Harriers take to the road to conquer hilly Sheffield course
IT was a busy weekend for Rotherham Harriers and Athletics Club who saw their runners taking on a variety of events.
At the Sheffield Half Marathon there were several athletes taking part with a club spokesperson praising them all.
"From the start, conditions were tough. Strong winds swept across the course, making it hard to settle into a rhythm and turning sections into a real battle, especially when running head-on into it. It was one of those days where effort mattered more than pace,” they said.
“And then… the hills. Sheffield doesn’t hold back. The opening miles gradually draw you in before the long climb out towards Ecclesall Road and Ringinglow begins. A steady, relentless uphill that tests both legs and lungs early on. It’s not just one hill either – it’s continuous climbing that forces you to dig deep and manage your effort carefully.
“Even once you reach the top, the course keeps you honest. The downhill sections offer some relief, but tired legs and blustery winds make it far from easy, and those late undulations remind you there’s no such thing as a ‘free mile’ in Sheffield!”
Harriers results: Sarah Lowery 1:28:42, Neil Shaw 1:44:54, Angela Lally 1:48:04, David Ian Walters 1:57:05, Marie Lomax 2:09:58, Joanne Palmer 2:33:06, Helen Hollingworth 2:33:47, Andrew Rogers 3:04:02.
There was also Harriers taking part in a great day of racing at the Northern 12 & 6 Stage Relays and Young Athletes 5K Championships. The Men’s team delivered a strong performance in the 12 Stage Relay, finishing an impressive 11th out of 39 teams in a time of 3:45:17 against top competition from across the North.
It was a real team effort across all 12 stages, with great runs from: Daniel Reeve, Richard Harris, James Mellor, Sam Clegg, Ben Burton, Theo Armitage, Toby Wildgoose, Vincent Johnson, Matthew Parker, Gareth Sampson, Kyle Craib and Aidan Johnson.
And in the Under 17 Men’s 5K, promising young runner Harry Orr produced an excellent performance to finish 10th overall, clocking 16:14 in a high-quality field.