Penistone shine at Meltham ‘Tough’ 10k

The club enjoyed an outstanding day at the Meltham ‘Tough’ 10k, one of West Yorkshire’s most demanding winter road races, with both the men’s and ladies’ teams taking first place under the three-to-count format. Individually, Flynn Rogers led the club home with a fine fourth place overall in 36-49, followed closely by Richard Heppenstall, who finished eighth overall in 37-56. James Mumford continued his strong run of form with 11th place in 38-55, while George Parr was 16th in 39-40 as Penistone filled the leading positions on the hilly course. Veteran success was again a highlight, with Ian Neville winning the men’s over60 category in 44-16. In the women’s race, Rachael Mayston finished in 4th followed closely by Josie Smith in 5th, while Lesley Parker was awarded the first ladies over50 prize following a strong run in 48-44. Barbara Haigh claimed first place in the ladies over70 category, while solid performances throughout the field came from Jill Scrivens, Mandy Mallinder, Susan Charlesworth, Jane Cockerton, Tracy Woodward and Stu Smith as Penistone fielded one of the largest contingents on the day.

There was further representative success at championship level, where Penistone runner Graihagh Turner continued her impressive winter season at the Northern Cross Country Championships at Pontefract Racecourse. Competing for Rotherham Harriers, Turner finished sixth in a high-quality under-17 girls’ field, helping her club to secure the team title.

At parkruns over the weekend of 24 and 25 January, 75 Penistone seniors competed across a record 30 venues. There were first gender places for Jade Crosby at Rother Valley, Richard Cottam at Middleton Woods, and James Fryers at Herrington Country, while Jill Scrivens finished second female at Vermuyden Way and Hannah Shaw was third female at Sherwood Pines. At Barnsley, Ian Neville topped the over60 category, Alan Knox was first over70, and Ray Brown led the over85s, with further veteran wins at Penistone from Ashley Firth, Emily Duckett, Russ Lynam, Shaun Braddock, Sara Wolstenholme, Joanne Sammon and Danny Batty, who was first over80. Away from home, Sue Hall was first over65 at East Coast parkrun in Singapore, and Keith Gordon topped the over75 category at Holyrood. The standout age-graded performances of the weekend came from Dawn Godley (82.33%), Ian Neville (75.69%), Dawn Broom (75.68%), Richard Cottam (75.56%) and James Fryers (74.35%).