Yorkshire Cross Country Championships

Rotherham Harriers had another successful day at the 2017 event, held at Lightwater Valley, North Stainley on the 7th January.

We had a total of 10 complete teams across the 10 age groups and 8 races.

For the first time for a number of years, the club had an individual champion as Mya Taylor took her promising start to this season to another level with an emphatic win in the U17 women's race - and it is her first year in the age group! Joe Massingham placed 3rd in the Junior men's race, and was the only other club individual medal winner.

The championships are not only about individual winners though, and the club athletes showed great team spirit and commitment to do their absolute best for the club teams.

Nowhere was this more evident than in the senior women's race, where the club athletes battled to beat rivals Leeds City by just one point. It was clear from the situation at the end of the first lap that it would be close, with Samantha Johnson and Zara Knappy in the lead group with several Leeds athletes in close attendance. Unfortunately Samantha, who had been suffering with a viral infection over Christmas, had to drop out as she was not fully recovered and able to perform to her usual high standard. This suggested that Leeds would now be unbeatable, but with Leeds' Georgia Malir having to drop out with an injured ankle, the race become wide open again and at the end Zara's fine 5th place was backed up by Emma Parkinson (10th), Steph Burns (11th) and Fiona Davies (14th after a very strong last lap) to seal the 5th team win in a row at this event. Holmfirth Harriers were 3rd team

Mya Taylors individual win was backed up by a fine run from Cyane Robinson in 4th and Ellis Jackson in 20th to seal the team gold medal.

The under 15 girls were out in strength, with 3 full teams. Only local rivals Hallamshire could match that turnout, and they were clear winners of the 1st team award, with The Harriers trio of Lucy Elliott, Keiva Rennocks and Leah Hayward all having good runs to finish 10 points ahead of the Ilkley team in 3rd place.

The senior men's team secured a bronze team medal (to add to the silver medals they won last year) thanks to godd performances by the 6 scoring athletes. Hallamshire were clear team winners with Leeds City in 2nd place.

Former Harrier Iain Whitaker, now living in Edinburgh and competing for Edinburgh AC, qualifing to run through his birth in the county, had a good run to finish 15th individual.

Full Rotherham Harriers results

Under 13 boys Team 11th

19 0:09:29 GILBERT, Joshua

32 0:09:37 JESSOP, Jay

54 0:10:02 HUTSON, Daniel

U13 girls A team 11th, B team 23rd

23 0:10:06 TUNE, Romany

52 0:10:49 SENIOR, Lauren

58 0:10:55 HARPHAM, Megan

67 0:11:07 BUTCHER, Hayley

76 0:11:28 WALSH, Marci

80 0:11:41 TAYLOR, Cadence

U15 Boys Team 6th

11 0:14:37 MORTON, Elliot

23 0:15:39 STEAD, Bailey

31 0:15:55 BEATON, William

45 0:16:33 STEELE, Jack

U15 Girls A team 2nd, B team 11th C team 13th

9 0:14:53 ELLIOTT, Lucy

14 0:15:13 RENNOCKS, Keiva

20 0:15:33 HAYWARD, Leah

30 0:15:59 STROUGHAIR, Abby

40 0:16:35 MOUNT, Bethany

47 0:16:55 PLATTS, Mollie

49 0:17:07 BALL, Emma

55 0:18:16 WARD, Macey

62 0:19:49 SAMPSON, Kiera

U17 Women Team 1st

1 0:16:17 TAYLOR, Mya

4 0:17:14 ROBINSON, Cyane

20 0:19:41 JACKSON, Ellis

26 0:20:33 MORTON, Grace

Junior Men

3 0:27:51 MASSINGHAM, Joe

Senior Women Team 1st

5 0:31:20 KNAPPY, Zara

10 0:32:18 PARKINSON, Emma

11 0:32:38 BURNS, Stephanie

14 0:33:39 DAVIES, Fiona

26 0:34:55 STEPANCHUK, Alina

28 0:35:06 HUTSON, Elizabeth

Senior Men Team 3rd

11 0:35:27 SMALES, Elliot

22 0:36:21 LARKIN, Arron

29 0:36:59 HARRIS, Richard

42 0:37:29 CLEGG, Samuel

57 0:38:09 HOOLE, Philip

59 0:38:12 SAMPSON, Gareth

169 0:43:58 GRIFFITHS, Chris

216 0:47:25 GALLACHER, James