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Graihagh secures international selection after remarkable track and fell double
Graihagh Turner produced an outstanding weekend across track and fell, beginning with a place in the Senior Girls’ 1500m final at the English Schools’ Track and Field Championships. Representing South Yorkshire, Graihagh finished tenth in a high-quality national final in 4-42.89. The following day she travelled to Whinlatter for the Junior Home International trial, held as part of the FRA Junior Championships. Graihagh won the women’s race and under20 category in 37-41, placing ninth overall in the combined field and finishing just two seconds ahead of the second woman. The victory secured her selection for the Junior Home International.
Our women enjoyed success at our own Thurlstone Chase, where 38 club members completed the challenging 4.2-mile fell race. Suzanne McGill won the ladies over50 category in 32-27, Josie Smith took the ladies over40 prize in 32-47, Dawn Godley was first lady over65 in 41-28 and Barbara Haigh won the ladies over75 category in 49-06. Jill Scrivens was second lady over55, Valentina Wright third lady over55 and Sue Hall second lady over65. Oliver France led Penistone overall in 12th place in 30-45, followed by Steve Sanders in 16th, Ryan Duckett in 17th, George Parr in 19th and Jon Hallam in 20th. Ian Neville won the men’s over60 category in 32-08, while Steve was second over50, Ryan second over40 and Jon third over45. Alan Knox was second over70 and Ray Brown won the men’s over80 category.
Nichola McNally produced one of the week’s standout road performances at the Buxton Carnival 4, finishing second female overall and first lady over55 in 27-54. Her time also broke the Penistone ladies over55 club record. John Broom also entered the record books again at the Trafford Grand Prix, clocking 11-39.53 for 3,000 metres to break the men’s over55 club record.
Dawn Broom represented Welsh Masters at the Wales v England, Northern Ireland and Armed Forces International 5K Championships in Shrewsbury. Racing over five laps of a tarmac cycle track in temperatures reaching 33 degrees, Dawn recorded a chip time of 23-52 to finish 11th in the ladies over60 category.
Hannah Shaw secured a category podium at the Crich Monument Race, finishing fifth female overall and third in the women’s 20–39 category. Hannah placed 29th overall in 59-35. Ashley Howlett led Penistone across the line in 26th place overall, finishing 11th in the men’s 20–39 category in 58-52. Olivia Clough completed the Normanby Hall 10k in 1-02-54.
George Parr led Penistone at the Hathersage Gala fell race, finishing 26th overall in 36-49. Rebecca Timms completed the Peak District course in 50-34, with Jill Scrivens finishing in 53-12. Steve Sanders produced another excellent fell-running performance at the Charlesworth and Chisworth Carnival Chase, taking fifth place overall and third in the men’s over50 category in 28-00 despite extremely hot afternoon conditions. At the Peak Forest Fell Race, Damian Kilpin claimed first place in the men’s over40 category. Steve Sanders, Shaun Swallow, Jill Scrivens, Charlotte Metcalfe, Andrew Metcalfe and Keith Gordon also represented Penistone on the scenic course over Eldon Hill.
Brent Carlin and David Lovatt tackled the 8 Stations Ultra, a 50km linear trail route from Whitby to Pickering which loosely follows the railway and visits eight stations. Brent finished 13th overall and fourth in the men’s over40 category in 5-37-42, while David completed the demanding route in 8-08-04 to place 95th. Greg Slack also completed an unofficial run over the cancelled Snowdonia Trail Marathon Eryri route, covering 37.8 miles with 8,337ft of ascent in 9-09-00.
At Saturday’s parkruns, Jade Crosby led the women’s achievements by taking first female at Penistone in 21-04, with Emily Duckett second female in 22-08 and Heather Simpson first lady over50 in 22-56. Sarah Bradley placed second lady over35 and Olivia Clough second senior woman under20. Sean Pitt finished second overall in 17-52, while George Parr won the senior men’s category and Ryan Duckett was first over50. Alex Crosby recorded a personal best of 20-19, while Ray Brown and Danny Batty won the men’s over85 and over80 categories respectively. Suzanne McGill took third female at Rother Valley in 21-34. Elsewhere, Jane Lawcock was first lady over60 at Battlestead Croft and Ann Lindop first lady over65 at Middleton Woods. John Broom was first over55 at Haughmond Hill, Keith Gordon first over75 at Perry Hall and Flynn Rogers first junior under15 at Hillsborough. At Barnsley, Dawn Godley won the ladies over65 category, with Ian Neville first over60 and Alan Knox first over70. Godley produced the weekend’s highest age grading with 78.02%, followed by McGill on 77.74%, Ryan Duckett on 75.38%, Rob Lees on 75.30% and Damian Kilpin on 74.85%. In total, 77 Penistone seniors competed across 21 venues.