Runners shine across Endure24 and Eccup races

Endure24 Leeds formed one of the major focuses of the weekend, with Penistone members involved in three strong team performances at the 24-hour relay. Team Compound, which included some runners who are also members of Penistone Footpath Runners, completed 29 laps in 22-59-09 to finish 71st overall out of 1,030 teams, 38th of 257 mixed teams and 23rd of 76 in the mixed large team category. Powered by beer and regret, featuring Sue Braddock, Linda Walton, Rachael Mayston, Jill Carlton and Shaun Swallow, completed 25 laps in 22-33-58. They finished 145th overall, 86th mixed team and 35th of 137 in the mixed small team category, with Swallow recording the team’s fastest lap in 37-48. Legends of The Loop, which included Mark Graham and Heather Graham, also completed 25 laps, finishing in 22-58-57. The mixed large team placed 151st overall, 90th mixed team and 43rd of 76 in category.

Penistone also enjoyed success at the Hollybank Eccup 10 and 5 Mile Races, with the 10-mile event incorporating the Yorkshire Veterans Athletic Association 10 Mile Championship. Nichola McNally produced an excellent run in the 10-mile race, finishing 78th overall in 1-10-59 and taking first place in the ladies over55 category, earning a championship trophy. Suzanne McGill was close behind in 93rd, clocking 1-12-52 to finish third in the ladies over50 category, also picking up a championship trophy and flowers. In the 5-mile race, James Mumford placed seventh overall in 30-08 and was second in the men’s over45 category.

There was Friday evening action at the Donfaster 5K, where Gareth Irvine led Penistone home in 20-31 to finish 91st. Sarah Bradley followed in 23-40 for 125th, with Gemma Nutton close behind in 23-46 for 129th. Dawn Godley was also in action at the Gin Pit 5 Mile Trail Race on Sunday, completing the course in 43-09 to finish 57th overall and second in the ladies over65 category. Martyn Goodwin was in midweek fell action at the Hope Wakes fell race, covering the six-mile course with 1,500ft of climbing in 1-10-13. He finished 61st overall and narrowly missed out on first place in the men’s over65 category.

There was junior success at the Hoylandswaine Junior Hill Races, where Matilda Cottam finished third girl, while her brother Thom Cottam also competed in the boys’ race. Further afield, Jim Simpson completed the Love Trails Festival 16km race in 1-53 on a warm, hilly and scenic course with more than 1,400ft of climbing. Harriet Drouin took on the 30-mile route at the University Big Walk, completing 30.8 miles in 7-13 while raising money for research into children’s lung disease. Although the event was aimed primarily at walkers, Drouin believed she was the second woman to finish, despite taking a heavy fall at mile 28 and later requiring treatment in minor injuries.

At the Saunders Lakeland Mountain Marathon, Penistone runners completed a demanding two-day event in the Lake District. In the Carrock Fell class, Tom Fryers and Flynn Rogers finished 50th overall and 27th in the men’s standings in 11-54-56. In the Fairfield score class, Steve Sanders and Damian Kilpin collected 470 points in a total time of 10-38-41, placing 31st overall, 21st in the men’s standings and 20th in the veteran standings. Myfanwy Cross and Mandy Mallinder were also in fell action at the Great Hucklow fell race on Sunday morning, with results still to be confirmed.

At the weekend’s parkruns, 59 Penistone seniors competed across 21 venues. James Fryers claimed first place at Tyne Green in 18-26, while Jade Crosby was first female at Nostell in 20-59 as she completed her 50th parkrun. Nicky Spinks was second female at Girvan Prom, with Richard Cottam and Emily Duckett both taking third gender places at Penistone. There were also major milestones for Julia Johnson, who marked her 200th parkrun at Poolsbrook with the weekend’s highest age grading of 87.19%, and John Lawcock, who completed his 300th parkrun at Oaklands College. Other leading age-graded performances came from Dawn Broom (85.58%), Dawn Godley (79.94%), Richard Cottam (78.32%) and Nicky Spinks (75.92%).