(TLDR. The Headlines: On Tuesday, we have intervals or a steady run, both from Conyngham Hall carpark at 7pm. On Thursday, we have a social run led by Phil Ventress from the Follifoot Arms at 6.15pm for walkers and 6.30pm for runners, and Captain Dazzler will lead a club run from the Hockey Club at 7pm. On Friday evening we have the York 5k series at Heslington, and on Sunday we have the Boston Half Marathon. There are details of some up and coming races, a plea for unpaid subs and details of the upcoming Evening League…. Well, what are you waiting for? Read on!).
Hi all,
Hope everyone has had a good long weekend and have managed to pull yourself from the inevitable downward spiral that is a diabetic coma induced by an excess of Cadbury’s Mini Eggs. The Easter Bunny has visited, and we’re pleased to provide some results-based reading while you much your way through his latest offerings.
Results from the Week That Was…
I once heard a line about how the Vikings first set foot on the Isle of Man in 798AD in the hope of establishing a forward looking and liberal society, and this not being a mistake that they’d make again. Anyway, I use this as an awkward segway to open this week’s results, in which we celebrate Jim Cook who took part in the Manx Mountain Marathon this weekend. At 31.1 miles, and so longer and with a damn sight more ascent that your traditional marathon, this is a brutal race that takes you from one end of the island to the other, and we cannot do anything but celebrate the achievements of Jim (8:50.21) as he conquered the challenging course. Well done, Jim!
Now, normally when you see the words multi-terrain, this is a bit of a fudge to disguise from the gullible that a race will not be as muddy as it inevitably will be. No matter, that didn’t seem to put off Richard Evans and Craig Neethling who tackled the Helmsley 10k Multi Terrain Race yesterday. Richard finished in a slippery 48.16, with Craig never too far behind in 58.14. A very big congratulations to you both.
Equally as magnificent congratulations to Andy Iddon who, at the weekend, took part in the Rivington Pike Fell Race in Lancashire. Yep, Lancashire. We can only hope he had his jabs. Anyway, running a 5k in 25.23 might not seem that spectacular an achievement for an athlete as primed as our Andrew, but to tackle 700ft of ascent in that distance is one heck of an achievement. We’re glad he’s safely back to Yorkshire and to Nidd Valley House, which is where he belongs. Well done, Andy.
The biggest chunk of the results write-up space has to be reserved, however, for those Easter Bunnies who popped on their black and gold ears and competed in the Guiseley Gallop yesterday. Senior Bunny Dazzler (42.55) was the first to hop round the 10k course, with Martin Lofthouse (43.42) and Andy Todd (44.02) next to finish. Newbie Teresa Oldroyd (47.22) was the first Nidd female to finish – and, well, doesn’t she just look fantastic now she has donned the glorious Gold & Black – while Nigel Scaife (49.08), Fiona Deacon (54.17) and Chief Coaching Bunny Emma (56.35) gave chase to the finish. We’ll celebrate the achievements of Mike Deacon (58.22), Paul Manning (58.23), Karen Mills (58.40), and we couldn’t be anything but happy to see our Wodger (1:00.09) joined at the finish by Katie Coppack (1:00.25), Angela Pattinson (1:04.07), Jenny Manning (1:04.42) and Dave Seaman (1:07.12). Christine Holleran (1:07.44) was just ahead of Liz Ahmad (1:14.05), while Sylvia Morten (1:19.25) would like to apologise for keeping everybody waiting because she had taken a wrong turn. Still, Sylvia, it isn’t all that bad. At least you won the Dave Seaman Trophy for the Navigationally Challenged.
In parkrun, Luke Scorer and James Coulthard were running at York, while Adam Kirk had taken his missus Lisa Gibson for a day out at Pontefract. He sure knows how to treat a woman, that’s for sure. Can’t say much more for FRP who took Mrs Robinsin to Selby, while I treated Jane Evans to a trip to the Costa del Northumbria at Newbiggin-by-the-Sea. Matt Rickard ran at Wolverhampton, John Mallet was at Wetherby, and Andy Todd was at Millfield. Not only that, but we had the Black and Gold out in force at Conyngham Hall, Fountains Abbey and our home course of Harrogate. All good places to be, and all good results to match: https://tinyurl.com/47nsmxd6.
Run, rabbit, run, rabbit, run, run, run. I need to know ALL of your results and achievements.: chair@niddvalleyroadrunners.co.uk.
