Harriers take the win in handicap race...

The Harrogate District Summer Race League concluded with the Norman Smith Handicap Race on 16 July, hosted by Wetherby Runners AC. The handicap works by assigning individual start times based on each runner’s performance in the previous four races in the league.

Runners set off in groups at 30-second intervals and in theory (but rarely in practice), all participants should finish around the same time.

The Thirsk and Sowerby Harriers had some excellent results in the handicap race itself, with Richard Grant taking first place and Alex Miller taking third place.

In the overall league, Paul Peacock and Esther Harrison were both first in their age categories.

On the same evening six Harriers were taking on the Redcar 5K, which is the summer event in the 2025 Coast Road race series. Tom Levi, Tom Clegg, Nigel Morgan, Michelle Barratt, Frances Balance and Ian Codling all took part with several racers setting personal bests. Frances, who recently joined the club after completing the Beginners to 5K course, reported that the race was very picturesque along the sea front with a really supportive atmosphere and a fast course – and it all paid off with a personal best of over 2 minutes!

Tom Levi also secured a new best time, coming in fourth overall in 16:12.

It was also a busy evening over in the North York Moors for six Harriers at the Cock Howe and Beyond fell race, which is the sixth race in the Dave Parry Let’s Run Summer Fell Race Series.
















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