(TLDR. For those short of time…. On Monday, Jezz is social running from Ripley at 7pm. On Tuesday, you’ve got races at Rudding Park and the Jack Bloor Fell Race. There’ll be a club run down the Gorge, too. Thursday is the club run to Birk Crag. Sunday, you need to enter the Fountains 10k. Scroll down for other gossip, chat, and a discount code).
Good Evening, and welcome aboard this flight with Nidd Valley Airlines. The committee is currently passing through the plane completing any last minute checks prior to take off, so please ensure that your seat belt is on and your seat is in the upright position, that the tray-table is stowed away and that your running shoes are securely stored in the lockers above your head. Please sit back and enjoy the flight, as we head to the balmy tropics that is the week ahead.
The Week Ahead
On Monday, Jeremy Leggings is leading a little off-road 7 miles to enjoy the bluebells while we have them. If you’re free and fancy a bit of a run, then meet at the carpark in Ripley and be good to go for 7pm. As ever, the pace will be steady and the emphasis is more on having a social run than it is on breaking the land speed record. That said. with Jezza at the helm, you can be assured of a few little local history lessons as you go/
Tuesday is a right old busy day as we have a triple offering. First up, there is the inaugural Rudding Park 10k at 7pm. I’m pretty sure this has now sold out, doubtless due to the promise of a hog roast and beer. If you’re running it – and it appears that half the club are – then have a good run. All the relevant information (mostly irrelevant) can be found here: https://racebest.com/races/5egwy.
Also on Tuesday, there’s just another the next brick in the fell running wall with the Jack Bloor race at Ilkley. This is in the fell championships, and with quite a few runners distracted by the offering at Rudding Park, there’s going to be some points up for grabs. This is a great race, always seems to get brilliant weather, and has it all: the lung busting climbs, some good tussocky bogs, great views from the top, and a thrilling descent with an ankle snapping finish through a stream. All good stuff. Registration opens at 6pm and the senior race kicks off at 7.15pm. I can’t find the costs, but it’s EOTD and unlikely to cost you more than a fiver. More details (including kit requirements) here: https://tinyurl.com/5dakjk7n.
With half the club eating a dead pig and the other half trying not to snap any bones, there are unlikely to be many at the club on Tuesday. Still, we like to make sure there is something for everyone here at NVH so, if you’re not racing, get yourself to the club for 7pm and have a pootle down the gorge. Be at the club and ready to boogie for 7pm, head over the iron bridge and along the greenway to Bilton Crossing. You can head up the cycle path for a few hundred yards before hanging right and dropping into the gorge. Follow the river, and come up at either the Gardeners Arms or up at the end, and then hang a right and back to the club. Or do something different all together. We’re not worried or precious about such things. Just make sure you don’t leave anyone behind.
On Thursday, we’ve mercifully got only the one offering on the table. And here it is: meet at the Hockey Club for 7pm, run through town to the bottom of Valley Gardens, run up through the gardens, over Harlow Moor Road, and continue over to Harlo Carr. After that, turn right, head back from Birk Crag, down Duchy Road, and back to club. As ever, there are early turning points (after Valley Gardens, for example), so feel free to adapt and mix it up as you see fit. We’re like jazz musicians here at NVH, when you think about it. The route we suggest is like an old favourite standard, and you can riff any number of variations and improvisations.
On Sunday, we’ve got the next thrilling instalment in the road championships with the Fountains 10k. There are still entries available and you’re going to have to be in it to win it. Good grief, this event even advertises the chance to take part in the ‘hill of pain’. Well, doesn’t that just sound peachy? Anyway, the run is at 11am and it’s entries in advance. This is where you need to be: https://tinyurl.com/2p82vc5w.
Results
Well, we have a right load of results this week, so let’s make a start (Have you ever noticed that? We used to just start, but now we have to make the frigging things, too. I blame DIY programmes). Anyway…
First off the blocks, we head over to Ilkley where four intrepid Nidds took part in the Dick Hudson Fell Race on Thursday night. It was one of these out and back affairs, you know, run up a big hill and back down the other side, and then back up and down the way you came. There’s been some buggerance with the timings, so I can only give you the order in which the Nidds finished. And here they are: Andy Iddon (85th), Phil Ventress (91st), Brian Hainsworth (93rd), and Russ Geraghty (120th). Well done, chaps!
