Evening all – time for a little light reading!
October – another mixed bag weather-wise, but the sun shone when it mattered!
First up, in its new Saturday slot, was the Hodgson Brothers Mountain Relay up in Patterdale on the 5th October & for the first time in a while, we were blessed with a dry day that got sunnier as the race progressed. Spread over 4 legs & run in pairs, the race covers 25 miles & over 8000 feet of ascent and we fielded 2 teams again this year in what is generally considered to be the premier fell relay in the UK & where the standard is very high. The Open team of Adam Sunderland, James Washington, Patrick Needham, Philip Hinchcliffe, Gavin Baxter, Jim Durrans, Curtis Firth & Tim Brook finished 41st (from 71 teams) in a time of 4.54.03, whilst the Mixed team of Helena Croft, Helen Ilsley, Katie Walshaw, Erica Byram, Ben Kellett, Philip Hewitt, Tommy Holroyd & Lewis Byram was close behind, finishing 44th (and 6th Mixed team) in 5.02.09. Results of the day would have to be Adam & James finishing 27th fastest on Leg 1, whilst Ben & Phil were 22nd fastest on the climb from Kirkstone to the top of Red Screes! At the sharp end, it was another close race, with Keswick regaining the title in 3.32.25, ahead of Carnethy (3.34.57) & Dark Peak (3.37.40). In the Ladies competition, Helm Hill were victorious once again, finishing 20th overall in 4.22.59, whilst the Vets prize went to Calder Valley (10th overall in 4.05.48) & the Mixed prize went to Helm Hill (27th overall in 4.27.25). Big thanks to Adam and South Pennine Community Transport for the loan of the minibus, which was a great help.
We then moved on to Appletreewick in the Yorkshire Dales for the British Fell Relays on Saturday 19th October & were fortunate to enjoy another dry, sunny day that demanded shorts & sun-cream! With restrictions being placed on the number of entries, our participation was very much in the lap of the gods, but after a few stop-starts with the ballot & entry process, we were eventually able to enter 3 teams, and they all did the club proud on some tough courses against the best fell runners in the country. The Mens Open team of Philip Hewitt, Richard Anderson, Tommy Holroyd, Tim Brook, Patrick Needham & Jamie Wood were 31st overall (from 159 starters) in 4.18.00 & were 26th Open team. The Cote de Holme Moss Mens V50’s of Chris Beadle, Julian Rank, Adam Sunderland, Jim Durrans, Gavin Baxter & John Ewart were 102nd overall & 10th MV50’s in 5.46.46, whilst the Ladies V40’s team of Katie Walshaw, Fran Whitworth, Diane Lee, Jean Shotter, Elaine Stewart & Debbie Ellen were 133rd overall & 14th FV40’s in 6.50.25. Performances of the day include Katie being 54th overall & 1st FV40 on Leg 1, whilst Richard & Tommy were 22nd fastest on Leg 2. For the podium places, Dark Peak made it three in a row, retaining their title with a winning time of 3.28.29, ahead of Carnethy (3.32.05) & Ilkley Harriers (3.36.01). Calder Valley took the MV40’s, coming back in 3.53.36 (10th overall) and also the MV50’s (28th overall in 4.15.49), whilst Bowland retained their V60 title, finishing 62nd overall in 5.09.57. Not to be outdone by the men, the Ladies title also went to Dark Peak (35th overall in 4.21.22), whilst the FV40’s went to Ilkley Harriers (81st overall in 5.28.34) and the FV50’s to Dark Peak once again (78th in 5.26.25). As ever with these events, it was a real team effort & my thanks to everyone who donned the Amber vests, particularly Elaine, Jean & John, who stepped in at the last minute to cover injured club-mates. Next year, we’re in Meirionydd (North West Wales) on Saturday 18th October, which is likely to be a weekender, so update your diaries now & organise your pass-outs!
The juniors had the Withins Curly Wurly Rat Runs on Sunday 13th October & we had a decent turnout across the age-groups, with prize-winners Willow Moxon (2nd GU9) and Niamh Sykes (1st GU11) ably supported by Arthur Gibbs, William Turner, Florence Gibbs & Riley Moxon, so well done to you all. Unfortunately, there are no junior races at this year’s Shepherds Skyline, so I’ve swapped this for the races at The Stoop on Sunday 22nd December – pack your Santa hats!
Sadly, access issues have meant that Meltham AC’s Cop Hill race will no longer take place, which is a real loss to the local racing scene, as it was a great introduction to off-road racing. This also meant that the Yorkshire Vets Fell Championship had to find a new venue for 2024. Happily, the organiser of the Mytholmroyd race has stepped in, so we now have 2 reasons for racing there on the 1st December! Before then however, it is the small matter of The Roaches on Sunday 10th November. This is the penultimate race in the champs & as flagged last time, Adam Sunderland needs to finish it to register his 2nd Long race & qualify for the champs. He’ll have to go some to topple Tim Brook from top spot though, as Tim is currently on 235 points, with Adam on 209 points. Others currently qualifying for places include Phil Hewitt (177 points), Michael Sanderson (174 points) & Jon Burdon (138 points). For the ladies, Fran Whitworth, on 214 points, will take some catching, although Diane Lee (194 points), Stef Dickinson (171 points) & Becky Burdon (157 points) haven’t given up hope yet with 2 races & the Lee Mill Relays still to go!
Talking of the Lee Mill relays, Jean Shotter will be rallying the troops once again, so if you’re interested in running, please let her know. Date is Sunday 24th November & we usually enter a Mens, a Ladies & a Vets team.
Elsewhere, fewer opportunities for racing in October, as the nights draw in & the relays take over, but good to see a few on the hills, including John Field at the Lakeland Four Passes, Keith Baird at Castle C’Alf, Darren Phillips, John Field & Elspeth Taylor at the Ladybower Reservoir Trail 22k, with Andy Shortt, Leighton Moxon and Sophie Clarson at the 52k version, Mark Henderson at Withins Skyline, Tim Brook at the 100k Ultra Tour Yorkshire Dales, which he won outright by nearly an hour in 11.49.14, whilst Michael Sanderson & Curtis Firth took on the 50k version and were 3rd & 4th respectively and Noreen Edery & Mark Henderson at Race You To The Summit (where Noreen was 1st FV70).
On the admin front, the Ian Roberts Memorial race is now in the FRA calendar & is on Sunday 9th March. And looking a little further ahead, it will be the 70th Three Peaks Race on Saturday 26th April, which seems like an excellent reason to stick it in next year’s Champs! Entries have already opened and if you’re fancying a go, then I’d advise signing up sooner rather than later to avoid disappointment.
Finally, some local(ish) races to try out over the next few weeks:
Shepherd’s Skyline (BS) – Todmorden – Saturday 2nd
Soyland Moor (CL) – Cragg Vale – Sunday 3rd
Beast of Bamford (BM) – Bamford – Saturday 16th
Padfield (AS) – Padfield, nr. Glossop – Saturday 16th
Harriers v Cyclists (BS) – Bingley – Saturday 16th
See you on a hill sometime!
Cheers,
Phil
