(TLDR. The Headlines: On Tuesday, we welcome Nidderdale Fell & Trail to join us for our club run, and we’re taking them down the Gorge. On Thursday, we have the Kings Challenge Fell Race in Silsden, and we also have a club run down through Hookstone Woods. Read on for further info about up and coming races, and the much-anticipated Sylvia’s Summer Relays. Plus a very strange word to the wise…)
Thanks to everyone who volunteered at the Harrogate parkrun on Saturday. Sarah very much enjoyed getting to play with the measuring wheel and having her own clipboard, and luckily the rain held off. We got loads of compliments about the friendliness of the marshals and how encouraging the pacers were, so thanks to all of you. We showed the very best of Nidd Valley. Special congratulations to Moira McTague who got her pacing spot on, hitting her 33.00 target on the nose.
On that note, shall we have a look at what everyone has been up to?
Results from the Week That Was…
As per usual arrangements, we start with an apology for a missed result, and this week it goes to the lesser-spotted Sue Rogers. To be fair, Sue didn’t tell me until this weekend that she had taken part in the Yorkshire Wolds 50k, so I can’t be held totally to blame. Completing a circular route from Pockilington last weekend, Sue ran up hill and down dale and visited idyllic sounding villages such as Thixendale, Fridaythorpe and Kirby Underdale. Sue did this in memory of her friend who had died from bowel cancer, and this makes her successful finish in 9:27.14 all the more poignant. Sue has made of £500 for Bowel Cancer UK and, although we don’t normally share fundraising links, if you’d like to add more to the pot then I’m sure she’d be grateful: https://tinyurl.com/dknebfws.
On Thursday, we had a couple of Nidds who took part in the Eshton Moor Fell Race near Gargrave. Now, to be honest with you, they’re lucky that we’re including their results as they appear in the results list as unattached. I can’t believe for a second that anyone would deliberately disown the mighty black and gold but there we are. Anyway, enough of that. Nick Andralojc completed the five mile race in a cracking 43.58, soon to be joined by the legend of the muddy hills that is Fell Running Phil (57.58). A very big well done to them both.
In the regular feature that is ‘Brian runs up a bloody big hill’, Brian Hainsworth took part on Saturday in the Borrowdale Fell Race. You know the kind of thing, 17 miles and 6,500ft of ascent over some of the highest hills in the country, including Scafell Pike and Great Gable. Anyway, Brian completed this incredible feat in 5:09.21, coming 150th out of 181 finishers. It goes without saying, an incredible achievement. Well done, Brian.
It was all go in York yesterday with the York 10k. Wonder how they came up with that name. Anyway, we start of with celebrating Emily Wighton (58.46) and her dad Ian (58.45) who put their best feet forward to get some cracking times on the course. Up ahead, Josh Bryer (38.59) made easy work of the sharp and fast course, while you wouldn’t have thought that Craig Mills (35.16) had paced 19 minutes at the parkrun the day before. Anyway, some cracking results, I’m sure you’ll all agree, so remember to give them a cheer when you see them next.
Staying with the 10k theme, John Luxton was in Darlington yesterday, where he took part in the Darlington 10k. Only adding to my worries about people besmirching the good name Nidd Valley, Martin appears in the results as running for North York Moors AC, but luckily I’ve checked out his photos and he is wearing a Nidd Valley vest so all can be quickly forgiven. Anyway, you won’t care a jot about that when I tell you that Martin got the first MV70 prize, so we’ve plenty to celebrate as he brings another addition to the trophy cabinet in Nidd Valley House.
In the fell championships, we had a good contingent of Nidds in the 112 starters for the Round Hill Fell Race yesterday. Fingers Harris (1:13.19) was the first to finish the 8.5 mile course, while you wouldn’t have thought that Brian Hainsworth (1:14.44) had been in the Lake District the previous day. Nick Andralojc (1:14.52) was only a few seconds behind Brian, while there was not much to separate Andy Iddon (1:17.12) from Lulu Tucker (1:19.25) as she made her debut for the fell running squad. Sam Fugill (1:22.24) was next to finish while Amy Shepphard (1:22.57) took a tumble a couple of miles from home and had to take it easy to the line. Jim Cook finished the athletic mud-fest in 1:33.00, and we had great performances from Russell Geraghty (1:34.33), Fell Running Phil (1:41.36) and Roger Duckworth (1:41.58). Our trio of finishers were none other than Dave Seaman (1:43.14), Sarah Chalmers (2:02.30) and Liz Ahmed (2:23.01). Congratulations, everyone!
