(TLDR. The Headlines: Tuesday’s club run is round Knox and Bilton, and on Thursday we run up Cornwall Road and Harlow Moor Drive. There are no club championship races this weekend. Read on for more details about up and coming events, and other news about tee-shirts and baby Niddlings. Oh yeah, and a few wise words…)
Right, sorry this is late again this week. Got loads on and have to head out again in ten minutes, so let’s cut straight to the chase with a look at the results from the past week.
Results from the Week That Was…
We cannot start with anyone other than Brian Hainsworth this week. Brian took part in what I think has been his toughest race to date: the 7 Valleys Ultra in the Lake District. This race started at 6am – surely a time when all decent folk are in their beds and all indecent folk are in somebody else’s – and covered some 67 miles of unforgiving Lakeland terrain in some pretty grim conditions, taking in 11,500ft of climb as he went. Heading from Ambleside up past Rydal and Grasmere, Brian then headed over the peaks into Borrowdale, headed south to touch the top of Wasdale, down into Langdale, back through Ambleside, before heading to Patterdale with a brief diversion to Hayeswater. The end firmly in sight, an exhausted Brian headed round the top of Thirlmere, did a quick out and back near Blencathra before heading to Keswick, over the line and into the arms of the love of his life. Anyway, when all is said and done, Brian finished in a remarkable time of 17:47.59, finishing just before midnight, and 43rd out of a field of 129 finishers. This is a profound achievement. Well done, Bri.
In the Bridlington 13.5 mile trail race, our very own Craig Mills only went and won the frigging thing. Yep, you heard me correctly. Won it. And did so by an impressive two and a half minute margin over the second finisher, too. Craig finished in a brilliant time of 1:26.24, while Captain Dazzler (1:32.14) came fifth overall and first in his category too.
As speculation mounted as to who would be the third Too to finish, it fell to Chris Carvey (1:41.09) to settle that debate, finishing just ahead of Ian Hesford (1:41.09) and Martin Lofthouse (1:44.50) as they powered along the promenade. Ian got the prize for first MV45, too, you know. Kev Dalton got a corking time of 1:47.14 which must surely go someway to mitigate the disappointment of being unable to run Berlin last week. I mean, who needs to visit the Brandenburg Gate and the Bundestag when you can finish in a grandstand finish outside the East Riding Leisure Centre (Bridlington Branch)? Kev Nicholas (1:50.42) was just ahead of Laura Francis (1:55.01) who was the first of the Nidd ladies to finish. Nick Crebbin (1:57.41) put on a sprint to sneak ahead of Fiona Deacon (1:57.47), but she was more than happy to settle for taking the prize for the first FV55.
Helen Gregory (1:59.42) took the prize for the first FV45, while we also celebrated great results from Chandra Shekar (2:01.16), Rachel Mills (2:01.32), Jim Cook (2:02.16), Jeremy Leggings (2:02.37), Rebecca Ventress (2:05.33) and Nigel Scaife (2:07.27). Oh Captain, My Captain! Emma Kicks (2:07.49) was just ahead of Chris Morris (2:07.52), Paul Manning (2:10.22) was just ahead of sister Jenny (2:10.52), and Chatty McChatface (2:15.56) showed the way to Jose Jimenez (2:19.39) as he completed his first ever competitive half marathon. Great work, Jose! I must say that it is lovely, too, to see Jeff Walker (2:23.40) back racing for the squad, as he’s a cracking runner he really is. Nick Smith (2:23.49) was just behind Jeff, while it was great to see the ever lovely Rachael Prince (2:27.09), Jonathan Kay (2:27.46), Dave Prince (2:35.12) and Susy Rhodes (2:36.53). The holy trinity of final Nidds to cross the line were none other than Sarah Bracher (2:54.49), Michelle Smith (2:59.59) and the unstoppable Carolyn Jones (3:14.21). Well done to you all!
Sensibly deciding that the full distance was not for her as she recovers from injury, Jane Evans decided to have a crack at the shorter Sewerby Sprint Race. Jane completed the 5km distance in a time of 27.29, coming third in her age category. So she’s pleased enough with that, which is nice.
I’ve no idea what Ian Doughty was doing in Richmond, but he knows his own business best and in doing so he kick starts our parkrun write-up for the week. Adam Kirk and FRP were in Wakefield Thornes, but I don’t know why Adam had decided to take FRP with him rather than his new fiancé Lisa, but we are where we are. Tony Ledwaba-Chapman was all metropolitan in the capital when he ran at Peckham Rye, while Sylvia Morten was back on the Chevin Forest. It is nice to see her back in her natural habitat, that’s for sure. Owen and Freya Dart (rising stars in Nidd Valley Juniors, as I am sure you are doubtlessly aware) ran at Lancaster Parkrun, while we had the usual larger numbers at Harrogate, Fountains Abbey and Conyngham Hall. All the full results are here: https://tinyurl.com/47nsmxd6.
Spirit on the water / darkness on the face of the deep / I keep thinking about you baby / I can’t hardly sleep: chair@niddvalleyroadrunners.co.uk.