The Fixtures for the Week Ahead
On Tuesday, we are playing away for the evening and down in Knaresborough. Yeah, I know. Striders territory. #turfwars. Anyway, meet in the carpark at Conyngham Hall and there will be a couple of options for you. There will be some interval sessions on bed race hill if you fancy some lung-bursting strength building, and these will be led by Emma. Alternatively, there will be a steady five mile off-road run led by Dave Seaman through the lower part of Nidd Gorge, and will be a great opportunity to make the most of the lighter nights.
There will NOT be a club run from the Hockey Club on Tuesday.
On Thursday, again we have a couple of options for you. Firstly, Phil Ventress has organised a five mile walk and run from the Harewood Arms in Follifoot. The walk will leave at 6.15pm and the run will leave at 6.30pm. This is an off-road route so you’ll be glad of some trail shoes, and is a great chance to get to know the lesser-trodden pathways on our doorstep. We’ll decamp afterwards into the Harewood Arms for a pint or two, but as this is a Sam’s Smith, then it’ll be a cash only bar so be sure to swing via the cash point on your way.
If you don’t fancy that, Captain Dazzler will be organising another club run from the Hockey Club on Thursday night. He’ll be setting off at 7pm, and the route will be decided on the night. It’ll be a steady pace, however, with the emphasis very much on a social run out rather than making attempts on any world records. The bar will not be open at the Hockey Club this week, however.
You’ll have seen in the email from Captains Emma and Dazzler that the York 5k series is back this Friday at Heslington Sports Village, which offers the chance for you to strive for a PB. You can take part in as many of these as you like and, at the end of the season, submit your best time for inclusion in the championship leaderboard. All the details on entry and such like can be found here: https://tinyurl.com/5cpdzvxc.
We’ve got the Boston Half Marathon in our road championships on Sunday, and entry closes at midnight on 12 Apr 2022 (which I take to mean Tuesday night). It’ll cost you £20 to get in, but the cost will be nothing in comparison to the glory and sense of achievement you’ll feel at finishing, not to mention all of the club championship points you’ll be throwing towards your final tally. Details here: https://tinyurl.com/4d386d25
I know we have a few Nidds out competing in the Manchester Marathon on Sunday, too. A huge good luck to all of you. Trust yourselves, trust your training, and enjoy the day. We know you’ll run performances worthy of the mighty Gold & Black. Go get ‘em, tigers.
Further Ahead & Booking Now Open
On 30 Apr 2023, we’ve got the Melmerby 10k in the road championships. Entry will set you back £15, and this local course is a perfect opportunity to bag yourself a PB in addition to those valuable championship points. I can’t begin to imagine why you might want to miss it. More entry details here: https://tinyurl.com/vszyt6h7.
On Bank Holiday Monday (that’s the 01 May 2023), we’ve got the Coiners Fell Race in the Fell Championships. Not only unusual in that it is on a Monday, but equally as unusual in that pre-entries are available. This is a BM Race (which, to the uninitiated, means not too far and only reasonably steep), and will set you back between £7 and £10. It’s a bit of a trek to get to Mytholmroyd, but it looks like a cracking race out on the Pennines, with plenty to look forward to. Have a look, why don’t you: https://tinyurl.com/2p83nut9.
There are some things that money can’t buy, for everything else there’s Nidd Valley
Yes, subs are due. In fact, they’ve been due for a week and a half now so it’s a good job that we don’t charge interest. Like Phil Ventress said in his Facebook post, the club runs and club events are open to members only so, if you want to run with us, then you need to get paid up. Don’t make us send the heavies round. It won’t end well. You can renew here: https://tinyurl.com/mr35h8aw. Instructions for how to pay follow at the end of the form.
Evening League: Entries now Open!
Come on and get involved! This is a great chance to represent your club at a competitive level in a fun series of races with the other clubs in the area. Whether you are young or old, fast or steady, competitive or social, it doesn’t matter. Get those shoes on, get that vest on, and get yourself registered. Remember that Nidd Valley runners get a discount with the code NIDD23 (do not share with others outside the club, please!). This is where we need you to be, and this is where – deep down – you want to be: https://tinyurl.com/86sc49rc.
Word to the Wise
No wise words this week. Everyone is too busy eating chocolate and, well, it is rude to talk with one’s mouth full.
So from the Easter Bunny, from me, and everyone else here at Nidd Valley House, have a great week.
See you soon.
Chairman Sam x