RIVERBANK CHALLENGE 8^TH JUNE 2008 [results] [fun run results]
If it’s June it must be time for the Riverbank Challenge, the annual third of a marathon run up and down the bank between town and the Rugby Club on Westfield Banks. This year race day attracted around 400 runners, including over 140 just in the 2 mile Fun Run.(See Juniors Section)

In each of the last three years the weather has been warm if not hot, and in each of the last three years the race has been won decisively by Pumlami Bangani of Salford Harriers. Guess what? On Sunday the weather was hot and the race was won decisively by Pumlami Bangani of Salford Harriers (this time by nearly 4 minutes from 2^nd placed Andy Whitworth of Meltham AC).

To add to the overall déjà vu feeling, last year a gentleman rode his motor bike all the way from Preston to compete and then rode back again. He enjoyed it so much he did it again this year, which says a lot for the feel good factor of this race which most conventional road races simply don’t have.

There was nothing déjà vu about the Viking Striders’ performances. Most club members were helping with organising and marshalling, but new recruit Paul Turner stood out with a brilliant 8^th place, beating even the flying Andy Masterman in 11^th. Jo Mouncey was first Striders lady home, and when did you think you’d ever read that in a race report?

An enormous vote of thanks go to the extremely generous main sponsors Drax Power Station, Boyes and Bonsor Recruitment, and also to the police and St Johns Ambulance for their invaluable assistance on the day.

Results: 1^st Pumlami Bangani (Salford) 47.11, 2^nd and 1^st Vet over 40 Andy Whitworth (Meltham) 51.05, 3^rd John Guveja (Doncaster) 51.07, 4^th Paul Marchant (Rothwell) 52.13, 5th and 1^st vet over 45 Ian Grewar (East Hull) 53.20, 6^th Andy Meskimmon (Dewsbury) 53.31.

Other male vets, over 50 Ian Husband (Beverley) 58.51 and over 60 Victor Shipley (unattached) 62.23.

Ladies: 1^st Karen Ball (Ackworth) 61.57, 2^nd Carrie Milson (Beverley) 63.32, 3^rd and 1^st vet over 35 Rebecca Hill (City of Hull) 64.17, 4^th and 1^st vet over 45 Debbie Farrington (Rothwell) 64.44, 5^th Carmen Merchant (Rothwell) 68.01, 6^th and 1^st vet over 40 Sian Morgan (Driffield) 68.15.

Team Prizes Doncaster (men) and Rothwell (ladies).

Footnote: Good though all these performances were, they were like a stroll in the park compared to the efforts of the Striders’ own Giles Harris in the Hebridean Two Marathon Challenge last May Bank Holiday. 

[Results]