Hallamshire Women and Men Take Yorkshire Titles

Heavy rain and thick treacherous mud could not slow down the men and women’s teams of Hallamshire Harriers. For the first time in recent memory they took both the men’s and women’s titles on a very wet and boggy Kiveton Park course.

The women ran first and narrowly defeated a strong team from Holmfirth. They were led home by Katie Palfreman in an excellent 4^th place. With Laura Smith, Charlotte Slack and Evie Brailsford finishing in12,13^th and 21^st respectively to take the team gold.

The men have an ongoing rivalry with the Leeds team, but as current title holders turned up with a large team and quiet confidence. Andy Heyes, current Sheffield Half Marathon record holder, led the team home taking the individual silver. This was despite recently recovering from recent Covid infection. Andy had excellent support from Cameron Bell, Jamie Hall, Chris Law, Johnathan Crickmore and Connor Milnes. The Hallamshire men narrowly defeated Leeds again!

Not to be outrun by their senior team mates. There were also some strong performances by the Hallamshire youngsters. Jonah Cooper took the Under 15s boys title. Tom Thake won the U13 boys convincingly on his 12^th birthday. The U13 boys also took the team silver, with Evan Skhul and William Martin completing the team.

Yorkshire vests were also hard earned by Izzy-Mai Wilson, showing a welcome return and Hannah Metherall.

The leading Hallamshire   cross country runners will represent Yorkshire at the Inter Counties Championship at Prestwood Hall in Loughborough on the 12^th of March

Hallamshire Harriers old and young dominate at South Yorkshire Cross Country Championship

Local bragging rights were on offer at Graves Park on Sunday, at the South Yorkshire Cross Country Championship. Hallamshire rose to the challenge with the famous red vest out in force. The steep hills and thick slippery mud of the park offered a tough alternative to Christmas shopping for the 500 plus runners taking part.

The men led off proceedings, back on the course where they won at the Northern Cross Country Relays, with Hallamshire taking up more than half the top 20 placings, to comfortably take the team prize. Chris Law led home the men in 2^nd place with Evan Brown in 3^rd and John Birch in 4^th. Tom Bailey also won the V40 title.

The women also performed strongly with Eve Pannone finishing a strong 3^rd and Nicola Squires finished first V35 in an excellent 9^th place.

After the senior races the course became increasingly churned up, but Hallamshire continued to be at the front. Euan Patton took a dominant victory in the U17 boys race. Jonah Cooper repeated the feat winning the U15 boys with Jack Winter taking a fine second place.

The younger Hallamshire runners were even more dominant. The U13 boys claimed 4 of the first 5 place. Brothers Tom and Joe Thake leading the boys home, in 1^st and 2^nd respectively, with Evan Skuhl in 3^rd and William Martin in 5^th , after a fine sprint finish.

The youngest U11 runners book ended a fine day for Sheffield’s oldest club. Max Taylor took the title with Jacob Dawe a close second and Beau Pronesti 3rd. Ollie Howson and Will Clarke offered great support finishing 4^th and 6^th respectively.

Not be outdone by the boys, the U11 girls also comfortably won their team competition. Jessica Thake matched her older brother, winning the individual gold. Neela Watkinson finished a fine second. Freya Hill, Isobel Maxwell and Taylor Baum offered strong support.

Further afield, Lauren Hayes, competing for the GB women’s team at the European Cross Country Championship, won an amazing team gold medal less than a year after giving birth to her first child.

The next major cross country fixture will be the Yorkshire Championship, taking place at Kiveton Park Rotherham on the 8^th of January.