(TLDR. The Headlines: on Tuesday, we have a club run up Valley Gardens and round Birk Crag, and on Thursday we are heading down the gorge. Sunday brings us the Melmerby 10k in the road championships, and we have Mytholmroyd’s Coiners Fell Race on Bank Holiday Monday. Not much else going on, so it makes quick enough reading, but I’ve thrown in the usual reminders and links for Evening League and for overdue subs.).
Hi all,
Well, did anyone watch the London Marathon? To see Sifan Hassan come from that far back to clinch the first prize for the ladies, and to see Kiptum smash Kipchoge’s course record and come dangerously close to setting a new world record… just wow. But that nothing compared to the excitement we felt at Nidd Valley House to see our squad out to tackle the world famous race. The excitement has been fever-pitch with everyone glued to the television and trackers, so it’s probably best if we get straight to the results from the week that was.
Results from the Week That Was…
So yes, the London Marathon, where we have had a bumper crop of Nidders out on the capital course. I certainly can’t think of a time when we have had this many, but I’m more than happy to be corrected by those who pay attention to such things. And we start with the ever lovely Craig Mills who completed this in an incredible 2:47.22 in what I think is the second-fastest marathon time recorded by a Nidder (again, feel free to correct me!), and coming only just ahead of the incredible Adam Kirk who clocked a remarkable 2:48.45. Hot on the heels of his own success in Boston, Steve Newbould clocked a breathtaking 3:01.23, while James Knapp smashed his wildest dreams with a time of 3:14.33, and our latest recruit Theresa Oldroyd hit the line in 3:22.40. As if this Chairman could not be prouder, Loz Hawksworth nailed an impressive time of 3:36.44, while newbie Kirsty Walter clocked in at 3:49.23 and Rachel Mills finished in 4:00.39. We all remember when Philippa Thompson gave some expletive-ridden response when she won the ballot for the club place, but she did herself and us proud with a time of 4:29.09, finishing just behind John Mallett in 4:22.22. Jeff Walker finished 5:23.44 and another new recruit to the Nidd Valley Campaign, Sarah Gore, finished in a spectacular 5:34.04. Congratulations to each and every one of you. You’ve tamed some demons and achieved what you never thought possible during those long training runs in the rain.
Now the little athletic birdie tells me that we had a few Nidds out to run the Burnsall Half Marathon and 10k this weekend. Now, unfortunately, I am unable to filter results by club and so I’ve had to skim the results and tried to spot the Nidders from their names only. Apologies if I have missed you. So, in the 10k, it looks like we’ve got congratulations to go to Jenny Manning (1:28.00), Sarah Chalmers (1:38.47), and Michelle Smith (2:02.59) as they navigated their way around the wet and hilly course. We’ll also say a congratulations to Ann-Marie McPhearson (2:02.59) who, although not a current member, ran with the club for years and is still very much part of the wider Nidd family. In the half marathon, we’ve got results from Emma David (2:24.57) and Chatty McChatface (2:41.41), so three cheers and extra pudding to each of those. We’ll also give some kudos to Carol Morgan (1:54.32) – previously of this parish – who took the place of second female. Well done to you all.
As always, we finish with a quick look at the results from parkruns, and we start with Susie and John Mallet who were in St Albans, with John clearly taking it easy in readiness for his marathon exertion today. Nigel Scaife was in Bournemouth – heaven only knows why – and the Wightons were at Temple Newsam.Loz Hawksworth and Hannah Percy were at Tooting Common, Karen Mills was at Lordship Recreation Ground (I know, sounds well fancy), Fiona Robinson was at Wetherby, and Syliva Morten was on home territory with a spin round Chevin Forest. In their hunt for the full parkrun alphabet, the Deacons headed to The Hague to take part in the Zuiderpark Parkrun and bag themselves that all evasive ‘Z’. As ever, plenty of Nidders at Fountains, Conyngham and Harrogate. You can see all of their results, alphabetical or otherwise, right here: https://tinyurl.com/47nsmxd6.
London calling to the faraway towns / Now war is declared and battle come down / London calling to the underworld / Come out of the cupboard, you boys and girls: chair@niddvalleyroadrunners.co.uk.
