Evening everyone – here’s the latest Fell update for you to peruse.
Last week, you’d have been forgiven for thinking that summer had arrived early, but today’s snow has dashed those hopes! Thankfully, we had some lovely weather for racing for a good part of the month at least.
After the postponement of Trawden, the juniors just had Ilkley Moor on Sunday 6th to contend with. Just 3 Harriers made the trip over, but acquitted themselves well, with Bethan Morris 7th overall & 5th GU11, Isaac Morris 8th overall & 3rd BU11 and Florence Gibbs 23rd overall & 7th GU13, so well done to them.
For the seniors, it was the small matter of our own Ian Roberts Memorial Race on Sunday 20th March. I’ve reported elsewhere on the race itself, but we had an excellent turnout of 122 runners, including 19 Harriers. Individual highlights include Tim Brook 3rd overall & 1st V40, Helena Croft 21st overall & 1st lady, Kath Farquhar 58th overall & 1st FV50, Rob Kersey 68th overall & 1st V70, Debbie Hall 70th overall & 1st FV40, Barbara Hinchliffe 73rd overall & 1st FV60 & Bill Hunter 97th overall & 2nd V70. Holmfirth also picked up the team prizes, with Tim Brook being joined by Tim Street (5th overall) & Phil Hinchcliffe (6th overall) for the Mens team, whilst Helena was joined by Kath & Debbie for the Ladies team. Great to see some new faces on the fells, including our Club Captain Damo & new recruit Simon Platts and a welcome back to some old faces (John & Logan)! Big thanks once again to everyone who helped either before or on the day. The weather was perfect for racing & we had many compliments from those who took part.
Elsewhere, I’ve spotted a few of you out & about on the fells, including Keith Baird at Ilkley Moor, Dave Milton on the Haworth Hobble, Mark Law, Dave Milton & Andy Shelbourne trying to stave off the cramp attacks at the Edale Skyline & then a few testing their leg speed at the first of this year’s instalments of The Trunce on Monday, including Declan Levay (2nd Junior Male), Kevin Yewlett (2nd V60), Keith Baird, Barbara Hinchliffe (1st FV60), Jenny Levay & Richard Whale.
In terms of the champs in April, the seniors have a busy month, with the Five Trigs on Saturday 2nd April, followed by Hartcliff Hill on Thursday 21st & then the first of this year’s English Champs races at Guisborough 3 Tops on Saturday 30th April, whilst the juniors also have the first of the English Champs events at Black Combe on Sunday 24th.
Locally, the Bunny Runs are back, with the series taking place on every Tuesday in April over at Haworth & there is also the 2nd Trunce on Monday 11th. And if you didn’t get a place at Guisborough and the 3 Peaks is too long, then still time to enter the Cake Race over at Diggle on Saturday 30th – a friendly little race that re-traces some of the Ian Roberts route on Marsden Moor & lets you enter for free if you bake & take a cake!
And don’t forget it’s the Calderdale Way Relay on Sunday 15th May, which is fast approaching. We have 4 teams entered once again, so I now need some confirmed names as soon as possible. If we can get everyone out, then we’ll have some cracking teams across all the categories! You know it makes sense!
Cheers for now,
Phil
