First place at Markfield

Hermitage Harriers delivered another impressive performance last weekend at Markfield 10k. The race was the second fixture in the LRRL winter league calendar and tempted 596 runners over the starting mat, including 42 Harriers.

Alistair Watson took first place overall at the race, and was almost an entire minute ahead of the second place finisher. Watson, who crossed the line in an impressive 31.05, was joined by teammates Matt Adcock in fourth place and Tony Woodward in seventh, clocking 33.32 and 34.21 respectively. Furthermore, the men’s team secured ten spots within the top ten percent of finishers. This included an impressive performance by first time road-racer Kristian Bravin who set a 10k PB with a time of just 36.52.

For the Hermitage ladies, club new-girl Bonita Robinson was first home in a time of 43.07. She was joined by Joanne Matthews just eight seconds later with Matthews finishing as first veteran lady with a time of 43.15. Third lady Harrier over the line was Zoe Sewter who set a 10k PB in 44.42.

The club introduced six road-race first timers at the event including Eddie Byrne, Mark Farragher, Fraser Harris and Debbie Payne, all of whom delivered impressive performances. In addition, several seasoned racers set new personal bests at the race, with James Willoughby, Rob Wells, Darryl Johnson, Pete Armstrong, Bobby Wisehall and Katie Wright all setting 10k PBs and Edward Quinn and Kelly Garrigan-Cooper

setting course PBs. Shaun Coulton also clocked up his fastest time on the Markfield course in five years.

Some of the ‘silver donkeys’ took the race as an opportunity for some extra endurance training. Dean Kelleher, Matthew Moore, Edward Quinn, Darryl Johnson, Rob Wells, Caroline Townsend, Tracey Richardson-Lyne and Carla Johnson all ran to the event as part of their training towards long distance events in 2015.

The next winter league race is Kibworth 6 on Sunday 8th March. It is a course renowned for its ‘killer hill’, but the Harriers aren’t too worried; after all, donkeys are excellent at navigating hills!