(TLDR. The Headlines: Tuesday’s club run takes us up Cornwall Road and on Thursday we go round the supermarkets – both leaving from the Hockey Club at 7pm. Read on for a exciting results lists, some up and coming races, and a heartwarming wise word to finish…)
Hi all.
Well, what a week that has been. Everyone has been coming back to Nidd Valley House after a weekend of epic running and racing, from reccie runs to ultra marathons, feel mountain relays to pb-setting road races. Trainers are piled up by the door, the laundry basket is overflowing with dirty running kit, and there’s a queue for the showers. There’s beer in the fridge, there’s wine on the rack, and the kettle is always on. So why not pour yourself whatever you fancy and come and join us as we see have a look at the results from the past week?
Results from the Week That Was…
The first shout out of the week goes to Rebecca Ventress who joined that strange group of long distance runners when she completed her first ultra marathon this weekend. Rebecca took part in the Nidderdale Way Punk Panther Ultra, finishing in an incredible time of 6:19.40.
Staying with the Pink Panther Series, a rumour tells me that Chris Rogers did the 10k event in 1:49.ish and that Lulu Tucker completed the half marathon event. I can’t the find the results anywhere on the internet, so I’m sorry about that. You’ll just have to settle for the name check and they’ll have to settle for a heartfelt well done.
And so the madness of long distance running continues, as we had a couple of Nidds take part in the Yorkshire Trod 100km trail ultra-marathon. You’ll not be at all surprised to hear that Kevin Clark took part, and that he completed the race in 16:31.03. But if you’re wondering who the other Nidd was, then I’m only too delighted to tell you that it was Billy Fox who got round the most challenging of courses in 15.57.58. Two incredible results, there. Well done guys!
Theresa Oldyord (1:40.31) was the first Nidd to finish in the Langdale Half Marathon yesterday. Now, for sure, I was surprised by this news but only because I had no idea that she was doing it. Theresa was joined in this wonderful feat by that lovely couple of Nidds, Connor Featherstone and Carolyn Jones (both 3:12.14). Very well done to you all.
Of course, the big event of the weekend was the National Fell Relays in the Lake District. This year, we assembled eighteen runners in the Braithwaite near Keswick to take part in the challenging (and I really do mean challenging) fell running course. Covering the hills known as SOB (Style End, Outerside and Barrow, or Son of a B*tch to those of us mid-course), Jane Evans had been drawn to take the first leg for the ladies, subbing for an unwell Helen Gregory, while Captain Dazzler was first up for the men’s team. Richard Willis was first to show for the senior men. All got back before the cut off, with Dazzler handing a nine minute advantage to the men. Matt Wilkinson and Brian Hainsworth set off in the next pair, followed by Nigel Scaife and Fingers Harris, and then Amy Shepphard and Emma Kicks. By this point, the men’s senior team had taken the advantage and Simon Cocker and Kev Nicholas were first out on the navigation leg, with Andy Iddon and Nick Crebbin in hot pursuit. Laura Francis laced up her shoes and got out on the fells with Cath Barber to tackle the map reading challenge. With the afternoon drawing to a close, Sarah Chalmers, Jim Cook and yours truly got to the start gate and completed the last 7km loop to bring things home for their respective teams, exhausted and muddy but nonetheless happy. Covering over 20 miles overall, and out of 243 finishing teams, our senior team came in at 208th, our men’s open in 223rd, and our ladies in 241st. In a national competition, we’ll take that, and we hold our heads up high. Whatever we do, we wear the Black and Gold with pride.
I would – if you’d forgive me – put in a few words of thanks to Phil Robinson, known to us all as Fell Running Phil. Despite much encouragement from us all, Phil didn’t take a place for himself in the relays and instead encouraged and cajoled as many others to take part in this incredible event. He was the first to arrive, the last to leave, and worked the field as he chatted to everyone and made sure that they got the most out of the day. I know he’s put a lot of work into this event and in getting Nidders to the start line, and we owe him a thanks more than we know and more than he would ever claim. Thanks, though, FRP. You’re a good ‘un.
Now, if there were an award called the Mr Duracell Bunny 2023, then it would surely have to go to Martin Luxton. Yes, dear reader, he was back at it again this week and this time he wasn’t far from home when he completed the Whixley 10km. He did it in a wonderful time of 56.16. Congratulations, Martin.
We finish the main results with a trip down to Leeds to look at the results from the Abbey Dash 10km. And we have great results to celebrate from our latest recruits from Nidd Valley Juniors, all of them running faster than most of us could ever manage: Finlay McCreanor (37.04), Josh Bryer (37.09), Will Bailey (37.46) and Henry Waddington (42.03). In the boring world of the grown ups, it was lovely to see Andrew Davis (44.14), who we’ve not seen for ages, and Fiona Deacon (45.52). Jolly good efforts, all round.
Stop Press!! It turns out that Rob Kingston had entered the race and ran, but did so without registering as a Nidder. Rob finished the race in 37.19, so that’s a really impressive effort. Louise McLeman also entered (so Facebook tells me) and finished the race in a brilliant time of 39.38. Anyway, I almost missed this result as she was registered as Louise Kingston, so we can only assume that they have tied the knot and that she has made an honest man out of him. Congratulations on some brilliant results, on your wedding, and best wishes for the happiest of lives together.
