Pocklington 10K 2017 – race report

BEN Jones and Helen Cross claimed the spoils in the opening York and District Road Race League fixture at a wet and windy Pocklington.

Jones (University of York) held off Phil Elliott (York Knavesmire Harriers) by four seconds to take first place in a tight contest that saw six runners in contention until the latter stages of the 10k race.

Cross (York Triathlon Club) had a more comfortable victory in the women’s race, finishing almost a minute ahead of Charlotte Mason (City of York).

Jones, the 2014 series runner-up, clocked 34mins 6secs, with Elliott (34.10) and City of York’s Oliver Cockerill (34.15) completing the men’s top three.

Elliott was the first vet 40 athlete home, with Knavesmire’s Barry Atkinson (39.04) the top vet 50 and York Acorn’s Steve Boynton (39.31) the leading vet 60.

Cross, the champion in 2011 and 2010, clocked 36.56, and was also the top vet 35 woman.

Mason (37.52) and her City of York teammate Emma Ballantyne (37.55) completed the podium places.

Karen Wood (City of York) was the first vet 45 woman home in 43.41, while Jane Nodder (Knavesmire) took the vet 55 spoils in 46.38.

Knavesmire were the top men’s and women’s teams on the night, maintaining the form that saw them both crowned champions last year.

For coverage of the race in the York Press click here.