The Fixtures for the Week Ahead
On Tuesday, let’s have ourselves a run out to Harlow Carr and Birk Crag. We’ll meet at the Hockey Club for 7pm, and head down into town and up through the Valley Gardens. We’ll continue through the Valley Gardens, cross over Harlow Moor Road and through the Pine Woods. When you get to Harlow Carr, you can turn left and head back to the club along Otley Road and York Place, or you can turn right and work your way back from Birk Crag Woods. Provided you pick the right path, you should find yourself back on Harlow Moor Road, and you can run back through the Duchy Estate, and back to the club from there. As ever, feel free to shorten, amend and alter as the mood takes you. Just don’t leave people behind. That’s not our style.
Now our Dave is back from Scotland (and in one piece, thank goodness), on Thursday we’ll have a trip down the gorge. It’s his favourite run, you see. Leaving the Hockey Club at 7pm, head over Iron Bridge and up to Bilton Crossing. Running up towards the viaduct, take a right turn onto the fields and drop down into the gorge. Carry on, and you can come back up for air on the track by the Gardeners Arms, or you can run further and come up the big hill onto Bilton Hall Lane. Thread your way back to the club, whichever way you go, and don’t forget to join us for a beer and a bag of crisps in the bar to toast a fantastic run and to celebrate the fact that you’ve nearly made it to the end of another week.
Ah, this looks interesting. On Sunday, we have Melmerby 10k in the road championships. Not only is it lovely to support a local event, but this is great personal best material. You wouldn’t want to miss it. Actually, now I saw that, unless you get a wriggle on you might very well miss it as, at time of writing, there are only 39 places left. Grab your bank card and get logged on pronto: https://tinyurl.com/vszyt6h7.
I know that this race is technically next week, but I’ll be travelling up from London on Sunday so I’m unlikely to get the email out in time. On Bank Holiday Monday, we’ve got the Coiners Fell Race near Mytholmroyd in the fell championships. Unusually for a fell race, there is pre-entry available so you needn’t worry about having the right change at the registration desk. This looks like quite an accessible number, and at a little under seven miles is well within the grasp of a hopeless amateur like myself. Technically, it’s a BM race (B meaning not excessively steep and M meaning that it isn’t so long that you’ll be finishing in the dark). It’s an afternoon start, too, so plenty of opportunities for a lie in. Entries and other information available right here: https://tinyurl.com/2p83nut9.
Further Ahead & Booking Now Open
The first of the Evening League races is on 11 May 2023, when Knaresborough Striders open what is sure to be an exciting season. To be totally honest with you – and keep this to yourself, will you? – entries haven’t been as numerous as the league organisers would have hoped, although Nidders are obviously pulling more than their weight. So please think about getting involved. They are a great series of races, competitive but good fun and sociable, and there is plenty of opportunity to get stuck into the buffet provided that you can elbow Martin Lofthouse out of the way. Some of them even count in our club road championships. Entries can be completed here: https://tinyurl.com/86sc49rc (and remember that – with the discount code NIDD23, which is obviously not to be shared with anyone else outside the club, you can get yourself a £4 discount).
One for your diary. On 20 May 2023, we’ve got the Charlesworth Chase in the fell championships. This is approximately a 10k race up and down Simon’s Seat from the Craven Arms in Appletreewick, the challenge being that you have to finish a pint of bitter outside the pub before you can cross the line and clock your time. It’s harder than it looks. It’s got a brilliant descent, too, and so you get the chance to enjoy seeing Fell Running Phil flying down a hillside. It’s like poetry in motion. Still, it’s a lovely run out and we always have a good laugh, and it would be great if you could come and join us. It’s entry on the day, but you can do your reading up here: https://tinyurl.com/3szd64zj.
Subs
Just a polite reminder. It’s a good job that Sylvia doesn’t charge interest, it really is: https://tinyurl.com/mr35h8aw.
Word to the Wise
There were some absolutely prize wise words from Ladies Captain Emma at the committee meeting last week, but she’s threatened to do me some serious harm if I dared to repeat them. I’m not that brave.
So from a silent Captain Emma, from me, and everyone else here at Nidd Valley House, have a great week.
See you soon.
Chairman Sam x