On the subject of Andy Iddon, we were a bit worried to hear that he has travelled over to Lancashire to take part in the Chorley 10k. Seriously, Andy? Lancashire? Yorkshire has everyone you need, lad. Still, he had his jabs and has cleared passport control back into Yorkshire, so it’s a big well done to him (1:06.15) as he worked his way round the two lap course. Just don’t ever go missing like that again, Andy. Everyone here at NVH was worried sick about you.
Over in the Lake District, we’ve got a great result from Alex Robinson who took a break from his heady student temptations of recreational drug use and boundless sexual freedom and experimentation to take part in the Kong Mini Mountain. Alex (3:49.48) seems to have made easy work of the challenging terrain round Kentmere, but that’s the flush of youth for you.
Well, it seems that races at Kentmere are like buses. When one comes, so does another, and we have results from the 18k Kentmere challenge held yesterday. So, let’s have a big shout out for the lesser-spotted Janet Carling (2:21) and the Sarah – recipient of the 2022 Smiliest Nidder Award – Chalmers (2:27). Again, tough conditions and a tough course, so a very well done to you both.
Anyway, that’s quite enough of forays into Lancashire and Cumbria, and we return to our athletic Alma Mata of Yorkshire with results from the Bluebell 10 Mile race, organised by the lovely folk at Stainland Lions. And it’s not just three lions on my shirt but it’s three Nidds in my results. A big well done to: Captain Dazzler (1:21.41), Martin Lofthouse (1:22.21) and Fingers Harris (1:28.35). Brilliant results all round, if you ask me,
The roll call of glory returns with Phil Venterss and Roger Duckworth who raced today at the Hardmoors events on Cleveland Way. Phil entered the half marathon, and Roger did the 10k but – this being off road running – distances are open to interpretation and our Phil appears to have run about 16.5 miles. In keeping with the finest fell running traditions, I cannot find any results and am unlikely to do so for several weeks. They’ll just have to settle for our unspecific, but certainly still heartfelt, congratulations. Well done to you both. Also, while we are at events without results, let’s have three cheers for Chris Morris and Graham Hyde who took part in the Nidderdale Walk 222. Graham and Chris completed a full marathon distance and were joined for seven miles by Bec Carman. Congrats to you all for getting out there and flying the Nidd Valley flag.
In the words of Monty Python, and now for something complete different. And what could be more different to a result-less off-road event than a city half marathon? Well variation is the name of the game so let’ head down to Leeds and have a look at the results from the Leeds Half Marathon. First Nidd home was Helen Gregory (1:47.03) – yes, I know, I love her just as much as you do – with the just as lovely James Coulthard (1:50.17) making easy work of the West Yorkshire course. A big well done goes to Damien Handslip (1:53.26) who easily snaffled in under the two hour marker. Great results from you all, so we hope you’ve got your feet up with a cup of a tea or something a little stronger to toast your success.
Dianne Winnard (24.26) opens our account at the Bank of Parkrun with a brilliant result at Edinburgh, while Ian Foy (26.15) went for a run at the Hull course, and Liz Ahmed (33.18) was a Cheadle Hume. I’ve no idea what we have done to upset Nigel Scaife (21.43), Fiona Deacon (23.57) and a Lily Scaire (34.53) as they abandoned us all to go and run on their lonesome at Roundhay.
Adam Kirk (17.30) was being a right old show off with his first place at Cross Flats, but we won’t let that detract from the achievements of his missus Lisa Gibson (30.47) who also ran the same course. Mr (27.02) and Mrs (37.47) Robinson did not run the same course, but instead did their athletic ablutions at Heslington, while Mr (29.09) and Mrs (30.48) paid their dues at Temple Newsam, and Fozzy Forster (25.04) ran at Chevin Forest.
