Happy Easter one and all!
Despite the Bank Holiday weekend, there has been no time to sit at home relaxing, with so much running in the offing, including news from the first of the road championships, there are results a plenty, so let’s hop to it! (Please excuse copious Easter Egg puns throughout this write up!)
Saturday morning kicked off as usual with another great set of parkrun results.
At Wimbledon, while on his jollies, Chairman Sam put in a sterling effort bounding home in 21.54, also Sam’s sister Claire gets a well-deserved mention for completing her first parkrun in 37.07.
Nicki Walton was at Gloucester parkrun coming home in 27.33. Lovely running Nicki.
On the hallowed ground of Fountains Abbey, Andy Todd lead the Nidd’s home in 19:10, Matt Rickard 20:23, Neil Wright 26:04, Michelle Dinsdale30:19, and Emma Edgar 34:09.
Over in Wetherby Fiona Robinson finished in 31.01, a fantastic new PB!
At the parkrun homeland for many of us that is Harrogate, a drier but still rather breezy Stray saw team Nidd out in force; Martin Lofthouse was first home in 19:01, Andrew Harris 20:55, Jonathan Easton 21:00, John Mitton 21:33, Dan Eagling 22:57, Ben Baird 24:35, Jim Cook 24:59, Sarah Hughan 25:06, Moira McTague 25:10, (Moira let me beat her this week even though parkrun isn’t a race of course!) Hannah Peagram 26:27 was next, Ewa Scott ran brilliantly and got herself a new PB, 26.31, Debbie Dilasser 27:50, Tony Ledwaba-Chapman 29:23, Stuart Michael Hatfield 30:22 and Mandy Smith 37:42.
Well done all!
Junior Parkrun – For the life of me, I cannot find any of our NVRR juniors on the Harrogate Junior parkrun finishing list, too many eggs to eat perhaps?
Fun at Ripley with the Viking Gauntlet…
Billed as an extreme endurance event, the Viking Gauntlet sounds exciting and a great family day out, for the spectators at least, but beware, taking part alongside Matt Wilkinson, Philippa “Plippy” Moorse and Paddy Taylor in the interestingly named team “Chafing the Dream”, was Rebecca Ventress, sometimes known as “potty mouth”, I suspect RV’s views on some of the obstacles were probably not for younger ears, and to be fair looking at the pictures I wouldn’t have blamed her.
In all seriousness, despite the water, mud, foam and goodness knows what else they had to tackle, it goes to show a good bit of teamwork was the order of the day and they all completed it together in 1.37, including Philippa, who has been known to tear off her number in frustration in a race or two before now, so very well done Philippa and to you all, you did yourselves and us proud.
Road Championships – Race 1 – Guiseley Gallop
Egg-citingly (sorry!) it was the start of the Road Championships for this season, and what better way to burn off a few (thousand) calories and earn your Easter Eggs than with the Guiseley Gallop?
It was a tough course to put it mildly, this year’s re-route offered a very hilly 2 laps through some scenic woods but up some rather big hills. There was a bit on tarmac, but it was soon followed by a huge hill so the benefits were cancelled out. Heading to the finish, we were faced with yet another massive hill, but most of us were spurred on to the top of that one by Nidd Valley’s very own cheerleaders, Martin Lofthouse and Steve Newton! Thanks guys, I for one definitely needed the encouragement.
Special mention to our new Nidds running today, Moira McTague (who definitely didn’t let me beat her here), Adam Kirk and Neil Wright, and also to Michelle Dinsdale who knocked over 6 minutes off her time last year.
Anyway, results are here … great running all.
Martin Lofthouse 42.04, Carol Morgan 48.29, Steve Newton 51.24, Adam Kirk 53.30, Jim Cook, 56.57, Phil Ventress 57.47, (ok he isn’t officially a Nidd but we have mentioned Rebecca Ventress for her great efforts yesterday so it’s Phil’s turn now), next, Moira McTague 58.55, Sarah Hughan 59.45, Debbie Gibson 1.00.18, Dave Seaman 1.01.53, Neil Wright 1.02.43, Jane Hill 1.07.32, Michelle Smith 1.08.27, Michelle Dinsdale 1.10.23.
No fell races this week that I know of and no other results. Email Sam if I have missed you though and he can include it next time.
Other news and diary dates:
Volunteer at Harrogate Race for Life: Race for Life comes to Ripley Castle on Saturday the 9th and Sunday 10th July, you can find out more about the events at www.raceforlife.org . Cancer Research UK and in particular, Georgina Thornton, their events manager is looking for volunteers, if you would like to help this superb charity and volunteer at these races, have a look at this link. www.raceforlife/volunteer
Your Subs are due! A polite reminder, any final subs are now due. It’s just £35 for the year so please send your money to treasurer Dave if you haven’t already, the bank details are on the Nidd Valley website in the memberships section. Remember although cash and cheque are accepted, it’s always better by BACS!
Evening League and Grand National Sweepstake – Martin Lofthouse and Michelle Smith will be collecting money at club nights for the evening league places – it’s just £10 please, and for that you get to run in 4 great races, 2 of which count towards the road championships and you get a buffet after each one and time for a chat, what more could you want?
The Grand National Sweepstake is just £2 per horse so please bring that to club as well if you want to take part. You could win £40!
Tuesday 29th March – Don’t forget it will be a bit lighter for our intervals on Tuesday, but still wear your hi-vis please. Meet at the hockey club for 7pm and we will get on our way for the first of the speed sessions! Alternatively meet at Derwent Road for 7.10 where Mike will be leading the session.
Thursday 31st March – 7pm club run, with post run drinks at the bar for the more social amongst us! I have added Knox as this week’s suggested route as it doesn’t look like we have done that one for a while… In fact I am not sure if I have ever turned up to that one, so let’s hope that there is someone there on Thursday who has or we could all be getting lost, all an experience I suppose!
Emma’s Stretch of the week
For an Easter treat I’m going to let you all in on a secret to help release tension in your back. It’s not a stretch but it’s a great way to loosen up the muscles and fascia along the side of your spine. The trick is to tape two tennis balls together and lie on them with one tennis ball on either side of your spine. Then roll up and down allowing the pressure to release knots and tension! Simples! https://uk.pinterest.com/pin/433119689135941317/
Word to the Wise…
As far as those tempting Easter Eggs are concerned… one is un oeuf!
Have a great week whatever you get up to, and enjoy the rest of the Easter weekend,
Sarah H