Proud day for Hallamshire athletes

Their men’s team were first Yorkshire team and second from the North, finishing eighth in a race won by Aldershot. Andy Heyes showed his class when he put Hallamshire in the lead, his time of 14:47 being the fastest of the race for the 5000m course. Bertie Houghton (16:05), Dave Archer (16:22) and Tommy Horton (16:10) all ran well.

In the women’s race, also won by Aldershot, Rotherham did well to finish ninth with a team of Zara Knappy (10:19, Steph Burns (10:43) and Sam Johnson (10:12). Hallamshire, too, did well with Hatti Archer being their fastest runner with 10:05 for the 3000m course.

Pride of place from the South Yorks contingent were the Hallamshire U13 girls team who finished third behind Blackheath and Herne Hill. Although she was the fastest Hallam runner with a time of 7:34, Zeena Hartley was back in 20th place on a very competitive opening stage. Emma Shipley (7:36) took them to fourth before Ruby Simpson (7:47) took them into the bronze medal position. Unusually, Hallamshire’s B team, through Isabel Causer, were fractionally ahead of their A team after the opening stage. They went on to finish 13 out of nearly 100.

In the junior men’s race City of Sheffield and Dearne finished 10th, their fastest runner being James Gormley who clocked 8:46 on the final stage whilst their under 17 men’s team finished 8th.

In this age group Connor Henderson was the fastest Sheffield runner with 9:15 on the final stage.

In the U15 girls race Hallamshire finished sixth, led by Jodie Hill, 10th on the first stage with 7:11 whilst their junior women’s team were 10th, Irani Wilson clocking 8:58 on the first stage.

In the U17 women’s race Rotherham were 10th after Mya Taylor brought them home in third place on the opening stage.