Tadcaster Harriers hopeful Eaton has stayed right on the heels of York Postal Harriers frontrunner Carter thanks to back-to-back second places but he galloped to gold on Tuesday night with a 32:22 personal best over 10K – a one-minute improvement on his scintillating time at Easingwold last month despite much warmer conditions.
Carter – joined in the top three by Joey Wynne of York Knavesmire Harriers who celebrated a three-second PB of 34:09 – knows one more triumph at either Bugthorpe or Wistow should be enough for the title, though, as his 32:53 was another confidence-boosting career best despite this defeat over the final furlong.
City of York AC’s Laura Thompson got the bit between her teeth on a balmy evening to clock 37:11 for 23rd overall after tackling three laps of York Racecourse’s access road and a homestretch finishing near the grandstand.
With two wins she will be looking over her shoulder at Erin Bush from York Acorn Running Club who cantered to a 38:55 one-minute PB, just about a length clear of Knavesmire challenger Claire Jones (39:06).
Even if the men’s title race could yet go down to the wire, Eaton is well-placed for veteran-40 honours as he held off clubmate Darren Tomlinson and Acorn’s Chris Poulton for a third category win.
Dave Smithers was just kept off the overall podium but is poised to take the vet-50 crown thanks to his 34:29 and fourth straight success, while Tadcaster’s Paul Millgate and Mark Thompson from Selby Striders show no signs of slowing down and are neck and neck.
Stephen Wright retained control of the vet-60 class with a 40:26 for City, who had Jon Blake in second to damage Barry Atkinson’s bid to get Knavesmire in the winner’s circle.
However, John Oliver (45:42) led YKH past the finishing post in the vet-70 battle, where Mark Thompson of Tadcaster and Acorn’s Pete Coe are also in fine fettle.
Emma Winter was once again denied top spot in the vet-35 stakes, this time trailing Laura Thompson by more than two minutes, with Kate Thompson from Knavesmire grabbing bronze.
Another YKH star, Hazel Hall, has three vet-45 wins after holding off the returning Katie Wise from Pocklington Runners and Acorn’s Julie Lawn with her 40:54.
Julie Mastrolonardo made it two wins in the vet-55 competition with a 44:16 for City that Megan Remmer (Easingwold Runners) and Rachel Dare (Pocklington) could not match.
Gill Boynton is on the brink of vet-65 glory after leaving Philippa Hutton (Easingwold) and Liz Piper (Knavesmire) six and 11 minutes behind respectively with a 48:06.
Tadcaster’s men appear set to retain their 2024 title as Eaton, Tomlinson, Joe Slater, Alex Young, Millgate and Stephen Walker scored just 57 points to top Knavesmire’s 71 while Acorn came up on the rails to bag bronze on the night with 162.
After wresting control of the team race from Selby last time out, Knavesmire’s ladies won again with 27 points from Jones, Kate Thompson, Hall and Helen Gavin.
The Striders have some hope of fighting back when the league resumes on the hills at Bugthorpe on June 24 after a strong 38, with reigning champions Pocklington improving to third with their 82.
