It was great to be back amongst the Yorkshire Veterans Athletics Association (YVAA) community after the long winter layoff. As one runner remarked, “You feel like wishing everyone happy new year, then remember it’s April”. These masters runners hadn’t gathered since last autumn’s final race of the series at Ackworth, so the first YVAA Grand Prix of the season really does feel like a meeting of long-lost friends.
The first of ten multi-terrain Grand Prix races was hosted, as it is every year, at Honley by Holmfirth Harriers. The course is testing and hilly, with 1200 ft of total elevation up and down the Pennine hills. There are some tricky technical sections akin to a fell race that can at times take your mind away from soaking up the beautiful views. And there are llamas, which you don’t often see in the Pennines.
Strong Debuts and Solid Performances
Dawn Bennett stole the show for the Vale, making her Yorkshire vets debut and taking third in the F45 category. Her husband Paul also had a strong showing as 10th M45 in a stacked field of over 300. Ian Martin took 1st M55 and Beverley Horsfield brought the team home as 14th F50, out-sprinting one of her F50 rivals just before the line. Those age category labels on the back of vests really do give you something to aim for.
After complimentary tea and cakes there was the usual prize-giving with Dawn picking up a Toblerone, and Ian a Mizuno t-shirt that was at least three sizes too small for him. He contemplated trying it on, but thought better of it, deciding it would be a better fit for his eleven-year-old daughter. The Bennett children will probably get the lion’s share of her Toblerone too.
Join the Team for Round Two
Entries are still open for the series, with the next race being the slightly flatter but no less picturesque Kirkstall, which sets off from the grounds of Kirkstall Abbey. Vale of York are currently 10th in the mixed team competition: there’s plenty of racing left, and we’d love to have more masters runners join us.
For more details and to enter the league visit: yvva.org.