The Fixtures for the Week Ahead
Right. I give up. Summer is over and I can’t live in denial any more. Hi-vizes on, folks. We’re back to the pounding the pavements in the dark. Gutted. Still, I can think of no-one that I would rather go for a run with than you lot, so without further ado:
On Tuesday, our club run is a spin round Bilton. Be at the Hockey Club and good to go for 7pm. We’ll head out over the iron bridge and onto Woodfield Road. Following round, cross over Bilton Lane and round Tennyson Avenue, Bachelor Gardens and Knox Lane. Climbing up onto Skipton Road, you can then head back to the club, or you can extend down Skipton Road to the Little Wonder Roundabout, and then head back to the club via Ripon Road, West Park and York Place. The shorter version will be about 5k and the full distance will be 10k, but feel to amend as the mood takes you.
Thursday’s club run takes us through town. If you want to join us, be at the Hockey Club for 7pm and join us as we run down to the bottom of Valley Gardens. From there, head up Cornwall Road, turning left on Harlow Moor Road. From there, you can head back to the club along York Place, or you can extend by running up Otley Road, and returning to the club via Beckwith Road, Green Lane, Leadhall Lane and Leeds Road. Afterwards, we’ll be regrouping for a pint in the Hockey Club bar afterwards and – and this really does go without saying – you would be most welcome. Last week we enjoyed a riveting conversation between Matt Rickard and Ian Hesford about how to use a microwave to blow things up in all manner of startling and exciting ways. You don’t know what you’re missing.
There doesn’t appear to be anything in the club championship this weekend, so you do have a bit of time off. Do whatever needs to be done. Take the kids swimming, clean the kitchen or play with power tools, whatever. If you do go for a run and you fancy a bit of company, why not let fellow Nidds know via Facebook or the email group? You’re sure to find someone who fancy a plod and a chat.
Further Ahead & Booking Now Open
So I had a fair few people line up to point out that I had got it wrong when I said there is only one more race in the road championships (the Tadcaster 10 on 19th November). Indeed, I had. For those that need the points, we will be racing at Fountains Abbey parkrun on 14th October 2023. If you need the points, if you just like running at Fountains Abbey, or if you find the idea of a latte and a scone in the cafe just too good to resist, then why not come and join us?
Tee-Shirts
Sylvia is co-ordinating orders for more of the club colour tee-shirts (ie, the long and short sleeved ones which we need to pre-order, rather than the vests which you can buy from Up & Running whenever you want). To make an order viable, we need to order at least ten of them, and they come at the bargain price of £27 for the short sleeved and £32.40 for the long sleeved. You can find the sizing guides on the club website, here: https://tinyurl.com/4tdtw5bx. If you would like on, please let Sylvia know before 6th October 2023. She’s hiding behind this email address: treasurer@niddvalleyroadrunners.co.uk.
Phil’s Lovely Baps: 19th December 2023
Phil Ventress has organised hot turkey sandwiches after our Christmas run in December. These will be at the Empress Pub in Harrogate, where you will be able to partake and indulge in a cheeky pint or wine. There is a Facebook event for this (please accept, if you want to come), but if you wish to come, then you’ll need to pay £7 into the club account, and let Sylvia know. The club bank account is 12074796, sort code 40-23-12. Again, to let Sylvia know, drop her an email here: treasurer@niddvalleyroadrunners.co.uk.
Another Niddling
It doesn’t seem like that long ago when we celebrated the news that John and Susie Mallett had welcomed baby Charlotte to the world. Well, baby Charlotte is in good company, as Matt and Philippa Wilkinson welcomed baby Stanley to Planet Earth on Tuesday. Not going to lie. Newborn babies kind of scare me. They look a bit like aliens. But anyway, I’m happy to tell you that baby Stanley is incredibly cute and perfect in every way, and that both parents and baby are doing well and feeling delighted. Congratulations to them both.
Word to the Wise
We have a few classics from our trip to Bridlington yesterday.
The first comes from Karen Mills, as she visited one of those tacky seaside shops that retails tacky seaside gifts and memorabilia. Only she didn’t realise she was speaking with the owner stood right behind her.
“I love a proper sh*t shop, me…” – Karen Mills, with the lofty and bourgeoisie curiosity of a Harrogatonian at the seaside.
The second comes from Jonathan Kay, who shared his reflections on a trip to Bridlington’s premier amusement arcade: Pleasureland.
“That was very pleasurable. I’ve been properly pleasured…” – Jonathan Kay, and the less we say about this the better.
And the final comes from Rachael Prince, sharing her thoughts about the last mile of yesterday’s race.
“It was good. The last mile was just like the Great North Run. Only that you weren’t dodging other runners, but were dodging people in zimmer frames, people eating chips, and grumpy people wondering why you were getting in their way…” – Rachael Prince, having enjoyed some good old Yorkshire hospitality.
So from the three of them, from me, and from everyone else here at Nidd Valley House, have a wonderful week. I’m sure that you will.
See you soon,
Chairman Sam x