Thanks so much to everyone who got themselves to the Stray on Saturday for the parkrun takeover. It was a great event. Despite seemingly half the club at Harrogate parkrun, we still had a lot of tourism going on, including a visit from Matt Rickard to his home turf in Wolverhampton. John and Susie Mallett were at Nostell Priory, Mr and Mrs Robinson were at Millhouses in Sheffield, and Laura Francis was at the PAstures in Alnwick as she returned from her Scottish holiday (she got first lady, you know… #justsaying). Andy Todd and Rob Northfield were at Fountains Abbey, and Conygham Hall was blessed with the presence of juniors Josh Tiffin, Fraser Dobinson and Jessica Webster. Jack Brierley ran at Woolacombe Dunes in Devon, but the prize for the furthest travelled goes to Yvonne Skelton and Martin Weeks who ran at Mattheiser Weiher near the German city of Trier (Mattheiser Weiher means St Matthew’s Lake, if you’re taking notes). You can read about all of their exploits and so much more right here: https://tinyurl.com/47nsmxd6.
In one, the surface was frozen / in another, I witnessed a crime / in one, I was running, and in another / all I seemed to be doing was climb: chair@niddvalleyroadrunners.co.uk
The Fixtures for the Week Ahead
It’s best behaviour on Tuesday as we have our friends from Nidderdale Fell & Trail joining us for our club run. We’ll meet at the Hockey Club for 7pm, and we’re taking them for a trip down the gorge. There’ll be groups for all paces, so there is certainly something for everyone. Head out over the iron bridge and to Bilton Crossing, and from there drop down through the woods to the river. You can go as far as you like, coming up onto the path near the Gardener’s Arms, or continuing further so that you emerge on Bilton Lane. From there, it’s a steady run back to the club. It’ll be a great night, and the chance to showcase one of our very best summer runs.
Thursday presents the next notch in the bed post of the fell championships with the Kings Challenge Fell Race. This is only six miles, but packs a punch with 1,200ft of ascent. It starts in the village of Silsden near Skipton, and provides some great views if the weather is good. It has it all, including one technical climb and descent, but is otherwise a pretty runnable route, and it finishes conveniently close to the pub for a post-race pint. Entry is only a fiver, too, and is on the day. They may insist on kit, depending on the weather, so it is worth being prepared. Further details here: https://tinyurl.com/y6ct6ymu.
If you don’t fancy yourself a fell race, there’ll be a club run as per normal arrangements on Thursday night. This week, we’ll be doing Hookstone Woods as our route of choice. That means leaving the Hockey Club at 7pm and heading out over the Stray. Work your way through the Saints, and through Hookstone Woods, taking the path round so you come to St Michael’s Hospice. Keep going round until you come to Fulwith Mill Lane. You can turn right and head back to the club along Leeds Road, or you can push out through Stone Rings and over the field so you come out of Leadhall Lane. From there, you can sneak back past the cricket club and onto Leeds Road, and then you know your way back over the Stray to the club house.
Further Ahead & Booking Now Open
We’ve got the Sessay Swift in the calendar for the 16th August 2023, but this looks to have sold out. I don’t know if they operate a waiting list or if there are any swaps going but, if you are on the prowl, you can find out the relevant details here: https://tinyurl.com/cxanu8jr.
On 3rd September 2023, the road championships present us with the Tholthorpe 10k. Entries are open and are going for £16.50 a pop, which is a total bargain when you think of the PB opportunities and championship points that are up for grabs. Get yourself entered! Do it here: https://tinyurl.com/sy9ze67u.
Sylvia’s Relays: 22 Aug 2023
Teams are starting to get registered for Sylvia’s relays, and we’d hate you not to be part of the run. The premise is as simple as it is daft. Teams of four each take a 1.5 mile loop of a flat country round near Weeton while conveying a wooden spoon round as their baton. There’ll be prizes for the fastest male, female and mixed team, as well as prizes for the funniest team name, best decorated baton, among others. It’s all very silly, but it should be a laugh. Get yourself a team together, and get yourself entered: https://tinyurl.com/uw6bwhr6.
Word to the Wise
Those in the fell running community will know of a legend from Otley AC called Antonio Cardinale. This Italian gent is a stalwart of many a local race, often seen bringing up the rear. Anyway, before the fell race yesterday, our very own Fiona Robinson was complaining to Antonio about some back pain. Although he was presumably thinking of some form of back support, the advice Fiona’s fellow Nidds heard was a little surprising to say the least.
“Wear a corset, Fiona. I think you should wear a corset…” – Antonio Cardinale, dispensing imaginative orthopaedic advice, and leaving little to the imagination.
So with that image indelibly etched in your mind, it’s goodbye from me, from Mrs Robinson, and everybody else here at Nidd Valley House. Have a great week.
Chairman Sam x