It is the last Weekend Round Up of 2024! Plenty of athletes took to the roads in search of a fast time to end the year. James Rhodes brings you the racing highlights of the past week.

Racing in the Ribble Valley

One of the racing highlights of the Christmas period is the Ribble Valley 10k and this year was no different. It incorporated the Northern Championships and, for the first time, was part of RunThrough’s Top Flight Series.

It is not the flattest course on paper, but the strong fields it attracts lead to fast times. Whilst tackling the rolling hills in the first half, runners had to contend with a headwind. They were, however, rewarded with a fast downhill closing third.

James West crossed the finish line quickest, clocking 28:43. The Tonbridge athlete now trains as part of Team New Balance Manchester under the guidance of Helen Clitheroe. It was his first 10k since 2016 and as such, naturally, a PB.

Photo: Top Flight / Graham Smith

Just three seconds behind was Jacob Cann of Newham & Essex Beagles in 28:46. That time is a sixteen second improvement on his previous best, set in Telford just two weeks ago. There cannot be many athletes who have raced at every distance from the 800m to the marathon in one year!

The top-three was completed by Birchfield Harrier Omar Ahmed in 29:02. He is a Top Flight Series regular, notably winning the Fulham 10k last month. The trio all passed halfway in 14:45, with fourth placer Scott Stirling (29:17) one second behind. The elevation profile of the course lead to a considerably faster second half.

Biruk Aduna Kebede fifth (29:23), clocking the same time as local athlete Matt Ramsden. Richard Allen (29:30) and Jonathan Escalante-Phillips (29:36) completed the top eight. The first fourteen finishers all recorded gun times inside 30:00.

Impressive Women’s Finish

Hannah Nuttall ensured it was a good day for Team New Balance Manchester by securing victory in the women’s field. Her time of 31:53 saw her finish eight seconds clear of Jess Warner-Judd (32:01). The pair ran close together for much of the race, with Nuttall not moving away until inside the last kilometre. Warner-Judd clocked 16:10 at 5k compared to Nuttall’s 16:13.

Photo: Top Flight / Graham Smith

Emily Haggard Kearney (33:07) completed the top-three, with Charlotte Dannatt (34:05) fourth and Heather Townsend (34:22) fifth. Camilla Mcknespiey took sixth in 34:51 (running alongside the author of this round up for much of the second half!).

Stevie Stockton continued her welcome return to the sport. The 2011 European U23 Championship medallist completed her first individual race since 2018 in 35:05. Katrina Ballantyne-Chalmers (35:16) completed the top-eight.

The course records, held by Jess Warner-Judd and Marc Scott, live to see another year.

Racing Elsewhere

North of the border, runners contented with windy conditions at the Tilli 10k. Nancy Scott (33:58) and Jamie Crowe (29:57) took wins. The men’s podium was completed by Jamie Burns (30:10) and Cameron Milne (30:21). Meanwhile, Naomi Lang (34:46) and Rosa Donaldson (35:18) finished second and third respectively in the women’s field.

Over the same distance, wins at Friday’s Wheaton Aston 10k went to Chloe Dooley (36:27) and Craig Pilsbury (33:44). East Hull Harriers’ Boxing Day 10k provided David McKinnon (32:03) and Sherene Wilshere (38:42) with wins.

The Serpentine Last Friday 5k also took place on Friday, with Michael Clark (14:56) and Olivia Forrest (17:04) taking victories. Ollie Garrod (15:05), who finished second, made his eighth appearance of the year at the monthly event. Michael meanwhile was competing for the first time, and Olivia for the third time in 2024.

Alex Milne (51:29) retained his title at the Buntingford Year End 10, setting a PB in the process. The Hercules Wimbledon athlete first competed at the event back in 2008! Michael Waddington (52:58) and Mohammed Elbayan (54:15) completed the top-three.

Tabitha Woodhouse (58:45) secured a commanding win in her ten-mile debut. The U20 athlete was the only woman to run under 60:00. She was joined on the podium by Katy Woodward (61:02) and Sophie Delderfield (62:07).

Just six seconds separated Jack Parslow (54:18) from Will Perkin (54:24) at the Pednor 10. The margin of victory was considerably larger for Aisling Wall (64:52) in the women’s field. She finished over one minute ahead of second placed Rachel Dench (65:56).