celebrating its fifth year, will be held on Sunday, July 2, and start and finish at the Harrogate Sports and Fitness Centre.
British triathlon star Brownlee will present prizes to the top three runners in each award category.
The 33-year-old has won three Olympic medals in his career, including bronze in the individual triathlon at London 2012 and silver in the same race at Rio 2016.
He went on to win gold in the mixed relay at the Tokyo Olympics in 2020.
The event organisers, local running club Harrogate Harriers, are gearing up for the event with over 90 members volunteering to accommodate runners of all levels.
The Harrogate 10k. Picture: Ray Thomson.
The race will also see a fun run with children in school years 2-5 completing 1.3 km, and years 6-9 completing 2.5 km.
Sue Moul, race director and Harrogate Harriers club member, said:
“Harrogate Harriers are looking forward to welcoming 1,000 runners back to the Harmony Energy Run Harrogate 10k and fun run in 2023.
“Our beautiful course through the Crimple Valley and our Kids Fun Run means that this is something all the family can enjoy. The support of Harmony Energy is crucial as it enables us to share our love of running with our wider community.”
Peter Kavanagh, CEO of Harmony Energy which sponsors the race, said:
“We’re delighted to be back supporting such a brilliant local event. It’s great to see people of all ages taking part.
“Good luck to all those participating.”
For more information on the race and how to take part, visit the event website here.
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Business Breakfast: Knaresborough finance firm makes three new hires
It’s time to join the Stray Ferret Business Club. The third in our series of networking events in association with The Coach and Horses in Harrogate is a lunch event on March 30 from 12.30pm.
Don’t miss out on this chance to network with businesses from across the Harrogate district. Get your tickets by clicking or tapping here.
A Knaresborough-based financial advisory firm has hired three new employees as part of growth within its group.
Prosperis Ltd, which is based at St James Business Park, made the hires to meet demand from corporate clients locally and around the UK.
Corporate services associate Ben Morris has joined the firm at its Knaresborough head office, while Dominic Ferneyhough joins as an independent financial adviser at its Skipton office.
Meanwhile, Ryan Green joins as a trainee in Skipton.
Niall Gunn, managing director at Prosperis, said:
“Recruiting new staff is never easy but we are delighted to have secured the services of Dom, Ben and Ryan,
“We will look to add high quality staff to the team as we continue with our expansion plans this year.”
Knaresborough company to sponsor Harrogate 10k
A green energy company based in Knaresborough is to sponsor this year’s Harrogate 10k.
Harmony Energy announced this week it will sponsor the event, which is being held on Sunday, July 2, and organised by Harrogate Harriers.
Peter Kavanagh, Harmony Energy CEO, and Rachel Gregson, Harrogate Harriers’ communications officer
The annual race starts and finishes at Harrogate Sports and Fitness Centre on Hookstone Wood Road.
Peter Kavanagh, Harmony Energy chief executive, who along with five other Harmony employees ran last year’s 10k, said:
“We are delighted to once again be partnering with Harrogate Harriers to sponsor this year’s Harrogate 10k.
“I was approached last year by one of the committee, who lives near me, asking if we would consider sponsoring the Harrogate 10k. I’ve always enjoyed running and the health benefits it brings so I welcomed the opportunity to support the event.
“Harmony Energy already sponsors the Brownlee Foundation, which sees thousands of children taking part in triathlons, and it is great being able to support another sporting event involving children and adults on our doorstep.”
Rachel Gregson, Harrogate Harriers’ communications officer, said:
“Once again we are indebted to Harmony Energy for sponsoring the Harrogate 10k.
“Their funding allows us to not only stage the event, but to ensure it is properly marshalled, with first aiders and the necessary insurance in place.
“Last year nearly 500 runners took part in the event, and this year with covid fading into the distance we hope it will attract many more. It’s a really good course, takes in some beautiful scenery and is suitable for runners of all ages and abilities.”
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Harrogate man beats 10,000 runners to win Brighton half marathon
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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Records broken at today’s Harrogate 10k
The men’s and women’s course records were both broken at today’s Run Harrogate 10k.
A total of 486 adults took part in the event, which was organised by Harrogate Harriers. Another 70 children participated in an inaugural kids’ fun run.
Winner Cal Mills, representing Leeds City AC, set a new men’s record of 33 minutes and 13 seconds to finish 32 seconds ahead of Harrogate Harriers’ Jack Kelly.
Emily Gibbins, of Ilkley Harriers, obliterated the female record by more than four minutes in winning in a time of 38 minutes and 15 seconds.
Harrogate Harriers won both the men’s and women’s team events.
Struggling up the ‘Crimple killer’ in the final kilometre of the race.
The race, which was sponsored by Knaresborough renewable energy firm Harmony Energy, started and finished at Harrogate Sports and Fitness Centre.and took runners around Crimple Valley.
Entrants enjoyed mercifully cool conditions over the multi-terrain course, which finished with the notorious uphill Crimple killer last kilometre.
In line with many running events this year, entries were down on last year. full results are available here.
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Up to 1,000 runners set for Sunday’s Harrogate 10k
Up to 1,000 people are set to take part in the Run Harrogate 10k this weekend.
The annual race, which goes around Crimple Valley, is Harrogate Harriers‘ premier event of the year.
It starts at Harrogate Sports and Fitness Centre on Hookstone Wood Road at 10am on Sunday and finishes at the same place.
This year’s event, which is sponsored by Knaresborough renewable energy firm Harmony Energy, includes a new kids’ fun run, starting at 9am.
The fun run has a 1.3km run for children in years two to five at school and a 2.6km run for children in years six to nine.
Rudding Lane will be closed from about 9.30am to 11am while the race takes place.
The multi-terrain route is about 70 per cent tarmac road, with the remainder on good footpaths.
The men’s race record is 33 minutes and 29 seconds, set by Marcos Palacios. The women’s record is 42 minutes and 32 seconds, set by local athlete Tam Calder, who has entered this year.
Marcos Palacios
Tam Calder
About 550 people have entered so far. The race capacity is 1,000 so you can enter on the day.
Sue Moul, membership secretary at Harrogate Harriers, said:
“It’s our premier event and we are looking forward to welcoming everybody back to the course.”
All finishers receive a medal and goody bag and there is a £1,500 prize fund.
Entry fee for runners who aren’t affiliated to Harrogate Harriers is £19 if paid in advance.
The kids’ race costs £3 to enter and all proceeds are donated to CALM, the Campaign Against Living Miserably.
A donation from the adult races will go to Yorkshire Air Ambulance.
Further details are available here.