Driffield Striders buoyant men’s team had their best outing yet at the latest East Yorkshire Cross Country League race at Langdale End.
And the challenging North Yorkshire course also marked the first run for the club of 17-year-old Emma Jewitt – the youngest athlete in the event.
Two men in the first 15 – Neil Ridsdale (40.27) and Jon Morgan (42.10) – set a standard which other team members emulated.
Neil was seventh (first over 50) and Jon twelfth (first over 45), while Jaz Edeson (43.29), Jon Rodger (43.55) and Sean McDermott (44.04) enjoyed their own private battle.
John Purdey (45.08), race debutant Shaun Hobson (46.10), Andrew Boyes (50.38), Paul Goodlass (52.49), Paul Turner (53.35) and Martin Stack (57.43) completed the scoring.
For the women, Sian Morgan (48.16), Emma Jewitt (54.57) and Benita Jones (58.04) collected sufficient points to secure fifth place in the league. Heavy ground, a steep hill, mud and driving rain made Langdale a daunting venue for both experienced and novice competitors. Shaun Hobson described the hill as ‘the hardest thing I’ve ever done.’
The race winner was City of Hull’s Stuart Carmichael (36.37), with first woman Carla Stansfield (42.37), of Beverley AC.
Before the race started runners stood in silent tribute to remember Scarborough athlete John Trelfa, who died recently.
Team positions after three races: Men - 1 Hull, 2 Beverley, 3 Scarborough, 4 Driffield Striders, 5 Pocklington, 6 Goole, 7 Bridlington, 8 Selby; Women - 1 Hull, 2 Beverley, 3 Bridlington, 4 Scarborough, 5 Driffield Striders, 6 Pocklington, 7 Goole, 8 Selby.
*Neil Ridsdale and Jim Rodger’s setting of the fastest time for the Wolds Way route – a run they completed during summer – will feature in BBC One’s Countryfile programme on January 8.
