Great Whernside Fell Race

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.. incorporating Yorkshire Fell Championships
Great Whernside, Saturday 25th October

Paul Fearns

Four members headed up to the Yorkshire Dales to compete in the penultimate counter in the Holmfirth Harriers fell championship series on Saturday.  The Great Whernside race, from Kettlewell, was also selected as the Yorkshire Championship race for Seniors, so competition was strong.

The race was an out-and-back 4 mile course climbing over 1550 feet in the 2 miles out to the trig point which was shrouded in mist.

Helen Berry

Helen Berry was first back for Holmfirth (29^th; 36:46), taking Yorkshire Silver behind English Champion Victoria Wilkinson.  Having been seconds behind Vic at the summit, Vic increased her lead by well over 2 minutes on the route back, taking 8 seconds off her own 2013 record, in 34:29. Dan Shaw had a great run in (36^th; 37:49), just a minute behind Helen, but Chris Beadle (46^th; 39:13) found himself too far behind his team mates at the top to close any gaps with his usual fearless descents!  Paul Fearns was just outside the top half of the field in 89^th (44:03)

The race and Yorkshire Men’s title was won by Ben Mounsey of Calder Valley in 30:48.

The final championship race in the Holmfirth 2014 series is at Mytholmroyd on 7^th December.  The Men’s and Ladies titles are pretty much sewn up, but silver and bronze are up for grabs!  Details of this race can be found here;http://fellrunner.org.uk/races.php?id=2838

Complete results: http://fellrunner.org.uk/results.php?id=2607

Photos (thanks to Norman) available on Flickr, photo set Gt Whernside, Yorkshire Championship Race

 Helen Berry receiving Yorkshire silver medal from
the mens silver medalist and local landowner Ted Mason of Wharfedale