JOSH Bird is thought to be the fastest active marathon runner in Barnsley after he took five minutes off his personal best at the 50th Amsterdam Marathon.
The Barnsley AC runner’s time of 2-23-53 meant he finished 60th out of 25,000 and fourth British man.
Starting and finishing in the Olympic Stadium, the course takes in many of the city’s sights including Vondelpark and the Rijksmuseum.
Meanwhile, Barnsley club runners enjoyed success at the Yorkshire Marathon.
Barnsley AC’s Gail Colville’s 3-40-30 not only secured her second over60 woman which qualifies her to represent England at the Manchester Marathon in 2026 but also is the over60 women’s club record.
James Drake led the way for Barnsley AC with a time of 2-58-27 which is a 13-minute PB. Gemma Thickett took 15 minutes off her PB from the Rob Burrow Marathon earlier in the year, as her time was 3-35-41.
Tayla Brons finished in 3-41-34.
Two Barnsley Harriers completed the distance for the first time in more than five years. Ryan Senior broke the 4-30 mark and Sarah Elizabeth gained a PB of 13 minutes, breaking the five-hour mark. Both were running their first marathon for the club.
Richard Cottam continued his fine form with a 2-52-09 run.
He led home a strong Penistone Footpath Runners contingent that included Alan Nutton (2-57-53), Suzanne McGill (3-09-00) who claimed first place in the women’s over45 category, Jade Crosby (3-31-25), Gemma Nutton (4-12-17) and Stefan Butler-Gillen (5-13-16).
At the Yorkshire Ten-Mile Race, Penistone’s Ashley Firth ran 1-02-10, Alex Harris 1-04-09, and Ian Neville topped the men’s over60 category with 1-06-43. Robert Davies (1-09-22), Alex Crosby (1-11-00) and Kimberley Rogers (2-16-06) also completed strong runs on the popular route starting and finishing at the University of York.
Alan Bowers was the only Harrier in the ten-mile race. He finished 648th in 1-18-49.
Barnsley AC’s Dave Findlay was running his first of that distance.
He finished in a time of 1-13-04
Penistone’s James Mumford continued his good road form at the Trafford 10k, recording 34-35 – just six seconds off his lifetime best on the flat and fast Manchester course.
Shaun Swallow represented Penistone at the Kraków Half Marathon, finishing in 1-39-10.
Penistone fielded two full teams at the British Fell and Hill Relay Championships in Keswick, tackling a tough Lakeland route with more than 2,000 metres of ascent.
Stand-out efforts came from Shaun Swallow (54-48) and Jill Scrivens (1-04-36) on leg one, Simon Pike and Jon Waller (1-35-06) on leg two, Jon Hallam and Steve Sanders (1-35-10) on leg three, and Martyn Goodwin (55-13) and Emma Stead (58-00) on the final leg.
At the Manchester Half Marathon, Penistone’s Will Hoyland ran 1-49-51, Ian McNulty 1-54-02, and Bryan Worth 3-05-41 among a field of more than 22,000 finishers.
Penistone’s Jemma Williams impressed at the Dukeries ten, clocking 1-27-47 to finish as third woman overall on the scenic Sherwood Forest trails.
Penistone’s Nichola McNally took a win at the Dalemain 10k Trail Race near Penrith. She was first woman on the two-lap course around Dalemain Mansion in approximately 48 minutes.
Harrier Neil Murphy was the second over55 man at Run Northumberland Castles Half Marathon in Bamburgh.
Eight Harriers took on the Yorkshire Coast 10k in Scarborough. Gemma Lister took three minutes off her PB. It was her fourth PB for the distance this year.
Barnsley AC’s Philip Morgan finished as third over50 man with 39-56.
Harrier Kelly Ford took on the Petitraid 20-mile race in Ashover.
Kelly finished the course of trails and climbs in four hours and four minutes and was fifth woman.
She was 15th overall.
At the Autumn Breaker 10k held in Blackpool’s Stanley Park, Barnsley AC’s Chris Ryder finished in a time of 50-36.
At last week’s South Yorkshire Cross Country League opener at Clifton Park, Penistone’s Julia Johnson won the over55 women’s category.
Penistone second claim runner Graihagh Turner helped Rotherham Harriers to victory in the under 17 girls’ race at the Northern Cross Country Relays at Graves Park. The Barnsley AC under 15 girls team of Sophia Clegg (9-29), Beau Beecroft (9-20) and Isla Taylor (10-38) ran an overall time of 29-28 to finish 32nd in their age category.