With all of the local parkruns cancelled, you wouldn’t expect to see a lot in the parkrun round up but the MalletMap waits for no one, and so our magical mystery tour starts with our very own junior Owen Dart who was speeding around the course at Woodhouse Moor, while KAtharine Woodhead ran at Oldham and James Braddon ran at Dewsbury. Ian and Emily Wighton were joined by Sarah Gore and John Mallet at Roundhay, while twins Steve Newbould and Karen Mills did their parkrun thing at Cross Flatts. I’ve not heard of Frickley County Parkrun, but Adam Kirk managed to come second place there so that’s all lovely, whereas that veteran of the Nidd Valley Campaign, Andy Todd, secured sixth place at Millfield. All the data in the usual place, namely here: https://tinyurl.com/47nsmxd6.
Until you’ve seen this trash can dream come true / You stand at the edge while people run you through / And I thank the Lord / There’s people out there like you / I thank the Lord there’s people out there like you: chair@niddvalleyroadrunners.co.uk.
The Fixtures for the Week Ahead
On Tuesday, our club run is chosen by our very own Rachel Mills. Rachel suggests that we go for a run up Cornwall Road and, well, I’m certainly not going to be the one to argue with her. We’ll leave the hockey club at 7pm and head past Christchurch, through the cut, and into town. From the bottom of Valley Gardens, a run up Cornwall Road, over Harlow Moor Road and back down Otley Road, past York Place and to the club will easily take up four to five miles of your time. You can easily extend by running down past Ashville College and Leadhall Lane, so there’s sure to be something for everyone.
If you want to join us for a run on Thursday, then you’ll have to thank Moira McTague who has chosen the route for us. And she’s chosen none other than the supermarkets. This means leaving the Hockey Club at 7pm, heading down the path by the railway, past ASDA and up towards Waitrose. From there, you had to the showground and Sainsbury’s – and you can go that by going directly over the Stray or by taking a loop past M&S Food. From Sainsbury’s, run down Forest Lane to the double roundabout, pass Mozzas, then run from Starbeck back up to the club. There are plenty of options to cut short or to extend as the mood takes you, and groups to suit all paces.
If you too would like to suggest a club run, then you only need ask. I’m all ears. Well, I’m not, but you get the jist: chair@niddvalleyroadrunners.co.uk.
There’s not anything in the club calendar for this weekend. Hopefully the weather will be a little less apocalyptically biblical than this weekend just gone so you’ll at least get a parkrun in. If you’re going out for a run, though, why not put a shout out via Facebook or email and see who wants to join you? You’re sure to find someone with time on their hands and shoes on their feet.
Further Ahead & Booking Now Open
I very much appreciate this is a well banged drum, but if you have not yet entered the PECO CX League, then please think about doing so. It would make Captain Dazzler’s day, it really would. Most of these races appear in the club cross-country championships, so when you consider that you are paying only £17 for the whole series then you really do have yourself something of a bargain. The first race is on 12th November 2023 and this will be a wonderful opportunity to represent your club in this most muddy of challenges. Read up, pay up, and be counted: https://tinyurl.com/hjvrwrj3.
We’ve also got the Wadsworth Half Trog on 12th November 2023, which offers several miles of muddy delights in the last race of the fell championships for this year. Fell Running Phil is, as I am sure you might imagine, beyond himself. We can’t say anything here at Nidd Valley House for the fear he’ll just burst into tears, the poor thing. Give him a hug if you see him, will you? But not before you’ve got yourself a place in this classic race: https://tinyurl.com/3n9tt5ub.
If running up hills and wading through mud is not your thing, then the last race of the road championship season gives you the chance to run on the tarmac and on the flat in the Tadcaster 10. This race is held on 19th November 2023 and will be the last chance to secure some points in what has been a hotly fought contest. If you want to be involved, then there is only one place you need to be, and that is right here: https://tinyurl.com/3n9tt5ub.
Club Championships 2024
So some of the committee are meeting next month to have a think about what races might make the cut for the 2024 road and fell championships. Although we can’t promise to satisfy every whim, it would be great to hear from you about the races you have or haven’t enjoyed, or those you’d like to see included for the first time. Get involved and have your say: https://tinyurl.com/3jx7cp5b.
Word to the Wise
It’ll be no surprise to you that there are no shortage of wise words from yesterday’s adventure on the fells, most of them unrepeatable. We certainly don’t need to hear about Emma getting blown off or Nigel taking out two young girls beneath him.
What happens on the fells, stays on the fells.
So, instead, I’ll leave you with these words from Cath Barber:
“I would like to add a special congratulations to the Ladies team on the hills yesterday, especially Laura, who we’re very proud of. I’m proud of any of our Women who will stand up and be counted in the muddy sisterhood, but Laura gets a special mention this year. We all know she does spectacular things on the road, but to level herself at the hills for the Relays this year takes a certain amount of steel. I think she definitely got more than she bargained for on the Navigation leg with me. The infamous ‘Heather line’ as it’s now being referred to, certainly opened both our eyes (and many others I do believe) it was a tough course, to be expected, and she did really well as a relative newbie to the muddy side of running (come…join us…we have cake!?) Big well done’s also to Jane on Leg one, subbing in last minute for a poorly Helen, Captain Emma and Amy for a cracking Leg 2 and General Chalmers for bringing it home for us. I’d lost the Nidd faith for a little while but once again, I find myself proud to be Nidd, proud to be a Nidd Lass. It’s an honour and a privilege to stand up with you all in the black and gold…” – Cath Barber, reminding us all that, sometimes, stepping out of your comfort zone and having a go is the bravest step of all.
So from them, from me, and everybody else here at Nidd Valley House, have a wonderful week. I’m away next week for a break, so will leave you in the capable hands of Captain Dazzler. He won’t let you down, I’m sure.
See you soon,
Chairman Sam x