Yorkshire title and road success

Our runners enjoyed a standout Valentine’s weekend with a Yorkshire championship title on the fells, multiple age-category victories and strong performances on the roads and at parkrun venues nationwide.

At the Hoppits Hill Race, which incorporated the 2026 Yorkshire Under-16, Under-18 and Under-20 Championship races, Graihagh Turner produced one of the performances of the weekend, winning the Yorkshire Under-20 girls title and finishing an impressive 21st overall in the senior race. There was further success for Penistone in the senior field, with Josie Smith first in the ladies over40 category. Bernice Nixon and Barbara Haigh also secured age-category victories, underlining the club’s strength across the generations. Jon Hallam led the senior men home in 40th place, followed by Ian Neville (45th), James Mumford (48th) and Shaun Swallow (57th). Ashley Howlett (62nd) and Hannah Shaw (63rd) were close behind, with Andrew Shiel (72nd) and Rachael Mayston (73rd) also finishing strongly. Further Penistone finishers included Steve Dickinson (84th), Gemma Nutton (86th), Jill Scrivens (87th), Mandy Mallinder (92nd), Jen Holley (94th), Raymond Brown (98th) and Steve Dommett (99th).

Elsewhere on the fells, Harriet Drouin and Brent Carlin took on the demanding Winter Reverse Half Tour of Bradwell, covering 17.5 miles with 3,478 feet of elevation across tough Peak District terrain. Brent finished 23rd overall in 2-54-18 in the men’s over40 category, while Harriet completed the course in 4-07-06 to place 143rd overall. Damian Kilpin enjoyed a busy fell-running weekend. On Saturday he finished 15th overall in 53-11 at the At The Double Fell Race near Saltburn, part of the Dave Parry LETS RUN Winter Fell Race Series 2025/26. He followed that up on Sunday with 28th place in 53-12 at the Midgley Moor Fell Race, organised by Calder Valley Fell Runners.

On the roads, Penistone were well represented at the Wombwell 5 Mile Road Race on Sunday 15 February. Despite recent rain and cold spells, conditions were favourable on the day at the event organised by Kingstone Runners and supported by more than 50 marshals and volunteers. Sean Pitt led the club home with 29-10 to place 22nd overall. Alan Nutton followed in 30-19, finishing tenth in the men’s over40 category, while Ben Malcolm ran 32-25 and Richard Williams 32-41. Dawn Godley delivered a standout performance, recording 39-28 to finish 193rd overall and take first place in the ladies over65 category, improving her previous best for the distance by more than three minutes. Michael Walsh ran 38-08, with Callum Page finishing in 40-07. Bill Phillips claimed second in the men’s over75 category in 45-25. Luke McGuinness completed the course in 46-00, while John Howsham ran 52-10 while guiding a visually impaired runner. Dianne McGuinness finished in 1-00-07 in the ladies over60 category.

Further road action saw Stefan Butler-Gillen compete at the 2026 Watersons Hale 10K, finishing in 55-00 (chip time) in a field of 1,675 runners. Ian McNulty ran 1-55-41 at the Media City Half Marathon in Salford, placing 83rd in the men’s over45 category.

Saturday’s parkrun action saw 49 Penistone seniors compete across 14 venues. James Fryers claimed an outright victory at Whitekirk Hill in 18-26. At Barnsley, Emily Duckett secured second female place in 23-21. Richard Cottam was first in the men’s over40 category in 19-16, Martin Ball first in the men’s over50 category in 20-49, Ian Neville first in the men’s over60 category in 21-16 and Shaun Swallow first in the men’s over55 category in 22-34. Ryan Duckett was third in the men’s over45 category, Emma Stead first in the ladies over45 category, Hannah Sammon first senior woman and Ray Brown first in the men’s over85 category, with Stu Smith completing duties as tail walker. Elsewhere, Jon Hallam was first in the men’s over45 category at Roundhay, Rob Davies third in the men’s over60 category at Nostell, Rory O’Sullivan third in the men’s over50 category at Concord and Keith Gordon first in the men’s over75 category at Zuiderpark. A major milestone was celebrated at Sherwood Pines where Dianne McGuinness completed her 250th parkrun. The highest age-graded performances of the weekend came from Ian Neville (75.39%), Martin Ball (73.19%), Richard Cottam (72.49%), James Fryers (70.06%) and Ryan Duckett (69.30%).