Harriers top runner places at 10 mile Hollybank race

Julie Briscoe, 46, from Barnsley, placed second in the Hollybank Eccup 10 on Sunday.

Organised by Abbey Runners, the race was back for its 29th year and attracted over 600

runners in its senior ten mile course and over 100 junior runners in its one mile course.

The money generated from the race is going to be donated to the Hollybank Trust in Mirfield

and Leeds North and West Food bank.

For the first time, runners could choose whether to receive a finishers’ t-shirt or have a tree

planted on their behalf.

Over the years, the race has generated over £30,000 which has been donated to worthwhile

causes including homelessness charity, Simon on the Streets and Solace, a charity that

provides psychotherapy for asylum seekers and refugees.

Running for the Wakefield District Harriers for over twenty years, the nurse and mum-of-two

is gearing up to get her fitness “back on track” after contracting Covid-19 twice over the past

two years through a number of races this year.

In 2019, Julie was selected as one of ten runners, alongside Olympian Amy Dixon, to run in

the IAU 50km World Championships which was held in Brasov, Romania, where she placed

ninth.

Julie said: “I’ve been running for over 32 years, starting with my high school and then

running for Yorkshire and then running for Britain. The Hollybank Eccup was sort of my

comeback race as Covid-19 has been a nightmare and I’m trying to get back to where I

was.”

Julie trains six days out of seven and averages around 50 to 60 miles per week, which she

aims to increase to around 80 miles. She plans on running in the MBNA Chester Marathon in

October if it all “goes well”.

Jim Whittaker, the president of Abbey Runners who organised the race, said: “The Eccup 10

was back for its 29th year on Sunday and attracted over 600 runners in our 10 mile Seniors

course plus over 100 Juniors in our one mile and two mile races and our Fun Run.

"It's a cracking scenic route on rural closed roads and Eccup reservoir and is popular with

athletes of all abilities from the local community and beyond.

“Organised by race directors, Simon Jones and Helen Roden, the event was in aid of

Hollybank Trust in Mirfield and Leeds North and West Foodbank and for the first time this

year, entrants could choose whether to receive a finisher's t-shirt or have a tree planted on

their behalf.

“Abbey Runners is proud of the much-needed funds it has raised for local charities over the

years from the Eccup 10, and our thanks go to everyone who took part and made the race

possible."