Wistow 10K 2018 – Race report
Emma Ballantyne
EMMA Ballantyne sealed the York & District Road Race League women’s title with a dominant victory in the final round at Wistow.
Ballantyne (City of York) won her fourth race of the 10k series by almost two minutes in hot conditions to take the title in style.
Ian Ellwood (York Postal Harriers) secured his second straight victory in the men’s category, but having only completed three races he did not feature in the final standings.
With runners’ best four races to count, Ballantyne’s wins at Pocklington, Tadcaster, Easingwold and then Wistow meant she took the title by six points from her clubmate Jessica Troy. York Knavesmire Harriers’ Victoria Sewell finished third, a further two points back.
On the night, Ballantyne clocked 37mins 54secs, with Nik Tarrega (Knavesmire) second in 39.51.
Already the vet 35 women’s champion, Knavesmire’s Sarah Attwood came home third in 40.38.
Lucy Pinder (Knavesmire) was the second vet 35 woman across the line in 41.19, followed by Pocklington’s Katie Wise in 43.16.
The first three vet 45 women home at Wistow matched the category’s final standings, with York Acorn’s Julie Lawn (44.50) taking the spoils from Easingwold’s Sheila Capper (46.48) and Pocklington’s Alison Thornton (47.02).
Knavesmire’s Jet Jon Shepherd (46.05) was the leading vet 55 lady, which meant she finished tied for first place in the standings with Acorn’s Gill Boynton, who was second on the night in 46.33.
Jane Nodder (Knavesmire) was third home in 49.14 and also finished there in the series.
The vet 65 women’s result also matched the series standings, with Knavesmire’s Mary Farmery (53.41) first, ahead of Pocklington’s Kathryn Taylor (56.42). Liz Piper (Knavesmire) was third in 1.11.35.
Ian Ellwood (right) and Paul Whitaker
Ellwood had won by more than 30 seconds in round five at Bishop Wilton, but this edged out Gareth Green (Knavesmire) by a far smaller margin.
The York Postal runner clocked 34.33 to Green’s 34.37, while Acorn’s Paul Whitaker was a further six seconds behind.
Stuart Grange (Knavesmire) and Chris Poulton (Acorn), who had already secured first and second places in the series, did not race at Wistow, but Green’s runner-up spot helped him finish a clear third overall.
Selby Striders’ Ian Robertson (36.51) was the third vet 40 man home, but, although absent, Pocklington’s Stuart Smith had already secured that spot in the series.
Pocklington’s Darren Ball (38.44) took the vet 50 spoils on the night and in so doing secured third place in the series behind Glen Johnson (Tadcaster) and Neil Strange (Knavesmire).
Easingwold’s Mark Whiteman (39.09) and Acorn’s John Cooper (39.39) completed the podium at Wistow.
Acorn’s David Lancaster (41.38) saw off vet 60 rival, Easingwold’s Howard Thompson (41.45), which ensured the former took second in the series, ahead of the latter.
Champion Steve Boynton (Acorn) did not race, while Pickering’s Paul Robinson (42.07) was third on the night.
Pickering’s Michael Hetherton (47.57) was the first vet 70 man home as he sealed the series title.
Knavesmire’s David l’Anson (52.49) was second ahead of Acorn’s Michael Tasker (56.27), but these places were reversed in the overall standings.
Both team competitions had been won by Knavesmire with a race to spare, but Acorn’s strong finish meant they finished joint second in the men’s category with City of York.
Behind Knavesmire in the women’s event were City of York and Pocklington.
SERIES PRIZE WINNERS
Individual (best 4 of 6)
Men overall: 1 Stuart Grange (Knavesmire) 5pts; 2 Chris Poulton (Acorn) 8; 3 Gareth Green (Knavesmire) 11; 4 Paul Whitaker (Acorn) 16; 5 Robin Stacey (Acorn) 25; 6 Richard Purser (Knavesmire) 26.
Vet 40 men: 1 Gareth Green (Knavesmire) 4; 2 Paul Whitaker (Acorn) 7; 3 Stuart Smith (Pocklington) 11.
Vet 50 men: 1 Glen Johnson (Tadcaster) 5; 2 Neil Strange (Knavesmire) 7; 3 Darren Ball (Pocklington) 10.
Vet 60 men: 1 Steve Boynton (Acorn) 4; 2 David Lancaster (Acorn) 7; 3 Howard Thompson (Easingwold) 8.
Vet 70 men: 1 Michael Hetherton (Pickering) 5; 2 Michael Tasker (Acorn) 12; 3 David l’Anson (Knavesmire) 13.
Women overall: 1 Emma Ballantyne (City of York) 4; 2 Jessica Troy (City of York) 10; 3 Victoria Sewell (Knavesmire) 12; 4 Sarah Attwood (Knavesmire) 15; 5 Aoife Burke (Knavesmire) 21; 6 Samantha Davies (Easingwold) 27.
Vet 35 women: 1 Sarah Attwood (Knavesmire) 4; 2 Samantha Davies (Easingwold) 8; 3 Lucy Pinder (Knavesmire) 10.
Vet 45 women: 1 Julie Lawn (Acorn) 4; 2 Sheila Capper (Easingwold) 7; 3 Alison Thornton (Pocklington) 11.
Vet 55 women: 1= Jet Jon Shepherd (Knavesmire) 6, 1= Gill Boynton (Acorn) 6; 3 Jane Nodder (Knavesmire) 7.
Vet 65 women: 1 Mary Farmery (Knavesmire) 4; 2 Kathryn Taylor (Pocklington) 8; 3 Liz Piper (Knavesmire) 11.
Team (best 5 of 6)
Men: 1 Knavesmire 5; 2= City of York 12, 2= Acorn 12; 4 Pocklington 20; 5 York Postal 24; 6 Easingwold 30.
Women: 1 Knavesmire 5; 2 City of York 11; 3 Pocklington 14; 4 Easingwold 18; 5 Acorn 21; Tadcaster 30.