Down at Conyngham, Harry Jelf (23.57) was the first Nidd to cross the line, whereas Guy Parker (29.21) decided to show wife Moira McTague (29.25) who wears the trousers (or running shorts) in that athletic relationship. Well done also to Michalle Smith (34.10) for doing her spin round the muddy course. At Fountains, Andy Todd (18.42) got things going for Team Nidd, paving the way for the great results we have enjoyed from Pram Man Braddon (20.39), Roger Duckworth (25.46), Marcos Montana (28.37) and Ellie Deacon (28.30).
Luke Wakelin (19.07) was the first Nidd to finish at Harrogate, and Nigel Moscardini (20.56), Matt Rickard (21.00), Luke Scorer (21.02) and Jon Easton (21.04) all jostled for position. John Beaumont (22.36) celebrated his 50th parkrun – well done, John! – and we were really pleased to see Richard Evans (22.37) Jeremy Parkrun (22.42), Captains Sarah (22.45) and Dazzler (23.20), and junior Sam Crebbin (23.39) go and get their barcodes scanned. Phil Ventress (24.47) made a bit of a hash of pacing, but helpfully made sure that Fingers Harris (24.52) and Nick Crebbin (24.59) came in under 25 minutes.
Ewa Scott (26.16), Iaian Scott (26.23), Emma David (26.28) and Alex Leslie (26.29) continue the roll call of glory, only to find that Steve Newton (26.38), Helen Cook (27.02), Rosemary Thompson (27.43) and Karen Mills (27.55) and Rachel Mills 28.08) swell the numbers yet further, It’s yet more well dones to Jane Evans (29.10), and to Lynsey Barraclough (30.04) and Reb Ventress (30.05). Kirsty O’Donnell (30.51), Susan Rogers (31.14) and Lorna Eley (31.39) have nothing to be ashamed of with times like that, too. Rounding off the results from the Stray, we’ve got times from yours-injuredly (31.48), Tony LC (31.53), Graham Hyde (32.30), Amelia Dalton (34.20), Kev Dalton (34.29), Janet Jarvis (36.55) and Mike Kaye (37.04).
I stumbled out of bed / I got ready for the struggle / I smoked a cigarette / And I tightened up my gut / I said this can’t be me / Must be my double / And I can’t forget, I can’t forget / I can’t forget but I don’t remember what: samfugill@gmail.com.
Carol Morgan
Many of you will know Carol Morgan, formerly of this parish, but still very much a Nidder. Well, Carol is out having a crack at the Wainwright challenge… For the uninitiated, this means trying to tick all of the 214 Wainwright peaks in one continuous challenge. She started earlier today from Keswick, has passed through some of the big hitting central fells, and is currently peak-bagging around Loweswater and the Western Fells. All being well, she’ll finish sometime on Friday. Follow her here: https://tinyurl.com/ycr6chu8. Good luck, Carol. We’re all rooting for you.
Evening League
Bing bong… This is the last call for passengers wishing to board the Nidd Valley Airlines flight to the Evening League. Those wishing to run in the league must please proceed to the gate immediately: https://racebest.com/races/2zeut. Please have your travel documentation and discount code NVRR22 ready for inspection. Thank you. Bing bong…
Booking Now Open
On 22 May 2022, we have got the Charlesworth Chase in the fell championships. It looks like EOTD, but all the info for those that wish to be in the know is here: https://tinyurl.com/3bwstjnp. Also, we have the infamous Otley 10 (oh, that hill!) on 08 Jun 2022. Entry is in advance, and so if you want your road championship points you might want to have a look at this: https://tinyurl.com/6b8nfvcm.
Committee Meeting
We’ve got a committee meeting on Wednesday night. I can hardly sleep, too. It’ll be very exciting. The agenda is already out, but if there is anything urgent that you need to bring to the collective attention of the committee, then please let Philippa know. She’s ready and waiting to take your call: pwilkinson79@hotmail.com.
Word to the Wise
This week’s wise words come from non-Nidd Sharon Harcastle as she talks about the all important bed race preparation and training.
“Have you got ropes on your bed…”
If I did, it would be precious little business of hers! So, from everyone here in the kinky rooms here at NVH, it’s goodbye. Have a great weekend.
Sam x