Leeds City finish out of the medals

The Leeds men’s team who were never really in contention after the opening stage, where they came in 30 seconds. On stage 3, a long stage, James Wilkinson gained 15 places for Leeds to bring them into 14th with a time of 26:17 and James Walsh was even faster on the ninth stage. He moved through to seventh with 26:06, the third fastest of the day.

Although Simon Deakin took Leeds to sixth on the penultimate stage they had to settle for seventh place at the end. Leeds had the fastest B team with 26 placed.

Holmfirth had their moment of glory in the early stages. Mark Buckingham gave them the lead on the opening stage with 26:07 and Dave Turnbull retained the lead on the second stage.

Tipton, who included Leeds-based Ian Mitchell, won a close race from Newham & Essex Beagles.

The women’s six stage race was won by Aldershot but Leeds were only eight seconds away from a medal in fourth place. They were given a good start by Lorna Young (16:59) but their star runner was Susan Partridge who picked up nine places on the fourth stage to take Leeds into third place. Her time was 16:39.

Although Leeds held third on the next stage they slipped to fourth at the end.

Hallamshire’s Hattie Dean was runner-up on the first stage with a fast time of 16:06; the third fastest of the day. Hallamshire then went into the lead through Callie Thackray but they had not got a complete team and could not finish.

Wakefield’s Julie Briscoe finished third in the Brighton Marathon yesterday in two hours, 41 minutes, nine seconds, one place ahead of Rotherham’s Jenny Blizzard who clocked 2:46:01.