With our takeover of Harrogate parkrun on Saturday and Guiseley Gallop on Sunday, we have been pretty busy as a club over the Easter weekend. The weather and mud played a huge part in the weekend’s events, and many of us took a while to get warm again after Saturday’s exposure to freezing rain while stood on the Stray trying to look jolly.
It’s fair to say that the parkrun takeover was a success and it was well organised by Jeff. Everyone did their bit and ensured the safety of all the runners braving the not very Spring like conditions, and there were plenty of Easter treats to dish out at the end. It was an excellent team effort and further boosted our reputation as Harrogate’s friendly running club. Well done one and all!
Easter Bunny is a NVRR Member!
There are a considerable number of photographs available, mostly of the runners here
Guiseley Gallop
There are certain parts of the woods near to Esholt and Guiseley that are never fully dry even in June or July time – some club runners will know this from previous evening leagues races hosted by Dragons Running club. Those lovely summer evening races are not too far off but they bring back memories of mostly good surfaces ensuring decent grip, fast running and fairly clean kit afterwards when tucking into the post-race buffet. Sunday’s race at Guiseley was very similar to the evening league event apart from the temperature being about 3 degrees and the mud being especially claggy. If the mud wasn’t causing issues, the standing water near to Esholt works was doing its part in slowing down any momentum generated after coming off the clag. Throw in a couple of big hills, lots of tree roots, more mud, a cheeky uphill finish, and the result is a cold, wet, challenging 10k race.
We had 26 runners make the short trip across to Guiseley for this club champs race, and most of us enjoyed it. Matt Wilkinson managed to bag 11th place overall, and in a time of 41:28, while Martin Lofthouse finished in 43:22 – and secured 1st M50 in the process. Next was Nigel Scaife in 46:02, then James Braddon in 47:50.
Carol Morgan finished 4th lady overall, and in a time of 48:24, and then Kevin Nicholas crossed the line in 50:47. Brian Hainsworth was next in 51:07, then me in 51:47, Kevin Dalton 53:42, and James Cook in 54:12.
Get a Room!
Mark David crossed the line in 54:13, Chris Beattie 58:17, John Beaumont 58:44, and then Helen Cook as 2nd Nidd lady in 59:18.
Next was Steve Newton in 1:00:00, then Dave Seaman in 1:01:33 (2nd M70) closely followed by Sarah Hughan in 1:02:44, then Paul Manning in 1:03:09.
Debbie Gibson and Moira McTague (3rd F60) both crossed the line together, their times 1:04:05 and 1:04:21 respectively, with Marcos Montana close by in 1:04:22.
Rachel Prince was next in 1:07:15, then Lynsey Barraclough 1:09:04, Michelle Smith 1:13:32, and Robert Hill 1:14:10. Recent Zip to Zoomer graduate Fiona Cunningham crossed the line in 1:26:14 – she was probably wondering what she had let herself in for after last week’s sunny flat 10k at Dishforth. I haven’t had any confirmation if Fiona enjoyed it or not but there is some pictures taken on the day that show her smiling as she was running! Great effort Fiona and everyone else!
Guiseley Gallop Lap 1 photos
Guiseley Gallop Lap 2 photos
In other Nidd Valley news, FRP Robinson and son Alex were at Cannock Chase in the West Midlands for the JK International Orienteering Festival. The mud was present and causing some issues (especially in the camping area) but that didn’t deter the competitors getting out with their maps and compasses. Alex Robinson finished 6th overall in the M18 age class – covering 8.4km with 225m of ascent – in time of 77:21. FRP competed in the M55 category, covering 8.9km with 225m of ascent, and finished in 131:00. FRP and Alex both also competed in the relay event on the bank holiday Monday (I think I have these times written down correctly – you need a map to navigate around orienteering results as there are about 1000 different age categories)
Enjoy the rest of your week, and see you at Sunday’s flat and hopefully dry Thirsk 10.